RENEWABLES

SOLAR POWER THERMAL

With solar thermal energy, energy
Usually when you think of solar power, you imagine big panels
from the Sun is absorbed by a heating
that turn the Sun's energy into electricity. However, there are
system and converted into heat
two types of solar energy.
energy. Then this heat is transferred to
a water heater through a heat-transfer
liquid and used to heat the water.

PHOTOVOLTAIC
Photovoltaic solar panels are what is commonly associated
with solar energy. Photovoltaic cells are small units that make
up a solar panel and convert light energy (photons) to
electrical energy. Every cell is a "sandwich" of two slices of
semi-conductive metals, like silicon, phosphorous, or boron.
Silicon is usually used because the electrons in the silicon
crystals get up and move when they are exposed to light. The PASSIVE: USES HEAT OF THE SUN
top layer of the cell is infused with phosphorous, which gives it
more electrons, and therefore a negative charge (n-type). The
bottom layer is infused with boron, which doesn't have as
many electrons, giving it a positive charge (p-type). The two
charges attract and give the cell an electromagnetic field.
When photons hit the cell, the electrons get excited and move
around. The electrons go from the p-type to the n-type panels
and, while doing so, go through a generator that converts the
energy from light energy to electrical energy.

ACTIVE: USES RADIATION OF SUN

WIND POWER
Wind power is created by huge wind turbines. The wind spins the turbine's
blades, which spins a shaft, which powers a generator. The power is then
transferred into energy which can be used for many power needs.
Although this process may sound easy, there are actually many moving
parts to turbines.

HYDRO/TIDALPOWER
Tidal energy turbines are the wind turbines of the sea. They use the kinetic energy of the changing of the tides to
create electrical energy. Tidal energy plants work in a similar way. They take the kinetic energy of falling water,
convert it to mechanical energy, and then convert it into electrical energy.