Solar Power
Content
What is a Solar Power?
Is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic s (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.
A Brief History of Solar Energy It all started during the space race. Russia and the United States were sending satellites into the atmosphere. These satellites had big arrays of solar panels to power them. So early on lots of money was invested into making solar panels durable and reliable. After all, replacing them was very dif cult. Once the space race ended, investment in solar technologies slowed down. Solar panels occupied an uncomfortable position. They were too expensive for the mainstream marketplace, and there wasn t a pressing need to make them more affordable. Then global warming and climate change began to emerge. The oil crisis of the 1970 s, the war in the Middle East, pollution, acid rain, El Nino, the Amazon rainforests, melting glaciers, the hole in the ozone and endangered species. Suddenly, there was a need for a clean, reliable energy producing technology. Throughout human being s long history, both the recorded and prehistoric periods, the warmth of the sun has been put to use. Early homes were situated in locations that received a great deal of heat and light and later on methods for distillation of water and cooking of food using only the sun s rays were developed as well. Today, the sun is being regarded as a fundamentally untapped natural resource, but millions of people have begun to explore the remarkable benefits of solar power. What exactly is solar power? In the simplest of terms, there is energy contained within the intense radiation that comes from the sun. Using a number of materials and systems, scientists, engineers and technicians have created ways in which home and business owners can reduce their supplied energy use through reliance on solar power. Today solar power is used in many large and small scale applications for everything from heating and cooling of homes and buildings, creating domestic hot water, treating water and sewage, cooking, solar lights, mass electrical production and even in modes of transportation such as cars and airplanes. Actual development of the solar cells required to harness the sun s energy in any way began in the 1800s when a French physicist observed that there were photoelectric effects from the sun. Only one hundred years later photovoltaic effects were being improved, and actually the most commonly used material cadmium selenide was being used affectively. Things really took off from the 1950s onward as silicon and other materials were being put to use for residential and commercial solar applications. It was at this time as well that the gas crisis of the 1970s caused many people to address energy issues beyond the use of oil and petroleum products. At that time many people turned their attention to solar, water and wind as untapped sources of renewable energy.
Today scientists and physicists, among many others, are continuing to expand the applications of solar energy. It is now not uncommon to see an entire roof paneled with photovoltaic cells, or enormous power plants constructed entirely of solar collectors and a single tower for directing the energy into a steam chamber or some other method of converting the light and heat into usable energy. With all of this research and discovery it has also become much easier to acquire the materials and equipment necessary for outfitting a home or other building with at least one source of solar energy, such as a hot water system. This all means that the days of total natural energy are getting closer and more affordable for almost any budget. Solar Power Plant Processes..
Advantages & Disadvantages of a Solar Power Plant As our planet runs out of fossil fuels, the main source of energy in the world, we must find a way to harvest our renewable resources. One of the major renewable resources is solar power. Since the sun is not available at night, it is necessary to store the energy so that it is accessible throughout the 24-hour day. A solar power plant may be the solution to our need for a renewable energy source and the storage issue, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to this method of energy production.
Disadvantages The Environment
y
One of the major drawbacks of using fossil fuels is that burning them releases pollution into the environment. Some effects of pollution include global warming, acid rain and smog. A major advantage of
solar power is that a solar power plant is self-sufficient, running completely off of the power of the sun. As the energy is stored or converted into electricity or heat, it does not release pollutants.
Setup Cost
y
One of the main disadvantages of solar power plants is the extremely high cost of building them. The semi-conductive materials used in storing and converting solar energy have yet to be made as economically as the equipment used in electricity. Also, in order to collect a large amount of energy, many solar panels need to be set up. Since even a single solar panel is expensive, purchasing hundreds or thousands of panels requires a major investment.
Long-Term Cost
y
After the initial investment, however, the cost of solar power plants is an advantage. After setting up solar panels, there is little maintenance needed, leading to lower costs. Energy from the sun is completely free, and it will stay free for the foreseeable future. Some government agencies are offering financial incentives to companies and individuals who use solar power. For individuals using solar power, solar energy that is not used can be sold back to the utility company.
Other Disadvantages
y
Solar power plants require a large area of land to efficiently absorb solar energy. These plants are only as effective as the amount of solar energy they can absorb. This means that certain locations where there is less sun are workable for a solar power plant. Areas of the world with high pollution or cloud cover are also not good locations for solar power plants. Some solar power plants may require some use of fossil fuels to power the plant in times of less sun.
Advantages Solar power plants convert heat energy from the sun into electricity. As the Department of Energy explains, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is the leading technology used to create electricity from the sun. This is achieved by focussing light using mirrors onto panels which then collect the heat. The heat is used to generate steam that powers a steam turbine. In turn, the turbine turns to produce electricity. While the technology is expensive and a large area of solar panels are needed to create enough energy for it to be profitable, there are also important advantages of solar power plants.
Renewable Energy
o
Solar energy is renewable, which means that so long as the sun shines, the power plant generates electricity. In some parts of the world, sunlight is almost constantly available and is therefore a reliable form of energy to make electricity. Unlike sunlight, non-renewable resources, such as coal and natural gas, have a limited supply and are not a secure or reliable option in the long term.
Cost Effective
o
As natural gas, coal and oil resources are depleting, prices are rising as the these fuels are becoming harder to find and reserves are running out. Solar power plants provide a cost-effective alternative. Firstly, producing electricity is quick. It can be generated from the sun within a few hours. Secondly, sunlight is free to use. Thirdly, new technologies are also available to enable storage of electricity generated throughout the day which can then be used at night. Therefore solar power plants, in the long term, can produce electricity at a low cost.
Safety
o
Solar power plants are safer and cleaner for people, wildlife and the environment compared to nuclear power or burning fossil fuels. Solar energy does not create any dangerous byproducts and the risks associated with it are minimal. For example, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon emissions into the air, which contributes towards global warming. Also, as the World Nuclear Association outlines, nuclear power produces radioactive waste that requires being sealed into canisters and buried deep underground. People at the plants also have to be careful in handling the radioactive waste so that they are not exposed to dangerous radiation.
Environmentally Friendly
o
When fossil fuels -- natural gas, coal and oil for example -- burn to create energy, carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere. Firstly, the carbon emissions contribute to climate change and global warming. Secondly, pollutant gases, such as sulphur dioxide, are produced. These gases dissolve into rain, causing acid rain which damages trees and speeds up the decay of buildings. Solar power plants use sunlight for electricity instead. This is an environmentally friendly way of using the Earth's natural resources because it avoids creating dangerous carbon emissions. Uses and Applications Residential The number of PV installations on buildings connected to the electricity grid has grown in recent years. Government subsidy programs (particularly in Germany and Japan) and green pricing policies of utilities or electricity service providers have stimulated demand. Demand is also driven by the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, non-polluting, renewable source. These consumers are usually willing to pay only a small premium for renewable energy. Increasingly, the incentive is an attractive financial return on the investment through the sale of solar electricity at premium feed-in tariff rates. In solar systems connected to the electricity grid, the PV system supplies electricity to the building, and any daytime excess may be exported to the grid. Batteries are not required because the grid supplies any extra demand. However, to be independent of the grid supply, battery storage is needed to provide power at night. Holiday or vacation homes without access to the electricity grid can use solar systems more costeffectively than if the grid was extended to reach the location. Remote homes in sunny locations can obtain reliable electricity to meet basic needs with a simple system comprising of a PV panel, a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured during daylight hours, a regulator (or charge
controller), and the necessary wiring and switches. Such systems are often called solar home systems (SHS).
Commercial On an office building, roof areas can be covered with glass PV modules, which can be semi-transparent to provide shaded light. On a factory or warehouse, large roof areas are the best location for solar modules. If the roof is flat, then arrays can be mounted using techniques that do not breach the weatherproofed roof membrane. Also, skylights can be partially covered with PV. The vertical walls of office buildings provide several opportunities for PV incorporation, as well as sunshades or balconies incorporating a PV system. Sunshades may have the PV system mounted externally to the building, or have PV cells specially mounted between glass sheets comprising the window. Industrial For many years, solar energy has been the power supply choice for industrial applications, especially where power is required at remote locations. Because solar systems are highly reliable and require little maintenance, they are ideal in distant or isolated places. Solar energy is also frequently used for transportation signaling, such as offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning light structures, and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar is used to power environmental monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems for pipelines, well-heads, bridges, and other structures. For larger electrical loads, it can be cost-effective to configure a hybrid power system that links the PV with a small diesel generator. Remote Applications Remote buildings, such as schools, community halls, and clinics, can benefit from solar energy. In developing regions, central power plants can provide electricity to homes via a local wired network, or act as a battery charging station where members of the community can bring batteries to be recharged. PV systems can be used to pump water in remote areas as part of a portable water supply system. Specialized solar water pumps are designed for submersible use or to float on open water. Large-scale desalination plants can also be PV powered using an array of PV modules with battery storage. PV systems are sometimes best configured with a small diesel generator in order to meet heavy power requirements in off-grid locations. With a small diesel generator, the PV system does not have to be sized to cope with the worst sunlight conditions during the year. The diesel generator can provide back-up power that is minimized during the sunniest part of the year by the PV system. This keeps fuel and maintenance costs low.
Other applications Solar powered phone Satellite navigation power Solar electric cars Water distillation uses Solar shower Solar calculator solar vacuum Solar powered cam recorder solar powered fan cap Solar powered radio solar powered light
Solar Power Plant Maintenance Plant monitoring Daily analysis and evaluation of operational plant data through remote monitoring Plausibility test of current yield and weather data Energy meter value management Service hotline Mo.-Fr. 8:00h - 17:00h Preventive maintenance Preventive inspection and maintenance of system components according to manufacturer s specifications Documentation of events and measures Provision of small parts and operating material Conduction of regulatory tests according to technical standards
Fault detection and analysis Function check after fault message is received Immediate start of fault removal measures Long-term trend analysis Management of repairs and claims Analysis of interruptions and incidents Supply chain management for spare parts i.e. modules, inverters, cabling and mechanical components Documentation and data management (KPIs) Documentation of plant energy output and system availability Electronic plant logbook Detailed information about main events and measures Customer Reports on a quarterly and/or yearly basis
Warranty and service management Monitoring and tracking of warranty rights Support with insurance cases Coordination and managing of external (i.e. 3rd party) service providers
Facility management Maintenance of vegetation Implementation of official requirements for technical operation Module cleaning (optional) Solar farms Environmental impact
How does solar power square against coal or hydro from an environmental standpoint.
It goes without saying that any development, no matter how green, will affect the environment to some degree. The question under U.S. federal (and most states) law is whether there will be a significant adverse environmental impact. Be assured that no large-scale project will be approved by a governmental agency until the impacts are identified, studied, analyzed and determined to have been mitigated to the greatest degree required under law. Somewhat ironic is the fact that solar power plants have been under fire for their potential impacts recently even though drawing on clean solar power will have an overall diminished impact on the environment compared to coal, natural gas, or even wind power!
Nonetheless, the fact that a clean energy project is proposed does not give it a free pass. Solar adverse impact must still be assessed and mitigated before permits can be issued. In the California Mojave Desert, thousands of acres of land would be directly impacted by proposed solar thermal energy plants. And California is not alone. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management reportedly has 31 solar projects in fast track review. In addition, many states are pushing development of solar power plants with aggressive renewable energy standards and timelines, which means more projects will soon be in the works.
What is the impact of solar thermal power plants? So, when it comes to solar farms, what types of environmental impacts can be expected?
First and foremost is the disruption of what might have been pristine property. Obviously, construction is intensive, but even the fact of having large parabolic solar panels or mirrors taking up acres of land. Migration routes and habitat of wildlife, flora and fauna could be displaced. Often, new solar installation sites are graded, sprayed with weed control chemicals and shaded. Each one of these steps will change the dynamics of the original function of the land with respect to plant and animal inhabitants. Humans will be present on a more regular basis, likely driving to the site in vehicles and disposing of trash, etc. through maintenance and operation of the solar power plants.
Wondering about the impact of solar power plants? Although each individual project is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, the general environmental impact of solar farms is under consideration by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The national laboratory is studying how prairie ecosystems are affected by the construction and operation of solar power plants. From prairie dogs and grasses to birds of prey, a range of plants and wildlife are considered. NREL is conducting a comparison between a developed site and one left untouched. NREL Senior Biologist Brenda Beatty noted: The experiments will begin to give us a handle on how PV installations and operations affect vegetation in our portion of the arid West, and the information obtained may be useful for other NREL projects, and for revegetation efforts at other solar installations. Solar power is not the only target of the analysis at NREL. The lab is also conducting research on how wind turbines and meteorological towers affect birds and bats. In the end, however, be assured that no matter the perceived solar adverse impact, environmental issues will be vetted prior to the issuance of any permits. Solar power plants definitely may affect the environment, but the alternative seems less green to me! not much if on a roof , otherwise pretty much the land that it takes up , that carbon eating trees could be grown on, also you must keep in mind of all the things that go into the manufacture of the equipment. the making of plastics and processing of metal .energy for all this i.e.. the melting copper for making wiring then you have the work trucks that have to drive out and any environmental issues around the installation process , fuel, metal grinding dust, workmen pissing behind bushes lunch trash, and then the disposal of parts as they need replacement, I'm not 100% sure of how solar collection fields effect local wild life other the obvious displacement,, do the birds get blinded by glare while flying over head, do the worms get cold in the shade , grass may not grow underneath ,. and clearing of land and native plants may contribute to top soil erosion. Since solar power systems generate no air pollution during operation, the primary environmental, health, and safety issues involve how they are manufactured, installed, and ultimately disposed of. Energy is required to manufacture and install solar components, and any fossil fuels used for this purpose will generate emissions. Thus, an important question is how much fossil energy input is required for solar systems compared to the fossil energy consumed by comparable conventional energy systems. Although this varies depending upon the technology and climate, the energy balance is generally favorable to solar systems in applications where they are cost effective, and it is improving with each successive generation of technology. According to some studies, for example, solar water heaters increase the amount of hot water generated per unit of fossil energy invested by at least a factor of two compared to natural gas water heating and by at least a factor of eight compared to electric water heating.
Materials used in some solar systems can create health and safety hazards for workers and anyone else coming into contact with them. In particular, the manufacturing of photovoltaic cells often requires hazardous materials such as arsenic and cadmium. Even relatively inert silicon, a major material used in solar cells, can be hazardous to workers if it is breathed in as dust. Workers involved in manufacturing photovoltaic modules and components must consequently be protected from exposure to these materials. There is an additional-probably very small-danger that hazardous fumes released from photovoltaic modules attached to burning homes or buildings could injure fire fighters.
None of these potential hazards is much different in quality or magnitude from the innumerable hazards people face routinely in an industrial society. Through effective regulation, the dangers can very likely be kept at a very low level. The large amount of land required for utility-scale solar power plants-approximately one square kilometer for every 20-60 megawatts (MW) generated-poses an additional problem, especially where wildlife protection is a concern. But this problem is not unique to solar power plants. Generating electricity from coal actually requires as much or more land per unit of energy delivered if the land used in strip mining is taken into account. Solar-thermal plants (like most conventional power plants) also require cooling water, which may be costly or scarce in desert areas. Large central power plants are not the only option for generating energy from sunlight, however, and are probably among the least promising. Because sunlight is dispersed, small-scale, dispersed applications are a better match to the resource. They can take advantage of unused space on the roofs of homes and buildings and in urban and industrial lots. And, in solar building designs, the structure itself acts as the collector, so there is no need for any additional space at all.
Environmental Effects of Solar Energy Production. There is a lot of talk about solar energy these days, but it can be confusing to understand exactly what the information we receive means. Is solar power somehow harmful to the environment, or is it a better source of power for the future? In most cases, solar energy is definitely more cost effective over time than fossil fuels, but it is important to weigh the possible adverse effects of solar energy as well, to be certain that such power-generating systems are a move in the right direction.
No Direct Emissions The obvious effect of solar energy production is that there is no direct emission of gases or pollutants. Keep in mind, however, that the creation of photovoltaic panels, which convert radiation to electricity, requires fossil fuels and petroleum by-products, so the carbon footprint of solar energy is not really zero, although it is much lower and does not require an ongoing carbon commitment.
o
Hazardous Materials Content
o
An Oregon state study on the life cycle of solar panels notes, interestingly, that there are environmentally harmful elements used in the construction of photovoltaic panels. Arsenic, cadmium, and other chemicals are used in the panels themselves, and the batteries used to store the generated power are the same type as used in marine vessels and recreational vehicles, requiring environmentally sensitive disposal. While these dangers are slight, steps that incur costs must be taken to ensure safe disposal. Ecological Concerns
o
The pro-alternative energy site Cooler Planet points out that many conservationist groups are concerned about animal habitat depletion. There are concerns that the large spaces required for solar energy production will create habitat problems, but these doubts are often not balanced against the environmental needs of other power-generation facilities. For example, a solar power generation plant requires the destruction of less habitat than a coal-generating station when the land space of the mines producing the coal is added into the equation.
Water Requirements
o
Some institutions, such as Arizona Agricultural University, point out that solar power is not always efficient in terms of water requirements. When energy is generated, one of the by-products is always heat. Large generating systems, even solar power systems, require a cooling system to maintain consistent operation. In some regions, solar power itself may be an affordable energy alternative for consumption, but the cost of cooling the solar plants actually makes using such generating stations prohibitively expensive due to a lack of locally available water.
Solar Energy Comparison with Fossil Fuels
o
By comparison, solar power is still the clear winner, according to ecology.com, in terms of being more environmentally friendly. When solar power generation is matched against fossil fuel-based energy production, solar is less damaging to the earth. Even the dangers that are presented by solar power are found as often, or more so, in the by-products of fossil fuels, and there is no escaping the fact that a solar panel can provide as much as 20 years of power generation for a single carbon investment of manufacturing the system, which cannot be duplicated by any other commonly used type of energy production, other than wind systems.
Is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic s (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.
A Brief History of Solar Energy It all started during the space race. Russia and the United States were sending satellites into the atmosphere. These satellites had big arrays of solar panels to power them. So early on lots of money was invested into making solar panels durable and reliable. After all, replacing them was very dif cult. Once the space race ended, investment in solar technologies slowed down. Solar panels occupied an uncomfortable position. They were too expensive for the mainstream marketplace, and there wasn t a pressing need to make them more affordable. Then global warming and climate change began to emerge. The oil crisis of the 1970 s, the war in the Middle East, pollution, acid rain, El Nino, the Amazon rainforests, melting glaciers, the hole in the ozone and endangered species. Suddenly, there was a need for a clean, reliable energy producing technology. Throughout human being s long history, both the recorded and prehistoric periods, the warmth of the sun has been put to use. Early homes were situated in locations that received a great deal of heat and light and later on methods for distillation of water and cooking of food using only the sun s rays were developed as well. Today, the sun is being regarded as a fundamentally untapped natural resource, but millions of people have begun to explore the remarkable benefits of solar power. What exactly is solar power? In the simplest of terms, there is energy contained within the intense radiation that comes from the sun. Using a number of materials and systems, scientists, engineers and technicians have created ways in which home and business owners can reduce their supplied energy use through reliance on solar power. Today solar power is used in many large and small scale applications for everything from heating and cooling of homes and buildings, creating domestic hot water, treating water and sewage, cooking, solar lights, mass electrical production and even in modes of transportation such as cars and airplanes. Actual development of the solar cells required to harness the sun s energy in any way began in the 1800s when a French physicist observed that there were photoelectric effects from the sun. Only one hundred years later photovoltaic effects were being improved, and actually the most commonly used material cadmium selenide was being used affectively. Things really took off from the 1950s onward as silicon and other materials were being put to use for residential and commercial solar applications. It was at this time as well that the gas crisis of the 1970s caused many people to address energy issues beyond the use of oil and petroleum products. At that time many people turned their attention to solar, water and wind as untapped sources of renewable energy.
Today scientists and physicists, among many others, are continuing to expand the applications of solar energy. It is now not uncommon to see an entire roof paneled with photovoltaic cells, or enormous power plants constructed entirely of solar collectors and a single tower for directing the energy into a steam chamber or some other method of converting the light and heat into usable energy. With all of this research and discovery it has also become much easier to acquire the materials and equipment necessary for outfitting a home or other building with at least one source of solar energy, such as a hot water system. This all means that the days of total natural energy are getting closer and more affordable for almost any budget. Solar Power Plant Processes..
Advantages & Disadvantages of a Solar Power Plant As our planet runs out of fossil fuels, the main source of energy in the world, we must find a way to harvest our renewable resources. One of the major renewable resources is solar power. Since the sun is not available at night, it is necessary to store the energy so that it is accessible throughout the 24-hour day. A solar power plant may be the solution to our need for a renewable energy source and the storage issue, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to this method of energy production.
Disadvantages The Environment
y
One of the major drawbacks of using fossil fuels is that burning them releases pollution into the environment. Some effects of pollution include global warming, acid rain and smog. A major advantage of
solar power is that a solar power plant is self-sufficient, running completely off of the power of the sun. As the energy is stored or converted into electricity or heat, it does not release pollutants.
Setup Cost
y
One of the main disadvantages of solar power plants is the extremely high cost of building them. The semi-conductive materials used in storing and converting solar energy have yet to be made as economically as the equipment used in electricity. Also, in order to collect a large amount of energy, many solar panels need to be set up. Since even a single solar panel is expensive, purchasing hundreds or thousands of panels requires a major investment.
Long-Term Cost
y
After the initial investment, however, the cost of solar power plants is an advantage. After setting up solar panels, there is little maintenance needed, leading to lower costs. Energy from the sun is completely free, and it will stay free for the foreseeable future. Some government agencies are offering financial incentives to companies and individuals who use solar power. For individuals using solar power, solar energy that is not used can be sold back to the utility company.
Other Disadvantages
y
Solar power plants require a large area of land to efficiently absorb solar energy. These plants are only as effective as the amount of solar energy they can absorb. This means that certain locations where there is less sun are workable for a solar power plant. Areas of the world with high pollution or cloud cover are also not good locations for solar power plants. Some solar power plants may require some use of fossil fuels to power the plant in times of less sun.
Advantages Solar power plants convert heat energy from the sun into electricity. As the Department of Energy explains, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is the leading technology used to create electricity from the sun. This is achieved by focussing light using mirrors onto panels which then collect the heat. The heat is used to generate steam that powers a steam turbine. In turn, the turbine turns to produce electricity. While the technology is expensive and a large area of solar panels are needed to create enough energy for it to be profitable, there are also important advantages of solar power plants.
Renewable Energy
o
Solar energy is renewable, which means that so long as the sun shines, the power plant generates electricity. In some parts of the world, sunlight is almost constantly available and is therefore a reliable form of energy to make electricity. Unlike sunlight, non-renewable resources, such as coal and natural gas, have a limited supply and are not a secure or reliable option in the long term.
Cost Effective
o
As natural gas, coal and oil resources are depleting, prices are rising as the these fuels are becoming harder to find and reserves are running out. Solar power plants provide a cost-effective alternative. Firstly, producing electricity is quick. It can be generated from the sun within a few hours. Secondly, sunlight is free to use. Thirdly, new technologies are also available to enable storage of electricity generated throughout the day which can then be used at night. Therefore solar power plants, in the long term, can produce electricity at a low cost.
Safety
o
Solar power plants are safer and cleaner for people, wildlife and the environment compared to nuclear power or burning fossil fuels. Solar energy does not create any dangerous byproducts and the risks associated with it are minimal. For example, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon emissions into the air, which contributes towards global warming. Also, as the World Nuclear Association outlines, nuclear power produces radioactive waste that requires being sealed into canisters and buried deep underground. People at the plants also have to be careful in handling the radioactive waste so that they are not exposed to dangerous radiation.
Environmentally Friendly
o
When fossil fuels -- natural gas, coal and oil for example -- burn to create energy, carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere. Firstly, the carbon emissions contribute to climate change and global warming. Secondly, pollutant gases, such as sulphur dioxide, are produced. These gases dissolve into rain, causing acid rain which damages trees and speeds up the decay of buildings. Solar power plants use sunlight for electricity instead. This is an environmentally friendly way of using the Earth's natural resources because it avoids creating dangerous carbon emissions. Uses and Applications Residential The number of PV installations on buildings connected to the electricity grid has grown in recent years. Government subsidy programs (particularly in Germany and Japan) and green pricing policies of utilities or electricity service providers have stimulated demand. Demand is also driven by the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, non-polluting, renewable source. These consumers are usually willing to pay only a small premium for renewable energy. Increasingly, the incentive is an attractive financial return on the investment through the sale of solar electricity at premium feed-in tariff rates. In solar systems connected to the electricity grid, the PV system supplies electricity to the building, and any daytime excess may be exported to the grid. Batteries are not required because the grid supplies any extra demand. However, to be independent of the grid supply, battery storage is needed to provide power at night. Holiday or vacation homes without access to the electricity grid can use solar systems more costeffectively than if the grid was extended to reach the location. Remote homes in sunny locations can obtain reliable electricity to meet basic needs with a simple system comprising of a PV panel, a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured during daylight hours, a regulator (or charge
controller), and the necessary wiring and switches. Such systems are often called solar home systems (SHS).
Commercial On an office building, roof areas can be covered with glass PV modules, which can be semi-transparent to provide shaded light. On a factory or warehouse, large roof areas are the best location for solar modules. If the roof is flat, then arrays can be mounted using techniques that do not breach the weatherproofed roof membrane. Also, skylights can be partially covered with PV. The vertical walls of office buildings provide several opportunities for PV incorporation, as well as sunshades or balconies incorporating a PV system. Sunshades may have the PV system mounted externally to the building, or have PV cells specially mounted between glass sheets comprising the window. Industrial For many years, solar energy has been the power supply choice for industrial applications, especially where power is required at remote locations. Because solar systems are highly reliable and require little maintenance, they are ideal in distant or isolated places. Solar energy is also frequently used for transportation signaling, such as offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning light structures, and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar is used to power environmental monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems for pipelines, well-heads, bridges, and other structures. For larger electrical loads, it can be cost-effective to configure a hybrid power system that links the PV with a small diesel generator. Remote Applications Remote buildings, such as schools, community halls, and clinics, can benefit from solar energy. In developing regions, central power plants can provide electricity to homes via a local wired network, or act as a battery charging station where members of the community can bring batteries to be recharged. PV systems can be used to pump water in remote areas as part of a portable water supply system. Specialized solar water pumps are designed for submersible use or to float on open water. Large-scale desalination plants can also be PV powered using an array of PV modules with battery storage. PV systems are sometimes best configured with a small diesel generator in order to meet heavy power requirements in off-grid locations. With a small diesel generator, the PV system does not have to be sized to cope with the worst sunlight conditions during the year. The diesel generator can provide back-up power that is minimized during the sunniest part of the year by the PV system. This keeps fuel and maintenance costs low.
Other applications Solar powered phone Satellite navigation power Solar electric cars Water distillation uses Solar shower Solar calculator solar vacuum Solar powered cam recorder solar powered fan cap Solar powered radio solar powered light
Solar Power Plant Maintenance Plant monitoring Daily analysis and evaluation of operational plant data through remote monitoring Plausibility test of current yield and weather data Energy meter value management Service hotline Mo.-Fr. 8:00h - 17:00h Preventive maintenance Preventive inspection and maintenance of system components according to manufacturer s specifications Documentation of events and measures Provision of small parts and operating material Conduction of regulatory tests according to technical standards
Fault detection and analysis Function check after fault message is received Immediate start of fault removal measures Long-term trend analysis Management of repairs and claims Analysis of interruptions and incidents Supply chain management for spare parts i.e. modules, inverters, cabling and mechanical components Documentation and data management (KPIs) Documentation of plant energy output and system availability Electronic plant logbook Detailed information about main events and measures Customer Reports on a quarterly and/or yearly basis
Warranty and service management Monitoring and tracking of warranty rights Support with insurance cases Coordination and managing of external (i.e. 3rd party) service providers
Facility management Maintenance of vegetation Implementation of official requirements for technical operation Module cleaning (optional) Solar farms Environmental impact
How does solar power square against coal or hydro from an environmental standpoint.
It goes without saying that any development, no matter how green, will affect the environment to some degree. The question under U.S. federal (and most states) law is whether there will be a significant adverse environmental impact. Be assured that no large-scale project will be approved by a governmental agency until the impacts are identified, studied, analyzed and determined to have been mitigated to the greatest degree required under law. Somewhat ironic is the fact that solar power plants have been under fire for their potential impacts recently even though drawing on clean solar power will have an overall diminished impact on the environment compared to coal, natural gas, or even wind power!
Nonetheless, the fact that a clean energy project is proposed does not give it a free pass. Solar adverse impact must still be assessed and mitigated before permits can be issued. In the California Mojave Desert, thousands of acres of land would be directly impacted by proposed solar thermal energy plants. And California is not alone. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management reportedly has 31 solar projects in fast track review. In addition, many states are pushing development of solar power plants with aggressive renewable energy standards and timelines, which means more projects will soon be in the works.
What is the impact of solar thermal power plants? So, when it comes to solar farms, what types of environmental impacts can be expected?
First and foremost is the disruption of what might have been pristine property. Obviously, construction is intensive, but even the fact of having large parabolic solar panels or mirrors taking up acres of land. Migration routes and habitat of wildlife, flora and fauna could be displaced. Often, new solar installation sites are graded, sprayed with weed control chemicals and shaded. Each one of these steps will change the dynamics of the original function of the land with respect to plant and animal inhabitants. Humans will be present on a more regular basis, likely driving to the site in vehicles and disposing of trash, etc. through maintenance and operation of the solar power plants.
Wondering about the impact of solar power plants? Although each individual project is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, the general environmental impact of solar farms is under consideration by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The national laboratory is studying how prairie ecosystems are affected by the construction and operation of solar power plants. From prairie dogs and grasses to birds of prey, a range of plants and wildlife are considered. NREL is conducting a comparison between a developed site and one left untouched. NREL Senior Biologist Brenda Beatty noted: The experiments will begin to give us a handle on how PV installations and operations affect vegetation in our portion of the arid West, and the information obtained may be useful for other NREL projects, and for revegetation efforts at other solar installations. Solar power is not the only target of the analysis at NREL. The lab is also conducting research on how wind turbines and meteorological towers affect birds and bats. In the end, however, be assured that no matter the perceived solar adverse impact, environmental issues will be vetted prior to the issuance of any permits. Solar power plants definitely may affect the environment, but the alternative seems less green to me! not much if on a roof , otherwise pretty much the land that it takes up , that carbon eating trees could be grown on, also you must keep in mind of all the things that go into the manufacture of the equipment. the making of plastics and processing of metal .energy for all this i.e.. the melting copper for making wiring then you have the work trucks that have to drive out and any environmental issues around the installation process , fuel, metal grinding dust, workmen pissing behind bushes lunch trash, and then the disposal of parts as they need replacement, I'm not 100% sure of how solar collection fields effect local wild life other the obvious displacement,, do the birds get blinded by glare while flying over head, do the worms get cold in the shade , grass may not grow underneath ,. and clearing of land and native plants may contribute to top soil erosion. Since solar power systems generate no air pollution during operation, the primary environmental, health, and safety issues involve how they are manufactured, installed, and ultimately disposed of. Energy is required to manufacture and install solar components, and any fossil fuels used for this purpose will generate emissions. Thus, an important question is how much fossil energy input is required for solar systems compared to the fossil energy consumed by comparable conventional energy systems. Although this varies depending upon the technology and climate, the energy balance is generally favorable to solar systems in applications where they are cost effective, and it is improving with each successive generation of technology. According to some studies, for example, solar water heaters increase the amount of hot water generated per unit of fossil energy invested by at least a factor of two compared to natural gas water heating and by at least a factor of eight compared to electric water heating.
Materials used in some solar systems can create health and safety hazards for workers and anyone else coming into contact with them. In particular, the manufacturing of photovoltaic cells often requires hazardous materials such as arsenic and cadmium. Even relatively inert silicon, a major material used in solar cells, can be hazardous to workers if it is breathed in as dust. Workers involved in manufacturing photovoltaic modules and components must consequently be protected from exposure to these materials. There is an additional-probably very small-danger that hazardous fumes released from photovoltaic modules attached to burning homes or buildings could injure fire fighters.
None of these potential hazards is much different in quality or magnitude from the innumerable hazards people face routinely in an industrial society. Through effective regulation, the dangers can very likely be kept at a very low level. The large amount of land required for utility-scale solar power plants-approximately one square kilometer for every 20-60 megawatts (MW) generated-poses an additional problem, especially where wildlife protection is a concern. But this problem is not unique to solar power plants. Generating electricity from coal actually requires as much or more land per unit of energy delivered if the land used in strip mining is taken into account. Solar-thermal plants (like most conventional power plants) also require cooling water, which may be costly or scarce in desert areas. Large central power plants are not the only option for generating energy from sunlight, however, and are probably among the least promising. Because sunlight is dispersed, small-scale, dispersed applications are a better match to the resource. They can take advantage of unused space on the roofs of homes and buildings and in urban and industrial lots. And, in solar building designs, the structure itself acts as the collector, so there is no need for any additional space at all.
Environmental Effects of Solar Energy Production. There is a lot of talk about solar energy these days, but it can be confusing to understand exactly what the information we receive means. Is solar power somehow harmful to the environment, or is it a better source of power for the future? In most cases, solar energy is definitely more cost effective over time than fossil fuels, but it is important to weigh the possible adverse effects of solar energy as well, to be certain that such power-generating systems are a move in the right direction.
No Direct Emissions The obvious effect of solar energy production is that there is no direct emission of gases or pollutants. Keep in mind, however, that the creation of photovoltaic panels, which convert radiation to electricity, requires fossil fuels and petroleum by-products, so the carbon footprint of solar energy is not really zero, although it is much lower and does not require an ongoing carbon commitment.
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Hazardous Materials Content
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An Oregon state study on the life cycle of solar panels notes, interestingly, that there are environmentally harmful elements used in the construction of photovoltaic panels. Arsenic, cadmium, and other chemicals are used in the panels themselves, and the batteries used to store the generated power are the same type as used in marine vessels and recreational vehicles, requiring environmentally sensitive disposal. While these dangers are slight, steps that incur costs must be taken to ensure safe disposal. Ecological Concerns
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The pro-alternative energy site Cooler Planet points out that many conservationist groups are concerned about animal habitat depletion. There are concerns that the large spaces required for solar energy production will create habitat problems, but these doubts are often not balanced against the environmental needs of other power-generation facilities. For example, a solar power generation plant requires the destruction of less habitat than a coal-generating station when the land space of the mines producing the coal is added into the equation.
Water Requirements
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Some institutions, such as Arizona Agricultural University, point out that solar power is not always efficient in terms of water requirements. When energy is generated, one of the by-products is always heat. Large generating systems, even solar power systems, require a cooling system to maintain consistent operation. In some regions, solar power itself may be an affordable energy alternative for consumption, but the cost of cooling the solar plants actually makes using such generating stations prohibitively expensive due to a lack of locally available water.
Solar Energy Comparison with Fossil Fuels
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By comparison, solar power is still the clear winner, according to ecology.com, in terms of being more environmentally friendly. When solar power generation is matched against fossil fuel-based energy production, solar is less damaging to the earth. Even the dangers that are presented by solar power are found as often, or more so, in the by-products of fossil fuels, and there is no escaping the fact that a solar panel can provide as much as 20 years of power generation for a single carbon investment of manufacturing the system, which cannot be duplicated by any other commonly used type of energy production, other than wind systems.
