Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Comparison of Renewable and Comparison of Renewable and Non-Renewable energyNon-Renewable energy

DefinitionDefinition

Renewable energy is generally defined as Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resource which energy that comes from resource which are naturally replenished on a human are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heattides, waves and geothermal heat

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, solar technologies such as solar heating, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal electricity, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis.architecture and artificial photosynthesis.

Social issues

Environmental impact

Drawbacks

Benefits

Potential impact

Economic impacts

Solar energy

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions.global warming emissions.

The potential environmental impacts associated with solar The potential environmental impacts associated with solar power — land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use power — land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing — can vary of hazardous materials in manufacturing — can vary greatly depending on the technology, which includes two greatly depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories: photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or broad categories: photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP).concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP).

The scale of the system — ranging from small, distributed The scale of the system — ranging from small, distributed rooftop PV arrays to large utility-scale PV and CSP rooftop PV arrays to large utility-scale PV and CSP projects — also plays a significant role in the level of projects — also plays a significant role in the level of environmental impact.environmental impact.

Potential ImpactsPotential Impacts

Solar energy is considered a sustainable energy supply Solar energy is considered a sustainable energy supply technology however, the production technology for solar technology however, the production technology for solar modules (which are used to convert energy into power) modules (which are used to convert energy into power) requires relatively high energy outputs. The predominant requires relatively high energy outputs. The predominant negative environmental impacts of solar energy come negative environmental impacts of solar energy come from producing the solar panels. Production of these from producing the solar panels. Production of these panels consumes substantial amounts of energy and panels consumes substantial amounts of energy and produces waste water and hazardous by-products which produces waste water and hazardous by-products which are released to the air during the manufacturing process. are released to the air during the manufacturing process.

Social IssuesSocial Issues Solar energy technology is a very inefficient form of energy conversion, Solar energy technology is a very inefficient form of energy conversion,

which makes it's cost too high. An energy source which requires too which makes it's cost too high. An energy source which requires too great an amount of work put into it (in the form of money, which is great an amount of work put into it (in the form of money, which is derived from the work of the people who pay for it) for the amount of derived from the work of the people who pay for it) for the amount of energy obtained is not a real energy source. In other words, if you get energy obtained is not a real energy source. In other words, if you get too little out for what you put in, it's not worth it. It would be like going too little out for what you put in, it's not worth it. It would be like going back to the horse and cart, cooking with fire (for which you have to back to the horse and cart, cooking with fire (for which you have to gather and chop up wood) and long-distance travel by sailing ships. gather and chop up wood) and long-distance travel by sailing ships. Solar energy is expensive to install. It requires expensive PV (photo-Solar energy is expensive to install. It requires expensive PV (photo-voltaic) panels which have a working life of only 10 to 20 years, which voltaic) panels which have a working life of only 10 to 20 years, which means new ones must be bought at intervals. In order to have means new ones must be bought at intervals. In order to have continuous power from solar energy, you need storage batteries. Each continuous power from solar energy, you need storage batteries. Each battery is expensive and you need a large number of them to store battery is expensive and you need a large number of them to store enough power for household or business use. enough power for household or business use.

Economic ImpactsEconomic Impacts

There are many more ways solar energy benefits the There are many more ways solar energy benefits the economy, directly and indirectly. By reducing your economy, directly and indirectly. By reducing your home’s use of traditional energy sources, you help keep home’s use of traditional energy sources, you help keep natural ecosystems intact, reducing tax payer funded natural ecosystems intact, reducing tax payer funded clean-ups and potentially devastating oil spills like the clean-ups and potentially devastating oil spills like the recent BP disaster along the Gulf Coast. If your recent BP disaster along the Gulf Coast. If your photovoltaic solar panels generate more energy than photovoltaic solar panels generate more energy than your home uses, you can sell back energy to your local your home uses, you can sell back energy to your local utility company, leaving more money in your pocket to utility company, leaving more money in your pocket to spend at restaurants, movie theaters, or financial spend at restaurants, movie theaters, or financial investments. investments.

Benefits of Solar EnergyBenefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and this means that we will never run out of it. It is about as this means that we will never run out of it. It is about as natural a source of power as it is possible to generate natural a source of power as it is possible to generate electricity. The creation of solar energy requires little electricity. The creation of solar energy requires little maintenance. Once the solar panels have been installed maintenance. Once the solar panels have been installed and are working at maximum efficiency there is only a and are working at maximum efficiency there is only a small amount of maintenance required each year to small amount of maintenance required each year to ensure they are in working order. They are a silent ensure they are in working order. They are a silent producer of energy. There is absolutely no noise made producer of energy. There is absolutely no noise made from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into usable electricity. There are continual advancements in usable electricity. There are continual advancements in solar panel technology which are increasing the solar panel technology which are increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of production, thus efficiency and lowering the cost of production, thus making it even more cost effective.making it even more cost effective.

Drawbacks of Solar EnergyDrawbacks of Solar Energy 1.1. Solar energy is free although there is a cost in the building of ‘collectors’ and other Solar energy is free although there is a cost in the building of ‘collectors’ and other

equipment required to convert solar energy into electricity or hot water.equipment required to convert solar energy into electricity or hot water.

2.2. Solar energy does not cause pollution. However, solar collectors and other Solar energy does not cause pollution. However, solar collectors and other associated equipment / machines are manufactured in factories that in turn cause some associated equipment / machines are manufactured in factories that in turn cause some pollution.pollution.

3.3. Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the electricity power grid.electricity power grid.

4.4. Many everyday items such as calculators and other low power consuming devices Many everyday items such as calculators and other low power consuming devices can be powered by solar energy effectively.can be powered by solar energy effectively.

5.5. It is estimated that the worlds oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. On the other It is estimated that the worlds oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).

BibliographyBibliography

Weblinks:Weblinks:Google.comGoogle.comhttp://pbs.gov.pk/content/what-are-major-s

ector-economy-pakistanhttp://environment.nationalgeographic.com/

environment/energy/great-energy-challenge/world-electricity-mix/

Made By: Nabaa RizviMade By: Nabaa Rizvi

Dania ZulfiqarDania Zulfiqar

Neha ButtNeha Butt

Sneha RaiSneha Rai

Nida NasirNida Nasir

Zarmina BaburZarmina Babur

THE ENDTHE END