...Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis.[1][2] Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. In 2011, the International Energy Agency said that "the development of affordable, inexhaustible and clean solar energy technologies will have huge longer-term benefits. It will increase countries’ energy security through reliance on an indigenous, inexhaustible and mostly import-independent resource, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, and keep fossil fuel prices lower than otherwise. These advantages are global. Hence the additional costs of the incentives for early deployment should be considered learning investments; they must be wisely spent and need to be widely shared" The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the upper atmosphere.[3] Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the...
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...Executive Summary We are launching “Power Plastic” as a subsidiary of “Konarka Technologies” in India, it’s unique technology is based on patented photo-reactive materials made from conductive polymers and organic nano-engineered materials, this allows Power Plastic to provide alternative and new lightweight, flexible, and cheap material that converts indoor and outdoor light into electricity, our product is much more versatile than traditional solar panels, which will utilize in our marketing strategy. We are targeting India’s middle-Class segment, rural & remote areas which lack basic power grid infrastructure, we are expecting to utilize India’s policy shift towards more clean and renewable energy, which lead India to be among the top 5 countries in the world in terms of renewable energy capacity. Our positioning strategy is based on the competitive values Plastic Power brings as opposed to the conventional solar products currently available in the market, though competition would be fierce with industry leaders who have been operational in India for the past 2 decades, posses governments support whether in access to land or allocation of government subsidies to their customer base, in addition showcase many success stories despite the many challenges faced. Our objective in terms of market share is to 5% for the next 12 years, targeting 80m households; our overall marketing budget is 24 million US Dollars. Macro-environmental Factors India, due to its fast...
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...Photosynthesis provide the oxygen that we inhale and the glucose we use as a source of energy (Mader, 2009, page 86). Every living organism depends on solar power to survive. Photosynthesis is also responsible for the earth’s climate. If this process did not take place, the Earth would freeze over. Instead, the surface of the earth exists as a concentrated region for the transmission and transformation of cosmic and solar radiation, through the action of living organisms (Teng & Shields, 2010). Plant cells and solar cells have some similarities. Both plant cells and solar cells transfer sunlight into energy. However, plant cells produce chemical energy where solar cells produce electricity. Solar cells use solar panels made from a collection of photovoltaic cells that help create the photosynthesis process (Toothman & Aldous, 2012). They are essentially beneficial to humans because we need oxygen from plant cells and the electricity from solar cells. Electrons are bumped up to a higher energy level by the intake of sunlight in both plant and solar cells (Teng & Shields, 2010). There are also several differences in plant and solar cells. Solar cells are more costly than plant cells. For instance, you can plant an acre of corn for about $100, but solar cells will cost about 2.5 million per an acre (Howstuffworks.com, 2012). Another difference is that unlike plants, solar cells produce, but do not consume, heat. The majority of the sunlight that hits a solar cell is either reflected or absorbed...
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...Barstow bids, PVT was trailing behind competitors SOMA Energy and BJ Solar - It was perceived that the above is due to Solenergy’s renewed focus on expense control and the company felt that there was wide difference in the prices quoted by PVT and the other companies. They believed an enhanced maintenance schedule along with a proactive quality control program would compensate for the inferior performance characteristics of the less costly inventers. - If the above information was true PVT would not only lose one of the biggest customer thereby having financial implications but also their leadership status in the market would be at risk ( this could turn out to be critical for PVT especially since there was a huge potential for the solar photovoltaic products which was expected to grow at 30.4% CAGR during the period 2010-2015.) Major Issues Identified - The fact that such critical information got leaked and PVT was caught unaware questioned PVT teams ‘customer management’ skills. - It also reflected the complacency of PVT team especially on two fronts (i)whereby PVT assumed that since Solenergy was their long term customer they may not look at other companies in the market (ii) That by being just ‘quality focus’ they were meeting their customer expectation - PVT was also over-dependant on the fact their best sales person (Jim Salvatori) who had bought Solenergy to PVT would be managing the new RFP and they had never focused on other key aspects such as o Strong relationship...
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...P Compare and Contrast Photosynthesis and Solar Cell Technology Introduction to Biology SCI 115 Strayer University The plants ability to utilize photosynthesis plays an integral part in everyday life. The way plants are able to interact with the environment, take “waste” and convert it into oxygen is nothing short of amazing. Through ingenuity and technological advancement, human beings have been able to almost replicate this amazing feet. Solar cells are able to absorb light energy to energize electrons. While the end product may be different, solar cells and photosynthesis both utilize light energy for application. Solar cells and photosynthesis are very similar in how the utilize light energy. The purpose of both the solar cell and photosynthesis is to harness light energy and convert it into usable form. In a solar cell sunlight is absorbed by a semi-conductor. In plants “the pigments within the thylakoid membranes absorb solar (radiant) energy” (Mader, 2009). It is in this instant that both a solar cell and a photosynthetic plant are at its most similar. From here the solar cell converts the solar energy to electricity while, through photosynthesis, the plant produces oxygen as it uses water and carbohydrates to grow and survive. The process of the conversion of light energy and certain characteristics of both photosynthesis and solar cell technology are the similarities that these two share. Once light energy has entered the differences come...
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...HANS MÜLLER-STEINHAGEN FREng AND FRANZ TRIEB INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL THERMODYNAMICS, GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTRE (DLR), STUTTGART, GERMANY ENERGY Quarterly of the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenia 18, February/March 2004 Concentrating solar power A review of the technology Is solar power the answer to the ever-growing problems of global warming and depleting fossil fuel supplies? In the first of two articles Hans Müller-Steinhagen and Franz Trieb explain the principles and development of concentrated solar-thermal power and outline its considerable potential for alleviating the constant pressure on our existing resources. Three main technologies have been identified during the past decades for generating electricity in the 10 kW to several 1000 MW range: ● he limited supply of fossil hydrocarbon resources and the negative impact of CO2 emissions on the global environment dictate the increasing usage of renewable energy sources. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is the most likely candidate for providing the majority of this renewable energy, because it is amongst the most cost-effective renewable electricity technologies and because its supply is not restricted if the energy generated is transported from the world's solar belt to the population centres. T dish/engine technology, which can directly generate electricity in isolated locations parabolic and Fresnel trough technology, which produces high pressure superheated steam solar tower technology, which produces...
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...ASTOUNDING SOLAR ENERGY FACTS What is solar energy? People often think of solar energy as solar panels mounted on roofs in sunny neighborhoods. This is only part of solar energy (“Solar energy facts,”2012). Solar energy is the oldest energy source. Plants, animal and the microbial life have been using it as a principle energy source since the times of creation. It is in the form of heat and light. In the past years, people have tapped solar energy enabling it to be used at all times; including the nights, in all weather conditions, can be stored as well as be transferred. Solar energy can be defined as the technology used to exploit the sun’s power and make it usable. Solar energy facts * Solar energy makes life a reality. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight and provide food and oxygen which animals consume to live. Human bodies absorb solar energy this helps to regulate body temperature. Sunlight also provides vitamin D, which is necessary to human health. * Solar energy is an extremely clean energy source. It is environmentally healthier than traditionally fossil related forms of energy since it does not emit any known pollutants to the environment. * The earth absorbs approximately 3.85 million exajoules of energy from the sun. This is big compared to the earth’s use of about 56.7 exajoules. The sun is the sole source of solar energy, believed to last for more than 5 billion years. This means solar energy is the most renewable and viable source...
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...Earth to meet the world’s energy needs for a year. To harvest this bounty, we need technology that efficiently converts the sun’s energy into forms we can use. Developing this technology is the purpose of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Program. Powerful Goals, Powerful Technologies The Solar Energy Technologies Program is part of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Program’s mission is to improve U.S. security, environmental quality, and economic prosperity through public-private partnerships that bring reliable and affordable solar energy technologies to the marketplace. It supports research and development on a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal technologies that convert sunlight into useful energy. Photovoltaic Technologies The majority of the Program’s budget is allocated to PV research and development (R&D). All PV devices convert sunlight directly into electricity. However, there is a variety of materials and processes for creating PV devices, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. The major trade-off is between cost and sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency—higher efficiency typically translates into higher cost. Program participants consistently achieve world-record efficiencies for different types of PV, but each effort has the same ultimate goal:...
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...Title: SOLAR ENERGY: “SUNLIGHT into USEFUL ELECTRICITY” >Introduction< In today's climate of growing energy needs and increasing environmental concern, alternatives to the use of non-renewable and polluting fossil fuels have to be investigated. One such alternative is solar energy. Solar energy is quite simply the energy produced directly by the sun and collected elsewhere, normally the Earth. The sun creates its energy through a thermonuclear process that converts about 650,000,000 tons of hydrogen to helium every second. The process creates heat and electromagnetic radiation. The heat remains in the sun and is instrumental in maintaining the thermonuclear reaction. The electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, infra-red light, and ultra-violet radiation) streams out into space in all directions. Only a very small fraction of the total radiation produced reaches the Earth. The radiation that does reach the Earth is the indirect source of nearly every type of energy used today. The exceptions are geothermal energy, and nuclear fission and fusion. Even fossil fuels owe their origins to the sun; they were once living plants and animals whose life was dependent upon the sun. The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy. Solar energy is radiant energy from the sun caused by nuclear fusion in the sun’s core. The sun’s radiant energy reaches the earth in rays of sunlight. Solar energy in the form of heat and light sustains life on earth. Solar energy can...
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...Revised generation capability rating methodology to distinguish between commitment and long-term ratings. Added reactive power capability methodology. JAZ FRO 2 9/29/2008 Rev. to reflect requirements of NERC FAC-008-1 and FAC-009-1. Added specific language to address nuclear units and jointly owned facilities outside FPL’s metered boundaries. Added language specific to communication of ratings. JAZ FRO 3 10/06/09 Added language specific for solar photovoltaic variable generation resource assets. Removed references to Capability Letter. Added statements regarding boundary of generator Facility. Added comments regarding the FAC-009-1, R1 requirement to establish generator Facility ratings per the Generator Facility Rating Methodology. JMG FRO Generator Facility Rating Methodology The purpose of this procedure is to document the methodologies used by FPL (generator owner) in rating its generator facilities to meet the requirements of NERC Standards FAC-008-1, FAC-009-1. This procedure is applicable to fossil, solar photovoltaic and nuclear generator Facilities. TERMINOLOGY Bulk Electric System (BES): As defined by the NERC Regional Reliability Organization (RRO), the electrical generation resources, transmission lines, interconnections with neighboring systems, and associated equipment, generally operated at voltages of 100 kV or higher. Radial transmission facilities serving only load with one transmission source are generally not included in this definition. ...
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...Introduction Environmental problem is one of the most concerns in 21st century. Australia has a great responsibility to reduce greenhouse emission as a global stakeholder. This report demonstrated the economic theory behind reducing carbon emissions and potential economic issues. First, a brief overview of Australia’s per capita carbon emissions is given, followed by explaining the relevant economic theory that underlies polices. Last but not least, an analysis of the potential economic issues is discussed. Australia’s emissions profile From the report, The Garnaut Climate Change Review, Garnaut （2008）pointed out that, Australia’s per capita carbon gas emissions are the highest of any OECD country and even are among the highest in the world. Statistic shows emissions were 28.1 tones carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) per person in 2008. To be specific, Australia’s per capita emissions are nearly twice the OECD average and more than four times the world average. Economic theory and government policy A range of policies were introduced by government to achieve target reductions in carbon emissions sit. In order to ensure that 20 percent of Australia’s electricity supply comes from renewable sources by 2020, first the government launched a carbon market in Australian through carbon pricing mechanism and full emission trading scheme, followed by encourage expansion of renewable energy sources. The economic theory involved is that the goods and services produced by the government...
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...Motivation I cannot trace back the moment when I first heard this statement that the more energy from sunlight strikes the earth in an hour than all of the energy consumed on the planet in one year but I wondered at that time, why are we having energy problems on earth. This was the start of fascination to look keenly into the problem of making alternate energy sources more practical. This fascination about renewable energy made me think more and more with open mind about the available large amount of energy which is gift of the nature to us. If we have made our life worse by not taking care of the nature then to use nature positively is the only way for us to save our planet. But I always wondered why we could not still use these sources for all our needs. But I knew if I had to go into the root of this thing, my aspiration should be coupled with the strong technical base and other necessary dependent aspects. In my third year I took course on “Renewable Energy” that gave me knowledge about different kinds of renewable energy systems. The course structure covered major part of it - Solar Energy, Wind Energy and Bio-Energy etc. And it was more like the base for my future endeavor. Fortunately having centre of Excellence in Energy in our college (Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan) gave me several opportunities to get exposure of Energy field. In the 5th semester, The Centre of Excellence in Energy at IIT Rajasthan conducted a Renewable Energy Consortium in 2010 in which...
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... is based on creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste. At Frito Lay’s factory in Casa Grande , more than 400,000 pounds of potatoes arrive every day to be washed, sliced, fried, seasoned and packing them into bags. The process takes enormous amounts of energy, and creates amounts of wastewater and potato wastes. with the creation of Frito-Lay’s new facility in Arizona, the company just took a big step towards being green. The Casa Grande plant was built in 1984 ,considering the plentiful sun light and the availability of having water in Arizona . The company decide to install a water recovery system that recycles almost the 75 percent of all the water used in the plant. Five solar photovoltaic solar systems were also installed on plant, enabling two thirds of its power from renewable energy. The Casa Grande plant is ‘near net zero,’ meaning that it is mostly run on renewable energy sources. The team of Frito lay also focused on waste reduction .less than one percent of the plant’s waste currently ends up in the landfill. Frito brought in a biomass boiler that turns agricultural products to provide mechanical power . They use the wastes of the potatoes and the water that is used to wash the potatoes to create mechanical power and heat . There are benefits besides the potential energy savings. Like many other large corporations, Frito lay is trying to establish its green activities to consumers and become more focused...
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...Century B.C. This energy is radiant light and heat from the sun which also makes it a renewable energy that is reliable. It started off with people using magnifying glasses to burn ants with the strong sun rays and now we use it for electricity purposes. I have noticed many schools and buildings around my city have had solar power systems installed on the roof tops and in the parking lot. It shows that this is a popular technology that is going to keep growing in the next few years. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS Solar energy can be used in two different ways in agriculture. There is a solar system that converts solar energy to D.C power and there is a solar system that converts solar energy to heat. Solar energy electricity, also called photovoltaics, can be used to power water pumps or it can be stored in a battery for night use. Systems that use the sun’s energy to create heat can be used in the process of drying crops and grains and water heating. As the usage in solar power is expanding, the more workers solar energy companies will be needing. I read an article on the internet that stated “ The solar power industry employs a wide range of occupations in a number of major industry segments: research and development, manufacturing of solar power materials, construction of solar power plants, operations of solar power plants, and solar power installation and maintenance”. If all goes well there is expected to be over 86,000 new energy jobs in the U.S by 2020. Electric vehicles...
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...To Drill or Not to Drill? April Augello HUM/111 2/24/2013 Bruce Bennett To Drill or Not to Drill? There are many types of energy used for our industrialized nation uses, there are only two types of energy; there is fossil fuels and renewable energy. These would power our factories, automobiles, electrical appliances and many other features of modern life. Fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas, and coal are not a renewable source of energy. Renewable energy is found in our sun, rain, wind and from heat from in the earth, and many more sources, these renewable energies are replenished constantly. Renewable energies are significant and bring many opportunities for energy efficiency to exist all over the world. This would not only give us significant energy security, but would benefit us economically. There are four areas that renewable energy would replace conventional energies or fuels; it would bring electricity generation along with hot water and space heating and a big one motor fuels. With our global warming and our ozone, we are in desperate need of alternative energies, and they are being developed. Some politicians and environmentalists and others do not think that the world is really getting hotter, global warming is not really happening. That this renewable energy is just too costly, and would we really benefit from this spending to have a renewable energy. That disturbing the soil will release green house gasses into the atmosphere...
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