Solar Energy In Texas Essay

The creation of solar energy requires little maintenance and solar electricity power plants produce zero emissions. Solar power plants use two different types of technologies: Concentrated solar power and Photovoltaic systems. Concentrated solar power plants, also known as “concentrated solar thermal”, uses solar thermal energy to make steam that is converted into electricity by a turbine. A photovoltaic system, also known as solar panels, generates electricity from sunlight. It is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy.

     In 1954 Bell Laboratories invented the first photovoltaic (or solar) cell, made from the semi-conductor silicon, and other elements. It was the first way to convert sunlight directly into electricity. When the space program was launched in the 60's, it

Solar panels don’t burn, instead they harness the suns power which turns it into an electrical current.

In order to satisfy the electrical demand required by the Continental United States, it resources electricity from three different grids: the Eastern Interconnection, the Western Connection, and the Texas Interconnection or better known today as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) (Galbraith). With this in mind, Texas is the “only” state that has its own power grid; hence, giving Texas the ability of self-sustainment by producing electricity for itself, and not relying on the necessity of importing electricity as the other 47 states would be required (Galbraith). Moreover, ERCOT’s exclusion to regulations imposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are due to an affirmation as to not sell power to interstate consumers (Koerner). Second to Texas, the state of California uses 44% less electricity than Texas, which is the leading consumer in the Continental United States. Under those circumstances, ERCOT continues to provide electricity cheaper per kilowatt than the national average (Koerner). The vast majority of electricity used in Texas is due to the oil refineries, natural gas production, and petrochemical plants: which brings me to my next point, natural

In the absence of federal legislation, states have the liberty to address climate change and formulate policies that mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Texas and California have similar deregulated energy markets and economic goals, yet have pursued different policies, providing a fitting opportunity for Texas to analyze, compare and consider California’s comprehensive law and regulations designed to mitigate GHG emissions. Key focus areas include electricity generation and use , transportation, and industry . Given the comprehensive focus of energy policies, this report specifically emphasizes electricity generation and use. ,

The greatest energy that can be produced by the sun is electricity. Photovoltaics, or solar cells, capture the sun and convert it into electricity. Solar cells were discovered by the Europeans back in the 1870’s when they used selenium to develop the telegraph. They found that when light hits selenium it would produce and electrical current. Soon enough there were many scientists and engineers working on photovoltaic systems. Silicon and Selenium proved to be the two best elements to conduct electricity when light hits them. Photovoltaic systems (PV cell) work by converting the suns light into electricity. A semi conducting material absorbs the sunlight, that energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, this allows the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity. The further development of solar cells can be attributed to the satellite industry. Solar cells were expensive and there was no use for them until satellites came. Because it is impractical to tether satellites it became important to develop solar energy at any cost that would power these satellites. This created a sustainable market for solar power, the first of its kind.

also cost effective. Los Angeles, California is the best place ideal for the two energy

With the growth of population in Colorado there is a higher demand to produce and use energy. Unfortunately producing energy is quite bad for our environment as it is creates about 37% of CO2 that humans produce (Overview of Greenhouse Gases). This is causing our environment to change for the worse. Colorado is ranked 6th in the United States in solar energy production, and there is enough empty roof space that Colorado could become the first self-sustaining state (2015 Solar Power Rankings). Though the conversion from non-renewables to solar will be a long process, Coloradans can see a large payoff down the road.

My two topics that I will be talking about are Natural Gas and Solar Energy. Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource and pretty soon we are going to have to learn how to do without it. Solar energy will always be around. It’s not very major now but in a few years I’m sure it will be.

Imagine a world without light, a world filled with so much darkness that it would be nearly impossible to see anything, to use anything or to even function. A world without light would be a world without energy, without being able to use our phones 24/7, a world without all the comforts, mainly a world with hardships and struggles. We live in a world where energy is needed for everything. Nothing really works without electricity. For example, Energy is constantly being used to charge cellular devices, warm food in the microwave or even to charge electrical cars. The world is shifting it went from the extracting of unnatural fossil fuels to the discovery of a more natural way call solar energy. In order to know how crucial solar energy is it

Recently, the price of unrenewable energy resource such as oil, coral and natural gas is increasing by time because of rare and more and more usage for individual and industries. Solar panels which use energy from Sun are considered as renewable energy through the form of solar radiation, UV. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they

I am certain that all have heard of the terms green house gases, fossil fuels, and global warming. Have you ever questioned what will happen if nothing is done about the environmental problems facing the world today? What if I answer you that, we can merely use the power from the sun to power up our entire planet without the use of harmful energy sources, which affect our atmosphere? The power from the sun is what we call solar power. Solar power is the energy that comes from the sun as light and heat energy, and then it is later converted into electrical energy through solar panels (Nelson, 2008). This kind of power is completely free, right? Why should we put a lot of expense on other sources of energy, when there is a complete free

In order for one to further understand the importance of solar energy, the problem of global warming must be explained. As defined by Webster’s Dictionary, “Global Warming” is an increase in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect. With an average increase in atmospheric temperatures, our planet is slowly deteriorating. In order to stall or halt this global destruction, countries must turn to solar energy as a cleaner alternative to the depletion of fossil fuels. Solar energy creates a homeostasis for the climate. Due to its ability to decrease global climate changes, solar power can address global warming in several ways.

Solar power is nothing completely new; it has been used for years to power small devices from calculators to watches, but what is new is its improved efficiency. Solar panels can be used to collect energy from the sun and now are being used on a much larger scale. Homeowners and business can use energy generated from the panels to power their homes and offices and have it purchased by energy suppliers. Solar power is proving to be an economical energy source available to the public that is consumer friendly.

Abstract: The current energy situation with fossil fuels as the main source of the world’s energy has two main flaws: fossil fuels contribute to global warming via the greenhouse effect and they are limited in the quantity that remains. Solar power solves both of these problems and can be captured by utilizing photovoltaic cells. However, photovoltaic cells have their own drawbacks due to their high costs of installation and maintenance.