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Solar Energy in Middle and High School Classrooms

Presented by: Michael Tinnesandand Rachel Pokrandt

September 13, 2011

Where does U.S. energy come from today?

Source: www.eia.gov

Where does U.S.energy come from today?

Source: www.eia.gov

The Potential of Solar Energy

How can we capture the Sun’s energy?

• Passive

Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon

How can we capture the Sun’s energy?

• Solar Concentrators

20 mW concentrator near Seville

How can we capture the Sun’s energy?

• Photovoltaic panels

Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon

How can we capture the Sun’s energy?

• Solar Water heating

How do we measure electricity usage?

• Watts - A watt is a unit of power. It is a Newton meter per second, or can be given as a joule per second.

• Kilowatts – 1,000 watts equals one kilowatt (kW)

• Kilowatt-hours (kWh) – A device such as a plasma TV, which uses 1,000 watts for one hour consumes one kWh of power.

How do Solar Panels work?

How do Solar Panels work?

Credit: rsc.org

p-type n-type

How do Solar Panels work?

How do Solar Panels work?

How are Solar Panels made?

Credit: Solar World

How are Solar Panels made?

Credit: Solar World

Challenges for 1st Generation Solar Panels

• They don’t work at night and work poorly in cloudy weather.• Production uses toxic materials including greenhouse

gases and must be treated to prevent release • Takes energy to produce solar panels (1-3 year ‘energy

payback’)• Expensive• End-of-use recycling needs to be developed• Research in new solar panel technologies needs to

continue, improving efficiency, cost, usability.

2nd Generation Solar

• Cheaper• More flexible – more uses• Lighter

• Not as efficient

Examples of 3rd generation solar panels

How do they work?                             What do they look like?

* +

T O2 n T O2 n-

-

/2 I I -

+S

S

hv e

3

S

[ i ] [ i ]

2

S

5

1 2

4

1. A dye, adsorbed on TiO2 is excited by light

5. The dye is reduced by the electrolyte

2. The excited dye injects an e- into the TiO2

3. The electron leaves the TiO2 and is carried through as current

4. The e- returns to the device and reduces the electrolyte

1

3. ITO electrode2. TiO2 Semiconductor

1. Sensitizer Dye

4. Catalytic layer to promote I- to I2 regeneration

5. Electrolytewith I-/I2

Insulating Seal

TiO2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Bioinspiration

Blackberry Solar Cell Lesson PlanStandards and skillsNS.9-12.1 SCIENCE AS

INQUIRYNS.9-12.2 PHYSICAL

SCIENCENS.9-12.4 EARTH AND

SPACE SCIENCENS.9-12.5 SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGYNS.9-12.6 PERSONAL

AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES

Lesson activities• Learn how traditional

solar panels are made• Consider this process

against the 12 principles of green chemistry

• Construct a dye sensitized solar cell

• Evaluate and compare the differences in solar cell technologies

Making the cell with your students!

TiO2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Using Solar Power

On the grid

Using Solar PowerOff the grid

U.S. Department of EnergySolar Decathlon

The Solar Decathlon Events

Team Germany

Team California

Appalachian State University

Phase Change Wallboard

Photo: National Gypsum

Measuring heat of phase change.

• Measuring temperature vs phase change

Measuring heat of phase change.

• Measuring temperature vs phase change

Measuring heat of phase change.

• Heat of fusion lab

Measuring heat of phase change.

• Heat of fusion lab

Hf of paraffin ≈ 200 J/g

Specific heat capacity of paraffin ≈ 2 J/g x°C

Resources• U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon -

http://www.solardecathlon.gov/

• ChemMatters – www.acs.org/chemmatters

• Beyond Benign-Blackberry Solar Cell Activity -http://www.beyondbenign.org/K12education/highschool.html

• Solar World - http://www.solarworld-usa.com/

• National Renewable Energy Lab -http://www.nrel.gov/learning/

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