Solar Renewable Energy - Sun Power
It is no secret that the sun can be harnessed to provide a source of energy for homes and businesses.
The sun is a powerful star. It supplies us with energy, through a process called nuclear fusion, and sustains life on our planet Earth. Solar energy, or energy from the sun, has existed since prehistoric times when men would magnify the sun's energy in efforts to start fires.
The sun is a valuable resource that radiates enough energy on the United States in one day to meet the nation's needs for one and a half years. Since it is a free, clean and renewable source of energy, it is an energy source that will play a vital role in our future.
Using the sun's energy for our energy source seems like an easy solution to having an energy supply forever. Harnessing the suns energy is where the problem lies. The sun's rays shine all over the world and not in just one spot. Although it takes only 8 minutes for sunlight to travel to the earth, trying to catch the rays over such a wide area can prove to be tricky. Also, the energy in any one given place will vary due to factors, such as, clouds and weather conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Are solar panels more effective than using the heat energy of the sun to power a turbine?
Practically all you ever hear about is solar panels... are they really so much more effective then other methods, such as using energy from the sun to power a steam-powered turbine enclosed in a system with a vacuum so that the water evaporates at a much lower temperature to power a turbine?-
ANSWER:
It's a good idea to explore, especially if you combine it with a desalinization plant for added efficiency.
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QUESTION:
How can sun spots disturb power grids?
I understand how sun spots can interfere with satellites, but I am unsure of how sun spot cycles (such as the intensity expected in two or three years) can disturb power grids causing possible grid failures.-
ANSWER:
The sun puts out a lot of electromagnetic radiation and lots of charged particles. Sunspots indicate solar activity and what are called "prominences" which are gigantic magnetic fluxes coming off of the surface. Sometimes the magnetic fluxes can be so large that the sun does not hold on to them, and they are ejected. We are shielded from most of the highly charged particles that come our way by earth's natural magnetic field. Some of the particles are drawn in by the field, and that's what auroras are.Anyway, a huge coronal ejection (one of those big magnetic fluxes) directed toward earth could push the earth's magnetic field inward, and the ejected solar magnetic field would screw with our power. Electricity and magnetism are very very connected. It has to do with the behavior and movement of electrons. Have you ever held a magnet to an older TV? Notice how it bends the image? That's because it's pulling on the electrons. Electricity is simply electrons moving along a circuit. If a magnet that attracts electrons more strongly than the conductor is put close to a power line, then the electrons will be drawn away from the line and toward the magnet, and it will locally disturb the power. That's what could happen with the sun, only on a much bigger scale.
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QUESTION:
I have read a report that now a company headed by Odonnel has started producing electrict power from sun using
Essentially I am very keen to find out how much power is manufactured as renewable power :wnd / sun etc any reports are avaible on this?-
ANSWER:
solar power towers................ yup. cool stuff its live and kicking all over the world. Its not really new tech. the important thing now is having enough mirrors to get crank up the megawatts.500 megawatts in texas, 300 megawatts in spain.
Australia is building one too and Texas has another one on the way. Spain is also adding 1 more too. there are many others as well.I think 500 megawatts can power about 250,000 homes daily and doesn't need the sun every day since it heats water in the tower and then saves the heated water underground where it is insulated, then releases it as steam to run turbines when needed.
100% clean, and self supporting. doesn't need coal or any other type of power besides the sun to run it at all...... period.the water contains a mixture of salt and potassium I think
this is REAL sunlight you see around the tower.... (spain)
http://judykitsune.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/solarseville.jpgpretty cool stuff check it....
http://www.energyplanet.info/blog/2007/05/06/solar-power-tower/
hmm an solar updraft tower...this one is new to me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower
I'm trying to find another type... this one. Solar two
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Two
there was a pdf on its functions and design but I can't find it.pricing is my big complaint. I feel they have the right to profit, but since its FREE power, they should charge minimal amounts only to maintain the power plants and employees
funny thing is they claim the power will cost cheaper than coal to start to be competitive, but once coal can be replaced completely, they will raise the price again....
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QUESTION:
How is the sun's energy formed into nuclear power?
What are the steps used to form nuclear power from the sun's energy?
Please list energy transformations. I've been wondering this for a while and got into a heated debate with my teacher and i'd like to have more facts!
Okay, please answer the question. I tried google and couldn't find anything so I though I'd try here.
I know it's formed uranium, but how can I explain how the sun, which gives energy to everything on earth, gives energy to make nuclear power?
The point is to find a way to connect the sun's energy to nuclear energy. I understand it's nearly impossible, but apperently there is a way.-
ANSWER:
The earth does not receive, nor has it ever received any nuclear power from our Sun. The uranium we mine here on earth was created in the cores of dying stars as they blew up billions of years ago. In short, any natural occurring element heavier than Iron on the periodic table was created when a star (not our sun) went supernova.Uranium does come from stars, but not one single atom of uranium on earth came from our sun.
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QUESTION:
Energy from sun to power a swim?
How does energy from the sun power your muscles for an afternoon swim?were studying chemical reaction, photosynthesis, and all that stuff related to chemical reaction for bio. We're really stuck on this question and really confused on this. Could someone explain and help us make a rough draft?
It's due whenever but the whole term ends April 12th so we have until then. And its gotta be a page long (that's not important, but we wanted that in case you have an idea)
thanks
Biology Team!
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ANSWER:
I ate a potato for breakfast, and that gave me the energy for my swim.
The potato got its energy from sugars produced by the leaves of the potato plant.
The leaves got the energy to make the sugars from sunlight; this is called photosynthesis.
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