Solar Panels Presentation

A Presentation by Ian Conklin and Andrew Strigun

Table of Contents

• General Information

• Costs

• Uses Now

• Hazards and Environmental Impacts

• New Technology

• Sources

General Information

• Solar panels contain silicone layers that absorb the sunlight that shines on them.

• The silicone layers create electrons that bounce around and get absorbed by metal conductors.

• This in turn, is sent to the cell and thus, creates a circuit.

General Information Cont.

• This power is then sent through a conduit that leads to an inverter.

• Power is converted to AC power, which can power houses and appliances.

• Off-grid systems contain batteries that will store energy until it is used by an outside source.

Sizes and Different Powers

• Different sizes have different wattage capacities.

• The amount of power the panels can generate is limited by the wattage capacity.

• Smaller panels will be less efficient but cost less than more efficient, bigger panels.

Cost To Install

• Cost to go solar varies by each state.

• Cheaper along coastal states.

• NC costs about $14,000.

www.costofsolar.com

Money Saved

• Solar panels effectiveness varies by each state.

• Time it takes to pay itself off is as low as 4 years and up to 19 years.

www.costofsolar.com

Cars

• There are very few cars the use solar power

• Most car manufacturers have plans to use it

• There is one company that has a solar panel roof• But it is only an option

Fisker Karma

• The Karma is a luxury electric sports car

• Cost of car: $103K-$116Khttp://www.roadandtrack.com/

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/

Venturi• have plans to make an all solar line

• So far they have built one model to test

• the rest are only a concept http://en.venturi.fr/

Boats

• There are even few boats that have solar panels

• Most of them are small

MS Tûranor PlanetSolar

• Most famous solar powered boat

• First solar powered boat to sail around the world

• Took 585 days

http://www.designboom.com/

Aqua Watt• Company that makes electric boats

• Have some concepts for solar powered boats

• Would be for public use

• Models: SOLAR MOTOR YACHT, SOLAR WATER BUS, and aquawatt 715 solar taxi

http://www.aquawatt.at/

Planes

• In order to function properly, the wings must exceed the standard wingspan for planes of it’s size.

• This is to make sure that there are enough solar panels to power it

• For this reason it may be awhile before we see solar powered passenger planes.

Sunseeker

• Propelled solar powered glider

• First solar plane to fly the length of the USA

• Wingspan: 75ft

• Can fly for 20 minutes then glides while cells recharge

http://www.gizmag.com/

Solar Impulse

• Solar powered plane

• Plans to be the first solar plane to fly around the world

• Wingspan: 207ft

http://metro.co.uk/

Houses and Businesses

• More and more companies are implementing solar plants

• Some of the bigger ones are: Wal-Mart, IKEA, GM, Macy’s, and FedEx

• Same as businesses more home owners are installing solar panels

• Home owners are limited because solar panels are still pretty expensive

Solar Fields

• The biggest way to collect solar power

• But takes up the most space

• They are built in the deserts of Nevada and other western states

http://graphics.latimes.com/

Solar Powered Roads

• Created by an Idaho electrical engineer.

• Solar panels that can withstand the wear and tear of cars and weather.

• “They represent the type of creative innovation that addresses design and energy, while showcasing the diversity of solar applications.”

Hazards of Having Solar Panels

• Cleaning issues

• Environmental Impacts

• Impacts on nature

Hazardous Materials

• Solar panels contain hazardous materials in them.

• Need to be disposed of properly to avoid harming the environment.

• Laws put into effect to protect the workers during production.

Environmental Impacts

• Use of large amount of land for solar fields.

• Less likely to share land with agricultural uses.

• Large use of water to produce.

• Cause manufacturing emissions that affect the environment.

Flexible Panels

• Produced by multiple companies.

• Made of a thin film of solar panels and a polymer substrate.

• Combined with several fabric, metal and fiberglass backings.

Paper Solar Cell

• Created by graduate students of MIT.

• Solar cell can be printed to apiece of paper and able to bend with the paper.

• Not very efficient, but steps are being made to improve it’s efficiency.

Sources

1. "Environmental Impacts of Solar Power." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

2. Geranios, Nicholas K. "Inventor Pushes Solar Panels for Roads, Highways."The Big Story. N.p., 11 July 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

3. Shahan, Zachary. "13 Charts On Solar Panel Cost & Growth Trends."CleanTechnica. N.p., 4 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

4. Chandler, David L. "While You're Up, Print Me a Solar Cell." MIT News. N.p., 11 July 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

5. "Tips for Choosing the Best Solar Panels - Cost Is Only One Factor: Energy Matters." Energy Matters. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

6. "How Solar Panels Work." How Solar Panels Work. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.

Sources Cont.1. Egan, Peter. "2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic." Road & Track. N.p., 25 July 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

2. Filippetti, Jenny. "Planetsolar: The First Solar Powered Boat around the World." Designboom Architecture. N.p., 24 July 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

3. Fisker. The Truth About Cars. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

4. MacDonald, Brady. "Large-scale 'solar Farm' Technology."Graphics.latimes.com. LA Times, 3 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.

5.  "Solar Powered Plane Lands Safely after 24-hour Test Flight." Metro UK. N.p., 8 July 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

6. "Solarpowered Vessels." Aquawatt. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

7. "Vehicles." Venturi Automobiles. Venturi, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

8. "What Companies Use Solar Panels to Power Their Businesses?" SEIA. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

9. Williams, Adam. "Sunseeker Team Building a Two-passenger Solar-powered Airplane." GizMag. N.p., 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.