Solar Power conversion on Solar Panels
A Term Paper
Presented to
Mrs. Lynnie Ann P. Deocampo
Department of English
CASS, MSU-IIT
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
ENGLISH 2 (Writing in the Discipline)
Second Semester, SY 2010-2011
by
Eva Michelle Endriga
A1-6
March 24, 2011
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General Topic: Alternative Energy ResourcesSpecific Topic: Solar Energy Conversion on Solar Panels
Thesis Statement: To reduce the dependency on Non-renewable Natural Resources, advocates suggested the use of solar Panels as an alternative energy source.
Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Definition of Solar Panels
B. Benefits of Solar Panels
II. BODY
A.There is a need to reduce the dependency of the earth’s Renewable Energies.
i. The depletion of the natural resources takes time to replenish.
ii. The exhausting supply of the natural resources leads to the depletion of the ecosystem.
B. Advocates suggest the use of solar panels as an alternative energy source.
i. Solar Panels are equipments used to convert sunlight into energy.
1. Solar Panels are consists of a semiconductor that uses silicon.
2. Solar Panels use the Sun’s radiation to convert and produce electricity.
ii. Solar Panels are economically and environmentally beneficial.
1. Solar Panels are affordable, reliable and require only a minimum maintenance.
a. Solar Panels uses Solar Energy that replenishes itself in which there is no need to worry about its supply.
b. Solar Panels have no cost involved in acquiring its supply.
c. Solar Panels has no moving parts thus requires only a minimum maintenance.
2. Solar Panels are clean, safe and helps reduce the use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases.
a. Solar Panels reduced the waste produced by coal’s production from it does not give off pollution.
b. Solar Panels conserve natural resources like fossil fuels that are used to generate electricity.
III. Conclusion
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Introduction
There are numerous ways to conserve energy. The process of conserving deals not only on how to use it but also on what to use. Miester (n.d) stated that one alternative energy source that could produce electrical energy is supplied by Solar Energy. Botkin and Keller (2003) explained that solar energy is converted into electricity with use of Salar Panels often termed as Solar Cells otherwise Photovoltaic Cells. Pollick (March, 2011) specified that solar panels usually uses silicon that is an ideal platform for the transmissions of electrons. The cells do the actual work of harnessing the energy, thus, gives the human a great advantage.
The solar panel provides numerous benefits that’s why people must use it not only because it is clean and renewable but also it can sustain the needs of our homes. Using solar panels influences the capacity of our home supplies. This method gives us the idea to generate more appliances for it reduces our consumption from the national grid and saves your money in the process.
1. What are Solar Panels?
2. How do Solar Panels work?
3. What are the economical benefits of Solar Panels?
4. What are the environmental benefits of Solar Panels?
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Body
The Earth is confronting many problems today. One of which is the decrease amount of energy to use. There is a need to reduce the dependency of the Earth’s Non-Renewable Resources because of the two factors. One is the depletion of the natural resources takes time to replenish. And it is also due to the exhausting supply of the natural resources leads to the destruction of the ecosystem.
The depletion of the natural resources takes time to replenish. Law and Catania (October, 2003) declared in their article that the demand for non-renewable resources jointly escalates as the world’s population inevitable increases at an alarming rate. Singh (2011) stated that they are termed as non-renewable for these fossil fuels like coal and oil cannot be recycled from their original state constantly because the rate of consumption is quicker than they are recuperated. Aleklett’s study (as cited in Fredholm, 1993) provided information about his exploration that the available and future oil resource has reached its maximal rate of production. Zittel (January, 2009) added that the world’s oil supply leads to the increasing demand of these, thus, causes to unexpectedly increase on high price. The scenarios of fossil fuels’ supplies availability are reaching its limit. The use of these declined resources does give severe damage to the environment.
The exhausting supply of the natural resources like fossil fuels leads to the destruction of our ecosystem. Miester (August, 2011) emphasized that according to scientist and experts, the decreasing amount of these natural resources was due to the continuous harvesting and burning of fossil fuels causes the ozone layer to be diminished. To protect the Earth’s surface from meteors and other space debris, and keeps the oxygen and water from escaping are the roles of the ozone layer and atmosphere. Haluzan (November, 2010) added that “burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) releases large quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which mostly contributes to climate change. In the book of Tickel, K. and Tickel J (2000) explained the effect on decrease supply of fossil fuels leads to war on oil in 1990 known as the Gulf War. Lomrodi, Altunina, and Beaubieu (2006) figured out that generally burning of fossil fuels are responsible for a mass transfer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that results to the world-wide temperature and climate change. Miester (August, 2011) added that the earth is a closed system and as the ozone layer of the atmosphere diminishes it does not only affect humans but also to plants and animals that are part of the ecosystem as well. To decline the environmental problems that caused by the production of fossil fuels, is to use renewable energy sources like solar energy.
The Solar energy is one way to produce electricity. Advocates suggested the use of solar panels as an alternative energy source. Solar Panels are equipments that are used to harness electricity wherein it is economically and environmentally beneficial in the community.
Figure 1 A Solar Panel
Boxwell (2010) explained that solar panels as illustrated in the figure above are equipments used to convert sunlight into electricity. The solar cells in solar panels are composed of silicones that are divided into two layers of a semi-conducting material. Edelson (1978) pointed out that silicones are intermediate semiconductor. Pollick (March, 2011) detailed that two silicones are needed to form a strong bond. This bond has no positive and negative charge. The silicon must be combined with boron and phosphorous to form a positive and a negative charge respectively. The result forms boron and a phosphorous silicon layer that generates electricity. The Solar Panels uses the Sun’s radiation to convert and produce electricity. When they are exposed to sunlight, this excites electrons and causes them to jump from one layer to the other. This movement generates electrical current. All of these processes contribute to the economical and environmental benefits of solar panels.
The electricity that is produced in the solar panels provides economical benefits for it is affordable, reliable and it only requires a minimum maintenance. Environmentally, Solar panels are clean, safe and helps reduce the use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gasses.
Solar Panels uses solar energy that replenishes itself in which there is no need to worry about its supply. Craddock (2008) stressed out that the solar energy secures the future that these do not omit to the danger of global warming, wars for oil and pollution. Building solar panels makes the world a better place for these are sustainable source of energy. Thus solar panels have no cost involved in acquiring its supply. Botkin and Keller (2003) cited that developing countries uses photovoltaic as a significant contributor in their inability to build large central power plants that burn fossil fuels. Their uses of photovoltaic demonstrating that solar technology can be simple, relative inexpensive, and is capable of meeting energy needs of the people in many places that could use the supply and demand efficiently. As example of this is in United States wherein a solar company provides photovoltaic systems that power lights and televisions in a number of developing countries at an installed cost of less than $400 per households. In result, about a half million homes mostly in the villages that are located in the remote areas received electricity from photovoltaic cells. Luther and Bubenser (2003) assure that solar panel uses PV systems that contains no moving parts thus requires only a minimum maintenance. Fink and Beaty (2006) stated in their book that the efficiency of these Photovoltaic systems increased from 12% to 17%. A well design Photovoltaic system requires only a minimum periodic maintenance that can help save money. They are guaranteed to last over 30 years thus it will continue to improve as the technology is always upgrading. Christopher Flavin and Seth Dunn (October 1998) as presented in their article “Will Renewable Energy Come of Age in the 21st Century?” they stated that both the United States and the European Union (EU) announced a solar-proof programs which are still being formulated, are partnerships with state and local governments as well as the private sector. There are several companies who have accepted the use of solar cells into the construction of roofing shingles, tiles, and window glass, allowing homes and office buildings to generate their own electricity. These economical benefits affect the life living on Earth.
Solar Panels reduce the waste produced by the coal’s production for it does not give off pollution. Tiwari (2006) added that solar panels reduce the waste produced by fossil fuels when burned.
Paster (Sept. 2009) mentioned the following:
Solar panels don’t generate any greenhouse gas emission unlike coal power plants that emit about 2 pounds of carbon dioxide per kWh. This carbon dioxide builds in the atmosphere and continues to have a warming effect.
Solar Panels help conserve the natural resources like fossil fuels that are used to generate electricity. This only means that solar panels not only add less heat to the atmosphere but also they don’t emit greenhouse gasses. Sheer emphasized (as cited in Roosovelt, September, 2002) the importance of renewable energy including solar energy as “necessary for the assurance of life on Earth. There is no time to waste.”
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Conclusion
Advocates suggested the conversion of electricity in Solar Panels as an alternative tool to reduce the dependency on the Earth’s Non-Renewable Natural Resources like fossil fuels for these energies takes time to replenish and the exhaustion of the supply of these materials leads to the destruction of our ecosystem. Solar Panels are consisting of semiconductors that use silicon in its cells to harness the Sun’s energy and convert it as electricity. These equipments are affordable, reliable and require only a minimum maintenance economically. And environmentally it is clean, safe, and helps reduce the use of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gasses as its environmental benefits. To sum up all, solar panels are not just economically beneficial but environmentally as well.
Our role as a part of the community is to protect our planet from total devastation. The continue change in the Earth’s surface movements are caused by the humans selfishness. The use of fossil fuels leads to its depletion. We must not wait for this to happen and think of alternative ways to conserve and generate electricity with the use of solar panels. We cannot only help ourselves but the environment as well.
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References
Miester, J. (August 2011). Alternative Energy Resources - Renewable, Inexpensive, And Reduces Dependency on Utility Companies. Retrieved March 1, 2011, from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Miester
Haluzan, N. (November, 2011). Carbon Capture And Storage to Create Carbon Dioxide-Free Power Plants?.Retrieved March 14, 2011, from http://www.renewables-info.com/energy_news_and_reports/carbon_capture_and_storage_to_create_co2-free_power_plants.html
Boxwell, M. (2010). Solar Electricity Handbook. United Kingdom: Greenstream Publishing
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Law, C., & Catania, P. J. (October 2003). Sustainable Energy Development. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from http://www.eco-web.com/inf/index.html#
Singh, P. N. (2011). The Flight of Natural Resources. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=PN Singh
Pollick, M. (March, 2011). How do Solar Panels Work?. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-solar-panels-work.html
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