Solar
Solar Power
Background information and initial pro/cons:
1.From the article ”Alternative Energy Sources” from the U*X*L Encyclopedia of Science accessed on Gale Student Resources In Context on the CY Library homepage:
Solar power, or energy from the Sun, is a free, abundant, and nonpolluting source of energy. Solar energy can be used to heat buildings and water and to produce electricityelectricity. However, the Sun does not always shine, and the process of collecting solar energy and storing it for use at night and on cloudy days is difficult and expensive.
Solar energy systems can be either passive or active. In a passive solar heating system, a building captures and stores the Sun’s heat because of the way it is designed, the materials it is made of, or the heat-absorbing structures it possesses. An example of a passive system is a building with large windows facing south (that allow sunlight to enter) and with thick walls that store heat and release it at night.
Active solar energy systems use pumps or fans to circulate heat obtained by solar collectors. A solar collector is a device that absorbs the energy of the Sun and converts it to heat for heating buildings and water. Flat-plate collectors are mounted to the roofs of buildings and used for space heating. They are made of a heat-absorbing plate, such as aluminum or copper, covered by glass or plastic. Water or air circulating in the collector absorbs heat from the plate and is carried to a heat storage tank. The stored heat is circulated or blown over cold rooms using pumps or fans. A conventional heating system is used as a backup when solar heat is not available. Solar heating of water is accomplished using a collector, a hot water storage tank, and a pump to circulate water.
Sunlight can be captured and converted into electric power using solar cells (called photovoltaic cells). Solar cells are usually made up of silicon and can convert light to electric current. They are used in space satellites to provide electricity, as well as in watches and pocket calculators. Solar panels made up of solar cells have been installed in some homes, and solar cells are used as energy sources in lighthouses, boats, and other remote locations.
Solar power plants–using energy from the Sun to produce steam for driving turbines to generate electricity–could potentially replace fuel-driven power plants, producing energy without any environmental hazards. In California, a solar power facility–using collectors made of large motorized mirrors that track the Sun–produces electricity to supplement the power needs of the Los Angeles utilities companies.
2. Search for solar energy on World Book Online on the CY Library homepage: http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar518880&st=solar+energy
3. Read about Solar Energy Basics on this site from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_solar.html
4. Watch these videos about solar energy from Learn360:
http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=128193
Solar Power: An Overview
http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=742220
Spray-on Solar Panels (also available on Science 360 app for iPad)
http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=879427
Viewpoint Articles
Two articles from Global Resources (2008), accessed on Opposing Viewpoints on the CY Library homepage:
Solar Energy Is Inefficient and Impractical (password: oslis)
Solar Energy Can Effectively Provide Electricity (password: oslis)
Additional Resources
Photovoltaics Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Concentrating Solar Power Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory