In 1971, a husband and wife, Aden and Marjorie Meinel, patented an idea to produce solar panels in the Mojave Desert. The solar panels they proposed were to stretch through the Mojave Desert for 5,000 miles and would collect 1,000,000 megawatts of electrical power. The electrical energy would then be stored in a manufacturing facility locally so that the solar energy could be converted and used by millions of people. The Meinel’s proposal was dismissed in the 1970’s, but recently, solar panel plants have begun to sprout in the Mojave Desert. There are currently fourteen pending solar projects that have been proposed to be built in the Mojave Desert. There are also currently already four solar plants built there.…
Availability of fossil fuels is a considerable factor when dealing with various energy sources. Coal is non-renewable and it is estimated that at least 40% of the world’s electricity comes from coal, and in 2005 Coal power produced 49.7% of the United State’s electricity supply. The consumption of coal is expected to increase 71% between 2004 and 2030, highly motivated by developing countries that use coal to generate about 75% of their power. There are limited stocks of coal remaining, they will be entirely depleted this millennium if we continue to burn coal in the future at the same rate we are today. Solar energy, on the other hand requires the use of the sun which is renewable and will potentially never run out regardless of how much it is used. Therefore, solar energy seems to be the better choice.…
Why? • What are other options exist for generating electricity? Solar Energy • Benefits of solar? o No pollution or greenhouse gases during operation – low environmental impact o No moving parts, safe and quiet o Compared to other energy options -‐-‐ fast to install • Solar Energy Generating Systems, CA -‐-‐largest thermal solar power plant in world • • "The U.S. is on pace to install as much solar power this year as it did in this century's entire first decade: at least 2,500 megawatts, the equivalent of more than two nuclear-‐power plants."…
However, the disadvantages of solar energy were neglected in the early phase of development. It isn’t always as reliable as other forms of power and tends to be expensive to install and maintain, because the devices rely on a steady supply of sunlight to generate power. The equipment is not that efficient, typically converting just 10% to 18% of the sun’s energy into electricity [3]. On top of the price of panels themselves, the cost of installing them varies greatly by location and climate. By most estimates, it takes at least six years for the initial costs to be repaid in saving from power generation under the best circumstances, and double that time under less ideal conditions [3]. Besides, the batteries and safety serve as potential problems. Since it is impossible to generate solar power 24 hours a day, batteries are needed for most systems to store excess power for use at night and rainy days. Unfortunately, these batteries can be expensive and have a shorter lifespan than solar…
Despite what any individual’s concerns are regarding energy, it has been generally accepted that the finite source generating the majority of our electricity is depleting at alarming rates. We need to find alternative sources for energy production. The most obvious and abundant source available is the sun. Advances in technology have enabled us to harvest the solar radiation which has been conducting the cycle of life for millions of years. There are two main categories when it comes to solar power, passive and active. The passive solar systems integrate the sun’s energy to heat living spaces and/or water in a building. These system are very simple consisting few moving parts, require negligible maintenance and no mechanical components (Passive Solar Design). Passive…
3. In Case studies by SEIA (2013), several areas are already utilizing valuable solar energy facilities such as the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station that possesses a solar farm capable of powering the whole weapons station with 30% clean energy annually which can save the stations of over $13 Million dollars of electric…
Solar energy is one of the most widely used energy resources throughout the world solar energy is the most promising renewable energy resources. It is widely available and easy for any one to use it is practical for individual use to power a single home or for a company facility such as bright sources solar facility in the Mojave Desert California. The facility can produce up to 377 megawatt. It uses three towers with mirrors surrounded by solar panels to reflect the light on to the solar panels to harness the suns energy. The benefits of solar much more out weigh the negatives solar can save billions of trillions of dollars for nations. The reliability of solar energy is great rising and setting of the sun is consistent while cloudy days are less predictable there are more than enough sunny days to power homes. “She…
We chose solar energy as our assignment because we believe that it’s still not fully exploited with an enormous potential. We wanted to examine the economical facts of solar energy, the environmental circumstances and we wanted to know more about how it works.…
Today nearly half of the world’s energy is provided by petroleum. What began as a cheap and abundant way to provide energy, has become expensive, environmentally harmful, and finite. With population explosions and the demands of modern lifestyles, the world’s need for energy production has become far too much for fossil fuels to keep up with. Experts say that the Earth’s stores of petroleum will be depleted by 2050. The need to find a viable source of energy within this generation’s lifetime that can power cars and provide electricity to homes. Some of the alternative energy sources include: wind energy, nuclear energy, and solar energy. Of the three, only solar is capable of producing enough energy to power the world. Solar energy producers fall into two separate categories: thermal solar collectors and photovoltaic panels. Thermal solar energy collectors are “a source of hot water that can be used for heating or for making steam to generate electricity” (Nersesian 2007). They are the simpler of the two types and much more inexpensive. They have many practical applications such as pool warmers and water heaters. Photovoltaic panels convert solar energy directly into electricity. They are large and the technology is still fairly expensive. Solar energy is a viable option to replace fossil fuels because it is the most financially viable long term, is a renewable resource that will not harm the environment, and each system can operate independently.…
Solar energy has been found to have zero emissions. It is a renewable source of energy. As with any project in which raw materials are used there will be some adverse effects on the environment. Solar energy has a minimal risk of failure other than that its productivity relies closely on the weather. Such as on cloudy, overcast days the collection of power will…
Solar energy and its use isn’t new to the world. It has been used by various societies beginning from 7thCentury B.C, when the sun’s heat was concentrated by glass and mirrors to light fires. Today, we have everything from solar-powered buildings to solar-powered vehicles. By and large solar technology has some environmental, economic, psychological and ethical implications for our society. Actions taken by companies and individuals to increase the use of solar technology will create good local jobs, improve our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil while doing what’s ethical and moral for our society.…
With the world's natural resources depleting rapidly, humans must find a way to compensate. This society has milked oil, coal, gasoline, lead, uranium, and many other of these reservoirs in our Earth for hundreds of years and much has been done. Asphalt was used for our roads and highways, coal was originally used for heat before there was oil, and even water was used as a form of electricity on many rural farms. Luckily, more companies around the world are waking up to the fact that these resources will not be around forever, and that in the near future, other forms of energy will take heed. Solar energy, or energy powered by the sun, is one of the most promising. Since the sun's rays create so much for the wildlife that surrounds us, why can't it do the same for people? It can, and as many industries are finding out, will be around long after the other resources are gone.…
References: Justin R (2009). http://Ezinearticles.com/?expert=Justin_R, 10 Benefits of Solar Energy. Dan Keen (2009). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Clean Energy.…
Furthermore, renewable energy is a very niche market. It makes up only 8% of the total energy industry. SolarWorld’s practice, active solar technology, occupies just 1% of the total renewable energy due to its high cost and capital investment. This leaves a big hole for threat of substitutes such as coal, nuclear or natural gas energy, which are mostly the primary choice before renewable energy.…
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy,” stated Thomas Edison. Many people, including Thomas Edison, understood the value of solar energy. The use of solar energy has dated back to 700 B.C. Expenses for solar energy products are exceedingly high. Maintenance of solar powered utilities is virtually nonexistent. Solar products tend to be efficient in their work to make a clean planet. The function of a solar panel is to transform light into electricity. Solar panels can be used to power several different pieces of equipment. Solar energy can help reduce pollutants and create a healthy environment for everyone to live in.…