FACTS ABOUT SOLAR PANELS
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by Mariel B, Rea B, and Ryan K
SOLAR ENERGY STARTS WITH THE SUNWhen the sun undergoes nuclear fusion, it creates a large amount of energy that is then emitted and radiated out into the solar system.
As the energy reaches Earth, it finds its way into the photo-voltaic cells which make up solar panels. This excites the electron in silicon cells as it uses photons (light particles and heat), meaning that the electron impermanently obtains a greater energy state than its ground state. This process is what generates solar energy. |
THE SOLAR PANEL INDUSTRYThere are 260,000 Americans working in the solar panel industry and that number is expected to increase by 100,000 by 2021.
Also, there has been an 80% price drop for solar panels since 2008. The price for them is currently anywhere between $15,000 to $29,000. |
THE CREATION OF THE SOLAR PANELThe photo-voltaic effect, or how sunlight turns into electricity, was discovered by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel in 1839.
The first photo-voltaic cells were created by Charles Fritts in 1883 and the first complete solar panels were available by 1956. |
THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGYSolar energy is a renewable energy source meaning that we cannot run out of it.
The Earth receives more solar energy than needed, having a use for additional energy (about 120,000 terawatts of radiation are received which is 20,000 more than needed to supply the entire world). Using solar energy can reduce the cost of electricity bills at times when more electricity is produced than is actually used. |
THE DRAWBACKS OF SOLAR ENERGYAlthough this source of energy does not cause pollution, the manufacturing and transportation of solar panels could produce emissions.
Solar energy can be expensive to establish, as well as solar panels cost quite a lot of money to install. Access to sunlight can be limited at times such as during the night or on cloudy days, so the use of this energy source would not be an ideal first choice in comparison to others. Large amounts of space are taken up by the installment of photo-voltaic cells and solar panels. |
WORKS CITED:
- “History of Solar Cells: How Technology Has Evolved.” Solar Power Authority, 29 Nov. 2016, www.solarpowerauthority.com/a-history-of-solar-cells/.
- “How Does the Sun Make Energy?” Wonderopolis, wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-does-the-sun-make-energy.
- NWWindandSolar. “How Do Solar Systems Produce Energy?” NW Wind & Solar, www.nwwindandsolar.com/solar-power-in-seattle-and-the-northwest/how-do-solar-systems-produce-energy/.
- Peterson, Agnes. “Solar Energy Pros and Cons.” Energy Informative, energyinformative.org/solar-energy-pros-and-cons/.
- Richardson, Luke. “Solar Power History: Timeline & Invention of Solar Panels | EnergySage.” Solar News, EnergySage, 11 Apr. 2018, news.energysage.com/the-history-and-invention-of-solar-panel-technology/.
- “Solar Panel History and Overview - Energy Matters - the Solar Experts.” Energy Matters, www.energymatters.com.au/panels-modules/.