Solar Energy

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Hydropower has been used for hundreds of years in watermills and is now commonly used to generate electricity in applications such as hydroelectric dams and tidal power plants. Explore the power of water by building models and conducting experiments with them. Learn about how different devices are used to extract useful energy from moving water, from a waterwheel in a small stream to a giant turbine in a tidal power station. Build a waterwheel, a sawmill, and a hammer mill to harness the energy of moving water to do different types of physical work. Investigate the intriguing properties of water by performing experiments involving surface tension, adhesion, and cohesion. Learn about water pressure by building a water tower, communicating vessels, and a water fountain. Construct a hydroelectric power station to generate electricity and light an LED. Learn about where the energy in ocean waves, tides, and rivers comes from, and discover how we can generate electricity from them. The full-color, 32-page experiment manual offers illustrated instructions and scientific information.

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This unique model would light up your way at home or outdoors in an emergency or camping with the power of the sun. Enjoy the outdoors without worry about replacing batteries or changing the propane tank. Our solar lamp would recharge each and every day by the sun and be ready to light up your night. Our solar lamp is durable and technology advanced including extra features like upper torch for reading, radio and PL lamp with light output of up to 3.5 hours. It even comes with an AC/DC adapter that will charge the rechargeable battery at home at night. The built-in solar panel is adjustable for several degrees options to face the sun and charges the lantern during the day anywhere there’s sun. 7 x 3 x 11″ High Adjustable Solar panel AM/FM Radio AC/DC power adapter included (for charging at home with no sun) PL lamp plus Spot light Portable handle designed for outdoor use Charging indicator

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This beautiful wall fitting solar light comes ready to install to add a great feature to your home. It has our super-bright LED’s which use a special patented cone reflector to make the light brighter. The gas-light design of our solar lamp light is classic and adds an elegant appeal to your front or back yard. Using efficient solar-powered technology, the solar lamp lights receive their energy from built-in batteries charged daily by the sun, which in turn light the 8 super-bright LED bulbs. Each solar lamp post has real beveled glass panes that add to the late 19th Century appeal. No maintenance is required with the powder-coated cast-aluminum solar lamp posts that are weather resistant & won’t rust. Worry-free, the solar lamp post turns on automatically at dusk and off at dawn. The solar lamp post can be bolted down (bolts included) and is available in either black or rust red. H 15″ x D 9″ Solar lamp lights are an elegant, energy-efficient way to light your way Automatically turn on and off, however, there is also a manual on/off switch for your convenience 8 super-bright LED bulbs are powered by the built-in, solar-powered batteries Beautiful beveled glass, these solar lamp lights are reminiscent of the late 19th Century lamps Special patented cone reflector to make the light brighter Solar lamp lights have a durable, rust-resistant frame can be bolted down (bolts included

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I’m planning a 6 month trip to South America and need help finding places to stay. I’d like to find places that use renewable energy in cool ways, or even just have interesting things that they do to save energy.

go to BookMe. You can compare prices on all the major travel sites from one location. It’s the only way you can guarantee the best deals for the best hotels for your money online.

Why is important for ‘business’ to use renewable energy? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do you know a company that uses renewable energy and has reduced its carbon footprint? And one that doesn’t and is considerably contributing to global warming etc

It’s important because fossil fuels are a finite resource. Global oil production is beginning to decline as old oil fields reach their peak, (the Gwhar and Cantrell giant oil fields for example,) and their production curves begin the inevitable slide downwards. Although new oil fields are being discovered, they are not very large, and for every new barrel of oil found, eight are being used at the same time.

A report from the UK Energy Research Centre published in August said that there was a ’significant risk’ that the peak of conventional oil production would happen before 2020, and that means we will soon be staring down the barrel of the ultimate oil crisis.

Some governments and corporations are waking up to this and beginning to develop alternatives to keep the worlds transport systems moving when cheap oil runs out, such as more energy efficient - or electric cars, bio fuels (which put the world’s food supply under pressure,) and hydrogen (which is too dangerous for public use at present,) but none of these is likely to make up the shortfall in time.

Many point to the tar sands and oil shales and the trillions of barrels of oil that are locked up in them, but even if investment in them poured in and everything went well:

‘oil sands might produce 6 million barrels of oil per day in 20 years’ time, but by then we’ll need to add at least 10 times that much capacity - without allowing for any growth in demand. It’s very hard to see non-conventional (oil sources) riding to the rescue.’ (Steven Sorrel, lead author of the UKERC report.)

There is also the problem that extracting non conventional oil supplies is very environmentally destructive, and if they were fully exploited, would hugely increase CO2 emissions, before they were even burned as fuel.

We must also remember that many of the rare earth metals that are needed to develop fuel efficient technologies are only found in China, and they have decided to limit or even ban the export of these metals, leaving all the other countries that wish to expand their use of such technologies at a disadvantage.

So the only businesses that can secure energy supplies are those that invest in renewable energies now, before the oil price rises, (due to demand outstripping supply,) and before the costs of making such renewables rises too as a result of resource depletion and the constrained supply of raw materials.

What are the drawbacks to using wind turbines or solar panels for providing all power to a home?

A. The wind and sun are not constant, so there would be times when no electricity would be generated.
B. The wind and sun are constant, so there would be plenty of electricity for the home.
C. Wind and solar power are inefficient and too expensive to use and maintain.
D. Wind and solar power are efficient, but they are not able to produce enough electricity for a single home.

again trying to help..again thnx 4 the previous………
nothing else…………but A.
NO COMMENTS ON THE OTHER OPTIONS….
except these there is another drawback…….its when your brother breaks the solar panel after quarrel with you……then no electricity will b produced………….hope this funny answer u liked……..its just to make yahhooooooooooo answer FUNNNNN…………

http://www.cat.org.uk/information/info_content.tmpl

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=diy+wind+solar+alternative+build&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

I am looking at installing solar panels and other associated energy efficient products in the community in Perth. I am trying to find out what the course is that I need to be able to set up grid connect solar panels. I am aware that an electrician will have to do the connection to the grid, but have herd that there is a 3 month course in Brisbane. Just wondering if there is the same thing in Perth.

Thanks

I’m not really sure about a course that you need to install solar panels on houses. i’m doing certificate II in electrotechnology and I know that there is also a certificate IV in electrotechnology where you learn about renewable energy so i searched Google for a TAFE in Perth that offers this sort of course and found this: http://psc.central.tafe.wa.edu.au/Search/List.aspx?Keyword=renewable%20energy&CourseNumber=&CourseType=&DeliveryLocation=&InternationalProduct=&Status=&StudyMode=&AccreditationWeeks=&MOUP=&MOUC=&ASCO=&ANZSIC=&ReviewDate=&searchBy=adv&currentlyThisSemester=&availableNextSemester=&courseNationalNumber=

I hope this helps! (I’m actually thinking of installing solar panels when I’m older too)

I would love to use some solar energy in my home. What can you tell me about how much it costs to begin? Is there some sort of federal tax credit? What all do I need to buy (panels, batteries, etc)? Can a homeowner do the installation or must it be done by a professional? Would also appreciate any websites for retailers of solar energy items. Thank you very much for any information.

When I was gainfully employed, prior to experiencing the bliss of retirement, I worked for a hardware store that marketed a solar energy system for single family residences.

The cost profile (this stuff is expensive) suggested that, if you planned to live in your home for 19 years post-installation, you would amortize the cost.

There were federal and California state tax credits available at the time, as well as a rebate from Pacific Gas and Electric (primary utility provider in No. Calif.) which produced a net cost near $20K.

You need to determine if your local power company is obligated to buy back surplus power from your solar system first. If they are not legally required to do so, that will make amortization more difficult.

I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:

http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

I was trying to figure out how solar panels work today and I found that electrons get displaced in 2 layers of a solar panel by photons coming from the sun to create power. If the electrons come from the solar panel and go into the electrical grid, how are they replaced in the solar panel? Wouldn’t the solar panel eventually lose all of its electrons and stop working? Electrons have mass, so wouldn’t the solar panel slowly deteriorate?

I think solar energy is awesome and I really want to know how it works. Any help in enlightening me on this subject would great, thanks!

It’s because the photovolcaics are closed-loop systems. A photon will come in and basically knock an electron across what is called a "junction" and create current, but it is "caught" (really simplified version) on the other side of the junction and kind of "bounced back" into place.

It’s like Formula 1 racing or NASCAR. The car will be sitting in the Pit, just waiting to go, then will tear out, run a few laps until it requires more fuel, then stops in the Pit again, gets refueled, and just waits for the signal from the Pit Boss to get going again.

The limiting factor on solar cells isn’t the cell itself, as in the electrical circuits and semiconductors, but rather the very slow degradation of the (usually plastic) that holds each small cell in place, so that it can create a useful photovoltaic cell. Since modern plastics can be treated with UV coatings to prevent degradation, and are practically immune to water, the only thing that can really hurt them is somebody whacks it with a hammer or drops it while installing it on the roof.

They’re excellent. The south face of my roof is sufficient, along with a small vertical-axis wind turbine, to generate more power than I need, and it actually gets sold back to Sempra Energy/SDG&E.