GEOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Photovoltaics, Electric Current, Solar Irradiance
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Hao Tran
htran170@ivc.edu
Physical Geology
Notes: Geol 1
(Renewable Energy)
○ Renewable Energy Sources
■ Lots of types being studied to help reduce fossil fuels use
■ General Points:
● 1. Each has advantages and disadvantages
○ No ‘magical material’ that comes without any drawbacks
● 2. No one source will provide all our energy needs
○ Need a varied approach
○ Renewable Energy Advantages
■ 1. Abundant
■ 2. Produce little pollution
■ 3. Low maintenance
■ 4. Safe
○ Renewable Energy Disadvantages
■ 1. Technology still being developed
■ 2. Expensive
■ 3. Infrastructure compatibility
■ 4. Acceptance by society
● Solar
○ Capture all the sunlight for 1 hour = a year’s supply of energy
○ How can we harness solar energy?
■ Use mirrors to collect sunlight and reflect it towards sunlight directly into
a current (electricity)
○ Solar Farms
■ Use Mirrors to focus/reflect sunlight onto a receiver
○ Solar Electricity
■ Photovoltaics (PV):
● Converting sunlight directly into electricity
○ Photovoltaics
■ Photovoltaic Cells (PVCs)
● Receiver that collects the sunlight and causes electrons in the
semiconductor to flow
● Constantly improving: 46% is the record for efficiency
● New Organic materials being studied
● Like a solar panel
■ Use around 7.5% of the Sahara desert as solar farms = provide half the
world’s energy needs
■ Assumes 10-15% PVC efficiency
■ Also very expensive but efficiency is an Ok assumption
○ Solar Use