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 * Alternative Energy Project- Solar Energy

How It Works** The main principle behind solar panels and solar energy is free flowing electrons through a circuit. The main part in solar panels is silicon and they are made of many different elements (positive and negative). Solar cells are called photovoltaic cells which translates to light electricity and converts sunlight directly to electricity. When light is absorbed by the cell a certain portion of it is absorbed by the semi conductor. The energy knock loose electrons which allows them to flow freely. Photovoltaic cells have electric fields that force the freed electrons in a certain direction. This flow creates a current and by placing metal ends on the top and bottom of the cell we can export this current as electricity.
 * Pros and Cons**

Solar energy and solar panels give off no pollution, the only pollution involved in solar energy is the pollution given off during the manufacturing and production of the panels.Solar energy is very quiet when being made unlike other fuels types and is quiet enough to be put on the roofs of peoples houses. Solar energy can be produced in remote locations that are not connected to national electric grids an example would be satellites that are powered by high effeciency solar panels. The cost of installing solar panels on houses and in remote locations is much more cost efficent than putting in the necessary wires for traditional electricity. Solar energy is very efficent in many places in the world and new technology is allowing for more energy on cloudy and overcast days. The cost of installing household solar panels is initially high but since it provides a free power source it pays for itself in a short time. The use of solar energy allows the users to become less efficent on the world's fossil fuels supply.
 * Pros**

One of the major cons of soalr energy is the intial cost to install the cells. Today, highly efficent solar cells can cost up to and above 1000 dollars and many times households need more than one cell. Solar panels can only produce energy in the daylight, therefore for half of each day the solar panels are not producing any energy. Weather can affect the efficency of solar panels. If it is an overcast or cloudy day and the sun is not out the panels will not produce as much energy. Pollution can be a con to solar energy because it can get in the air and block some of the sunlight from getting to the panels. This is especially important to companies and residents that live in cities because the solar panels will not work as well as if they were in rural areas.
 * Cons**

Solar energy could be high cost or low cost depending on how you look at it. The initial cost of installing solar panels is fairly high in realtion to the traditional energy sources we currently use. One solar panel can cost 1000 dollars or more and many households need more than one panel in order to provide enough energy to power there home. However once the initial cost from installation is paid the solar panels will provide free energy from then on out. In the long run the solar panels will pay for themselves by supplying free energy and saving money on traditional electric bills.
 * Costs**

Solar panels are currently being used in many places and to accomplish many different things. They are being used to power satellites in space, many suburban homes have installed them on their rooftops to provide free energy, many businesses have turned to the use of solar technology, and NASA uses solar energy for many different things. Another example of solar energy is to power lights in parking lots. One reason businesses use solar energy is to escape from rising utility and electric costs. If they use solar energy to power there business they can reduce variability in there expenses.
 * Where Are They Currently Used?**

Solar panels and solar energy are being considered as a way to power desalination plants. Scientists have come up with two different types of plants that would produce the power for the desalination process. Science would also like to see solar energy become much more common in households and local businesses as opposed to only commercial use. Much of the success of future solar energy use is based on whether or not scientists can find a way to store energy for use wehn the sun is not shining. Some ideas to remedy this do exist such as taking thermal energy from the ocean and using that to power something.
 * Where Could They Be Used?**

In comparison to fossil fuels soalr energy is very efficient. It gives off almost all the energy that is put into it. Fossil fuels lose some energy to heat and give off other waste products while solar panels give off almost no waste and produce high amounts of energy. The practicality of solar energy is different in different places of the country. In the northeast and northern midwest the use of solar panels would not be very practical because there is not enough constant sunlight for it to power households or businesses. Solar panels give off no pollution, it is a totally green form of energy and the fuel to make the energy is totally free. Since it is free the use of solar panels should be used everywhere possible.
 * Comparison to Fossil Fuels**

The use of solar panels is becoming more and more widespread. In certain areas of the country people are starting to out solar panels on things that we never thought we could. In the south many people are placing panels on their rooftops and businesses are putting them in parking lots to power the lights at night. Some reasons that they haven't become widespead is that the installation of the panels can be very expensive and even though the costs will even out in the long run from saving on electric bills many people are not willing to pay for the initial cost. Also the panels only work in the light so when it is dark out they do not produce energy. If they can come up with a more sure way for the panels to store energy more people would be willing to invest in them. Also the cost needs to be brought down so more people can afford them.
 * Prospects**

An apartment complex in San Diego has put solar panels on the top of all if its apartments. The solar panels have created a reduced rent price for the tenants it also has reduced the electric bills of the complex. If we can use this technology on more and more new housing it would severly cut down on the amount of fossil fuels this country uses.
 * Case Study**