Solar Energy Flashcards
These devices convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect, making solar power a clean and renewable alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
solar photovoltaic (PV) devices
In 1767, a Swiss scientist designed the first solar collector cell, an insulated box with multiple layers of glass that could achieve temperatures exceeding 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
Horace-Benedict de Saussure
In 1839, a French scientist identified the photovoltaic effect by observing increased energy when light was applied to an electrolytic cell composed of metal electrodes in an electrolyte solution.
Edmund Bacquerel
What year do Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductive properties of selenium?
1873
What year do William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day observed that selenium produces
electricity when exposed to light?
1876
In 1883, he constructed the first solar cells using selenium wafers.
Charles Fritts
in 1973, they built “Solar One,” the first solar-powered building, integrating both solar thermal and photovoltaic systems
University of Delaware
According to this geographer and professor, the amount of solar energy absorbed by the Earth in just one hour exceeds the total annual energy consumption of the human population.
Vaclav Smil
Solar energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy sources, with the Earth absorbing an estimated _____ of solar radiation annually.
3,850,000 exajoules
True or False.
Low humidity levels and air pollution can contribute to reduced solar panel efficiency by blocking
or altering the transmission of solar radiation.
False - High
True or False.
To maximize energy production, large-scale solar
projects are typically built in locations with historically high humidity and minimal cloud cover.
False - Low
Factor affecting solar energy availability which determines how much
solar energy a location receives over the course of a year
Latitude
True or False.
The closer a region is to the equator, the more direct sunlight it receives, as the sun’s rays strike the surface at a perpendicular angle, maximizing energy absorption.
True
The region between the _____ and the _____ receives the highest annual solar radiation, making it the most suitable area for large
scale solar energy projects.
Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of
Capricorn
True or False.
Countries in higher latitudes must install more solar panels or use advanced solar tracking systems to compensate for the lower energy input.
True
Solar farms are typically built in remote, unpopulated areas with high solar radiation levels, such as _____ and _____.
deserts and open plains
Nonmechanical devices that
directly convert sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, commonly known as solar cells
Mechanism of Photovoltaic Cell
When photons strike a PV cell, three interactions can occur: they can be reflected, pass through, or be absorbed by the semiconductor material. Only the
absorbed photons contribute to electricity generation by exciting electrons within the material. When a PV cell absorbs enough energy, electrons are dislodged from their atomic bonds, creating free electrons that can move within the material. The PV cell’s surface is treated to encourage the movement of these free electrons toward the front surface, forming an electrical charge imbalance between the front and back surfaces of the cell. This imbalance generates a voltage potential, similar to the positive and negative terminals of a battery.
A single PV cell typically produces _____ of electricity, making it suitable for small
applications like calculators and wristwatches.
1–2 watts
PV cells generate _____ electricity, which can be stored in batteries for devices
that operate on _____ power.
direct current (DC), DC
Since most electrical grids and household appliances use alternating current (AC) electricity, _____ are required to convert DC to AC, making solar energy compatible with conventional power systems.
inverters
True or False.
PV panels produce the most electricity when directly facing the sun.
True
A 150MW solar PV power project located in Central Luzon, the Philippines. Post completion of construction, the project was commissioned in 2019 and developed by Solar Philippines Tarlac.
Solar Philippines Concepcion Solar PV Park
Solar PV capacity accounted for _____ % of total power plant installations globally in 2023,
according to GlobalData, with total recorded solar PV capacity of _____ GW.
16.4%, 1,496 GW
