Lighting Up the Future:

(Photovoltaic)Solar Power

By Isaac Han

Overview•Photovoltaic solar power is a form of clean,

renewable energy that creates no pollutants at all.

•The base of the technology relies on the photovoltaic cell.

•Using solar power as a main source of energy is becoming increasingly feasible as every year production costs go down and efficiency goes up due to scientific and industrial advances.

History of Concept•The concept of solar

power was founded on the principles of the photovoltaic effect, organized by the world-renowned Albert Einstein using original and existing research.

Photovoltaic Effect

•The photovoltaic effect is rather simple: It’s the effect of electron emission by certain materials when subject to radiation. Some materials emit electrons when exposed to radiation in sunlight.

Developments•Continued research

into photovoltaics has led to the development of the modern photovoltaic cell.

•Lasts around 10-20 years without significant decrease in efficiency.

The Photovoltaic Cell

• The modern photovoltaic cell is constructed of earth minerals and metals.

• The exact workings of the photoelectric cell is complex scientific magic, too difficult to explain fully in this powerpoint.

Advantages / Limitations•Advantages:

•Does not pollute

•Easy to set up

•Durable•Can be

used almost anywhere

•Limitations:

•Usage limited by amount of exposure to sunlight.

•Can be more expensive than conventional means

Usage•Currently used in a

wide range of different applications ranging from household items such as calculators, to household generators, to large scale solar power plants.

Large Scale Operation

•Current large-scale solar power plants are located in deserts, where the sun shines the maximum amount per year.

Domestic Use

•Solar panels for rooftops have recently gained popularity for a variety of reasons:

• Rising fossil fuel costs have raised energy costs.

•Scientific and industrial advances have made it more affordable

•Rising concern about pollution and the desire to “go green”

In Korea•Usage of solar power

rising due to government incentives and rooftop panels are a common sight.

•Asia’s largest solar power plant is in Korea. (http://www.greenbusinesstimes.com/2008/08/14/asias-largest-solar-power-plant-in-south-korea/)

Feasibility

•As production costs decrease and efficiency increases, the feasibility of using solar power as a main source of energy increases every year. (See image on next slide)

•Solar power could potentially power the entire world.

Fast Facts•Enough sunlight falls on the earth to

meet the energy needs of the entire planet for a year.

•Covering a small fraction of the Saharan desert with photovoltaic cells would be more than enough to generate the entire world’s energy needs.

•Everything we’ve put in space is powered by photovoltaics.

•(http://www.uk-energy-saving.com/solar_energy.html)

Interesting Videos

• Videos on solar powerhttp://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/science_technology/making_sparks/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtPYgBNvYY4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLSARSw2JUQ

• Video on space-based solar powerhttp://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/space_based_solar_power/

Bibliography

• http://www.greenbusinesstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/conergy-korea.jpg

• http://www.treehugger.com/ct-solar-lease-080818.jpg

• http://ecoworldly.com/files/2008/03/solar-panels-gangneung.jpg

• http://z.about.com/d/physics/1/0/C/0/-/-/Einstein_tongue.jpg

• Rest of Images from Wikipedia

• Info taken primarily from Wikipedia