Download Solar Power!

Solar Power!
By: Maude, Lili, Dider
Advantages
Source is the sun
The sun is not burning out anytime soon
Renewable (cannot be used up)
Clean (leaves virtually no waste)
Carbon-free
Easy to maintain panels (no mechanical parts)
Free energy (after initial cost)
Advantages cont.
Solar power industry is an international industry
Helps grow economies
Provides jobs
“Nearly 175,000 people”
Disadvantages
Limited to climates that have high exposure to sunlight
Steep initial cost ($25000)
Only can gather power during daylight hours
Low power output (compared to input)
Around 40% is converted
Requires large, mostly flat areas
How they work...
The way solar panels work is by harnessing the power of the sun it is able to convert it to thermal
energy. First the photovoltaic cells are able to capture the sunlight due to the liquid silicon within each
cell. Each panel is sprayed with a thin anti-reflective sheet which stops the photons from the light rays to
bounce out cause even more energy loss. After the photons are captured the energy is converted in to
direct current. Then an inverter will convert the direct current into alternating current and is fed into
homes across America. The excess energy will then be stored in a grid or battery.
Calculating the Cost of Solar Panels
A 5kW system on an ordinary house costs $25,000-$35,000 to install
For a house in St. Louis, Missouri with 4.38 hours of peak sunlight, a cost of $0.10 per kWh from the
normal power company, a 5kW size solar system, and a power bill of $500, the solar panels would
save $1.75 per day, $638.75 per year
So, it would take 40 years for the savings from the solar panels to pay themselves off
Suffice to say, St. Louis is not a great place for Solar Panels
Fun Facts
Fastest growing industry in the US
Solar Star is the largest solar power plant and generates 579 MW of energy
Yay Solar
P wer!