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Solar Power
Solar power is the conversion of solar energy into electricity or thermal energy, either by indirectly using concentrated solar power or directly using photovoltaics – the use of solar panels which consist of various cells made of photovoltaic material.
3,946 Questions
How many solar power plants are there in the world?
As of 2021, there are over 700,000 solar power plants in the world. The number is continually increasing as more countries invest in renewable energy sources like solar power.
What is bad about solar energy?
nothing
Silicon panels produce STC in production which can be fully recycled creating a closed-loop system. Therefore it produces no bad by-product.
Cadmium Indium Gallium Selenide or CIGS had some concerned that harmful chemicals would be released if the panels were caught in a fire but extensive fire testing found they burning of the cells actually encapsulated the harmful material within the other materials in the array releasing less than even slightly harmful amounts of the material. In addition, such manufacturers as First Solar have created escrow accounts for a forced recycling program meaning all the panels when no longer working will be picked up by the company and recycled. Reusing 90+% of the panels material and removing any harmful possibilities.
Solar array's of course need no fuel and produce no waste simply converting the sun's energy directly into DC energy.
Traditional silicon solar panels when they are recycled either because they are being replaced or have become damaged can be almost fully recycled as well as the valuable materials which are basically silicon, aluminum, steel, copper, and glass all of which can be recycled.
The other harmful chemicals present of course are lead, cadmium, selenium, tetrachloride, and indium. However, between modern sealed landfills, the trace amount of these materials and the economic incentive from recovering the materials in panels these are not a significant or even minor threat to the environment.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/solar-panel-recycling-460810
What impact does solar energy have on carbon footprint?
The environmental impact of using solar energy is negative at the start with the cost of the materials and the cost of production of the equipment. It balances out after a few years and the impact is then positive.
With solar hot water, it is the cost of the tank and the evacuated tubes on your roof, and the small electric pump to circulate the water. After that initial expense the only ongoing impact is the small electric pump. The initial cost should be recovered in two or three years, depending on your local price of fuel and after that the environmental impact is positive.
With solar panels that generate electricity (PV, or photovoltaic cells), the cost of the materials and the cost of production is the negative environmental impact. Again after a few years that impact is balanced out by the positive features of generating your own electricity from the sun.
A:Disadvantages: -- When people are producing solar panels they have leftover stuff like Silicon Tetrachloride, and they have to dispose of it, which can pollute.
- When creating solar panels the manufacturers have to use energy, which pollutes the air, creates heavy metal emissions, and greenhouse gases.
- Can't use solar energy during the night
- Can't use solar energy when it is very dense and foggy outside
Advantages:
- Using solar panels doesn't pollute the air.
- Using solar panels doesn't release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, or mercury into the atmosphere as many traditional forms of electrical generation do.
- The solar panels operate silently, have no moving parts, and don't release offensive smells.
- Doesn't contribute to acid rain, global warming, or smog.
Where Does the Solar Energy comes from or how was it created?
Solar energy comes from the sun. Put a cup of cold water in the sun all days, It heats up. Put a green plant in the sun it converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. Put a solar cell in the sun it converts light to electricity. In the electronic age someone discovered that certain combinations of materials would do this
How could solar energy source be used?
Solar energy can be used to generate electricity through solar panels, which capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. It can also be used for heating and cooling purposes through solar thermal systems. Additionally, solar energy can be stored in batteries for use during the night or on cloudy days.
How many average hours of sunlight does Iowa receive per year?
12 hours a day,
which is true for every point on the planet.
The difference in climate is the angle of the sun, purpendicular at the equator and glancing at the poles
What happens on a cloudy day when you use solar power?
The solar output power will be reduced. If you are relying on it and don't have other sources of power this is a problem. You would need to have a large battery for backup, this would also occur at night.
Who invented solar power and when?
Solar power was first observed in 1839 by French physicist Edmond Becquerel, who discovered that certain materials produce an electric current when exposed to light. The first practical application of solar power to generate electricity dates back to 1954, when Bell Laboratories developed the first modern solar cell.
Where is solar energy located?
Solar energy is harnessed from the sun and is available worldwide. It can be captured and converted into electricity using solar panels on rooftops, solar farms, or through concentrated solar power plants in regions with high solar irradiance.
What is the orientation for maximum passive solar heat for a home?
If you are north of the equator, south. If you are south of the equator, then north.
It would be advisable to use an ative solar thermal system, as it will be much faster and more efficient at collecting the heat from the solar panels as the heat transfer fluid is pumped. Passive solar is solar thermal without a pump and relies on gravity alone.
The angle of the solar panels from the ground will depend on where you live.
Solar energy is not attributed to a single inventor, as the concept of harnessing energy from the sun has been around for centuries. However, the modern development of solar technology can be credited to scientists such as Alexandre Edmond Becquerel, who discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839, and Albert Einstein, who won a Nobel Prize in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
What are three fundamentals of a passive solar home?
- A passive solar home should have solar panels always face the equator.
- Proper insulation will hold the hot or cold air in the house.
- External structures should be wide enough to provide shade and protection from the elements.
How many people use solar power in the UK?
As of 2021, it is estimated that around 1 million homes in the UK have solar panels installed for generating solar power. This number is expected to increase as the popularity of solar energy continues to grow.
Why should you install a solar panel on your roof?
If you have the free area at ground level this will do as well, but many houses do not have this area available and the roof is sometimes the only area that can be used. It must cost more to put it on the roof, and maintenance is going to be more difficult, against that the panels are faced with glass and this might get damaged more if it is accessible at ground level. It's a matter for each householder to decide.
Why should you have a solar panel on your roof?
Having a solar panel on your roof allows you to generate renewable energy, reduce your electricity bills, and contribute to a more sustainable environment by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels. It can also increase the value of your home and provide a reliable source of energy during power outages.
What percentage of the world uses solar energy?
It is estimated that less than 1% of the world's energy consumption comes from solar energy sources. Adoption of solar energy is growing, but it still makes up a small fraction of the overall energy mix globally.
How many solar panels can fit in a 40 ft container?
20 stands per 40ft container 30 panels per stand means 600 panels
What did they use for light at night before fire was invented?
Before fire was invented, early humans likely used natural sources of light such as the moon, stars, and bioluminescent organisms like fireflies. They may have also used reflective surfaces like water or snow to amplify available light sources.
Do you use solar panels for heating water?
You can, alternatively, you can place the water tanks on your roof for a somewhat naturally heated source of water.
Hours of irradiation refers to the duration of exposure to radiation or light energy. This measure is important in various fields, such as medicine for radiotherapy treatment, sterilization processes, or in research settings studying the effects of radiation on materials or living organisms. The specific number of hours of irradiation required depends on the intended purpose and the type of radiation being used.
How does solar energy affect us?
Solar energy can positively impact us by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, which helps combat climate change and reduce air pollution. It can also provide a sustainable source of power that can lower electricity bills for individuals and businesses. Additionally, the use of solar energy can create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the renewable energy sector.
Does a colored candle have more or less density?
There is no way to know from the question. Aniline dye would probably make it more dense, but I have no doubt that there are means to color a candle that would make it less dense.
One function of oxygen in the body is to be a critical component in the process of cellular respiration, where it is used to produce energy in the form of ATP. Oxygen also plays a role in maintaining the appropriate pH balance in the blood and tissues, and is necessary for the survival of aerobic organisms.
Does ultraviolet light heat Earth's atmosphere the most or is it blue light?
Ultraviolet light does not directly heat Earth's atmosphere the most. Rather, visible light, including blue light, and infrared radiation from the Sun are primarily responsible for heating Earth's atmosphere through interactions with the surface and the gases in the atmosphere. Ultraviolet light mainly affects the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which plays a crucial role in protecting the Earth from harmful UV radiation.
What are the disadvantages of solar power?
1) Initial cost of the equipment used for the solar energy, although the costs are getting less expensive.
2) A large area for the solar energy installation is needed to provide enough energy, so it is a disadvantage in locations where there is limited space. Because a large area needs to be harnessed, the costs to cover that area with equipment will increase.
3) Pollution and clouds reduce the energy of the sun's rays.
4) Useful primarily when the sun is shining, but that eliminates most of the cloudy weathers and night times.
5) Location of the solar panels affect performance. If you're in a place with skyscrapers or other architectures (or landscapes), they may block out the sun.
6) Some PV panels do not work well in warm temperatures. Keeping units cool requires energy.
7) Batteries are required to store energy.
8) Useful sunlight is very brief. Some areas will have very minimal energy input.
9) Solar panels decay fairly quickly. Most are at 75% of their best efficiency in under twenty five year.
10) The output is direct current. This must be converted into a useful energy before most appliances will operate on the power.
Solar power is great overall, but some disadvantages are that solar panels, installation, and repairs are VERY expensive. Also, the weather can effect the efficiency of the solar panels. Solar panels can only process energy throughout the day, even though it usually has enough power saved up to run everything all through the night, which is another disadvantage. And pollution levels can also effect the solar panels efficiency.
The disadvantages of solar is that the sun only shines about half of the time. During the dark hours of the day, no solar energy can be produced.
Cost, energy needed to make panels
1. Solar energy can only be harnessed when it is daytime and sunny.
2. Solar collectors, panels and cells are relatively expensive to manufacture although prices are falling rapidly.
3. Solar power stations can be built but they do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations. They are also very expensive.
4. In countries such as the UK, the unreliable climate means that solar energy is also unreliable as a source of energy. Cloudy skies reduce its effectiveness.
5. Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy. Collectors are usually arranged together especially when electricity is to be produced and used in the same location.
6. Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. However, the batteries are large and heavy and need storage space. They also need replacing from time to time.
Photovoltaics (PV) panels have 3 major drawbacks
1) they require a substantial initial investment ($15,000.00-$50,000.00 for a whole house set up)
2) they have an effective life of 25 years or less
3) they are relatively inefficient, processing only limited wavelengths of sunlight into electricity
sure that they don't work at night also they don't work in a cloudy day of if it's raining.they are a renovale way to produce electricity, and they produce much energy if the weather's sunny almost the whole year, if you are in africa those solar panels are the right for you cheaper and you don't have to pay electricty bills every month!
1. Solar energy can only be harnessed when it is daytime and sunny.
2. Solar collectors, panels and cells are relatively expensive to manufacture although prices are falling rapidly.
3. Solar power stations can be built but they do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations. They are also very expensive.
4. In countries such as the UK, the unreliable climate means that solar energy is also unreliable as a source of energy. Cloudy skies reduce its effectiveness.
5. Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy. Collectors are usually arranged together especially when electricity is to be produced and used in the same location.
6. Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. However, the batteries are large and heavy and need storage space. They also need replacing from time to time.
