By: Nate White, Seth Johnston, Angelina Genelow, and Brooke Edwards

General Overview
Generated

naturally from sunlight Two types of uses Direct Indirect Also have electrical generation Many benefits Also environmental disadvantages

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INDIREC T

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Most problems people have with solar are superficial ones such as they think its an eyesore.

Solar plants will require large amounts of land which environmental groups have problems with due to the problem of displacement.

Politicians are influenced heavily by lobbyists from oil companies Few politicians feel that they benefit from solar energy in their district or are misinformed about solar energys potential

Most federal laws support and offer incentives for solar energy through tax credits N.C. has a law which requires power companies to obtain a set percentage of their power from solar energy. Biggest legal hurdles are going through homeowners associations and zoning ordinances.

Industrialized countries have laws similar to the U.S. that attempt to foster the development of renewable energy such as solar Undeveloped countries do not promote solar energy as much as countries such as the U.S. and China

Yearly Solar fluxes & Human Energy Consumption Solar Wind Biomass Primary energy use (2005) Electricity (2005) 3,850,000 EJ[6] 2,250 EJ[7] 3,000 EJ[8] 487 EJ[9] 56.7 EJ[10]

(The 3,850,000 EJ is absorbed in the earths atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses.)

One year of the suns energy is more than the amount of energy that we will get from all of the non-renewable resources combined. The sun makes about 3,850,000 exajoules in one year. That is more than all the energy used in the world within a year. About every minute there is enough energy from the sun to produce energy to meet our demands for an entire year. (if we could harness is properly)

In 1890s solar water heaters were used everywhere in the U.S. In 1897, 30% of the homes in Pasadena were equipped with Solar Water Heaters. By 1920, Thousands of these solar water heaters were sold but the discovery of fossil fuels and that replaced the need for the solar water heaters. Now the solar heaters are making a comeback.

The history of solar energy can be an example of how it can potentially help us with our future needs of energy. Now that we have more technology we might be able to harness the energy that the sun provides.

Environmental Disadvantages
One

environmental downfall of solar energy is the amount of land needed for enough solar panels to generate considerable amounts of energy.
Each

photovoltaic panel has only about a 40% efficiency, so cost becomes an issue.
Solar

panels are constructed from fragile materials

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More Environmental Disadvantages

These

are minor setbacks compared to the many benefits of solar energy.

Storage

difficult; relies on batteries that may leak chemicals

PV

cells use heavy metals that are toxic and difficult to recycle

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Solar energy comes to the areas closest to the equator Scientist are hoping to expand the range of sunlights wavelengths that can be absorbed Other countries are enhancing more than US

Does solar power have to revolve around the equator?

Can

be put in less sunny areas

as effective and very unreliable

Not

Most

beneficial where sun is most prevalent