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Solar Energy Workshop

Solar Energy Workshop. Alexis Ostrowski and Bright Walker Sponsored by ConvEne-IGERT at UCSB. Energy Makes the World Go Round. It’s true: The kinetic energy of planets causes them to orbit the sun. Energy Cannot be Created or Destroyed. Energy is constantly changing from one form to another.

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Solar Energy Workshop

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  1. Solar Energy Workshop Alexis Ostrowski and Bright Walker Sponsored by ConvEne-IGERT at UCSB

  2. Energy Makes the World Go Round It’s true: The kinetic energy of planets causes them to orbit the sun.

  3. Energy Cannot be Created or Destroyed Energy is constantly changing from one form to another. Electromagnetic Nuclear Kinetic Thermal Chemical

  4. How We Use and Control Energy Fire Chemical energy Thermal Energy Nuclear Reactor Nuclear energy Thermal Energy

  5. Where Do We Get Energy From? ? ? Sources: Coal Hydroelectric (Dams) Wind Solar Nuclear Gasoline Natural Gas ?

  6. Global Energy Usage Other (solar, wind, geothermal, <2%) Water (dams, 3%) Biomass (wood, 4%) Nuclear (6%) Oil (37%) Coal (25%) Natural Gas (23%) Over 85% of our energy comes from fossil fuels

  7. 2003 Fossil Fuels and Climate Change • Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 and other greenhouse gasses into the air • CO2 helps warm up the earth’s atmosphere • This changes the earth’s weather patterns (polar ice melting) Polar ice coverage 1979 Greenhouse gasses CO2

  8. Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels are made by millions of years of pressure and heat that turns dead plants and animals (fossils) into crude oil and coal Fossil fuels are not renewable--it takes millions of years to form them

  9. Renewable Energy Renewable sources of energy will never run out. Water Wind Solar Biomass Geothermal

  10. WIND e- Kinetic energy electricity

  11. WATER e- Kinetic energy electricity

  12. BIOFUELS Chemical energy kinetic energy

  13. GEOTHERMAL e- Thermal energy Electricity

  14. SOLAR Light energy e- electricity

  15. Cost of Renewable Energy It costs more to produce renewable energy than it does to collect fossil fuels. Silicon solar cells are very expensive to manufacture. We need to research new ways to make renewable energy more affordable!

  16. Energy research at UCSB Light emitting diodes (LEDs) - To produce light using a minimum amount of energy Solar cells -Direct conversion of sunlight into electricity

  17. Direct conversion of solar energy into electricity! • Clean • Renewable • Abundant • Easy to use Light goes in Electrodes Solar Cells Electricity comes out COOL!! Semiconductor material • Many types: • Inorganic (Silicon)$$$ • Organic/Plastic (Bucky balls)

  18. Inorganic Solar Cells P doped region, consisting of stationary, negative Boron impurities and mobile positive charges called holes P I Intrinsic, undoped region N doped region, consisting of stationary, positive Phosophorus impurities and mobile negative charges called electrons N This assembly is collectively called a “PIN junction”.

  19. Inorganic Solar Cells Electrons and holes are free to move around. As soon as the junction is created, some of the mobile holes combine with the mobile electrons. This leaves behind excess positive and negative charges in the doped regions, creating a strong electric field within the crystal Electric Field

  20. Inorganic Solar Cells Anode Electrodes are applied to the PIN junction. Absorption of light can cause the spontaneous generation of an electron-hole pair. The elcectric field within the device causes the charges to move in opposite directions. This movement of charges creates a useable current at the anode and cathode. Electric Field Cathode

  21. Light Absorption • Exciton Diffusion • Charge Separation • Charge Transport Positive and negative molecules mixed together between electrodes. -Like a Spaghetti and Meatball Sandwich Plastic Solar Cells Transparent Electrode Aluminum

  22. Plastic solar cells are made out of materials very similar to ink. Plastic Solar Cells They are very easy to make! Apply Electrodes

  23. Low cost, low energy fabrication! • Large area potential! Plastic Solar Cells Roll to roll printer • Efficiency, stability lower than inorganic solar cells • Still a long way to go before having a big impact on overall energy problems Nobel Lauriat Prof. Alan Heeger, enjoying his invention

  24. 3 simple things that make a difference What you can do… Use less energy What you Can do Before: After: Food Eat vegetarian 6 days/wk 15 kWh/d 5 kWh/d Heating Put on a sweater 40 kWh/d 20 kWh/d Transportation (avg 30 miles/day) Carpool, walk, bike, or take the bus 40 kWh/d Skate or take a bus to school! 5 kWh/d

  25. Solar Energy is a promising source of renewable energy We need more efficient (and cheaper) solar cells UCSB researchers are working hard to develop new technologies that solve energy problems Plastic solar cells are a new technology that are cheaper and easier to make than silicon solar cells You can help with the energy problem by using less energy You can also become a scientist and help discover new solutions to our energy problems Summary

  26. Lets build a solar car! Photo by Bright Walker

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