MAT 20037 Southern New Hampshire Clean Solar Energy Solution for SNHU Essay

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MAT-20037-XA121 Solve Problems with Math 2… Project & Resources Table of Contents Project Announcements Discussions Project Results JG FAQs Calendar Support Tools Project Instruc!ons Project Instruc!ons Listen # " ! Competency In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competency: Solve prac!cal problems using basic mathema!cal calcula!ons Scenario You work for OneEarth, an environmental consul!ng company that specializes in building condi!on assessments, contaminated site remedia!on, and energy audits. Founded by an environmentally concerned ci!zen in 2010, OneEarth has emerged as the highest-quality and most comprehensive environmental services company in the region. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), a private nonprofit university located in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the United States, is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint. SNHU has approached OneEarth for its assistance and exper!se in achieving this goal. Knowing of your desires to diversify your experience and professional por"olio, : your manager, Claire DeAir, has consented for you to join the team working with SNHU. You’re responsible for crea!ng a technical report based on an analysis of the data the onsite team has collected over the last few weeks to determine the cost-effec!veness of SNHU adop!ng solar energy. Direc!ons You’ve been asked to recommend whether or not SNHU should install solar energy panels on one of its buildings in Manchester, New Hampshire, to reduce the university’s carbon footprint. Using the data in the SNHU Site Data document in the Suppor!ng Materials sec!on, you will conduct a series of calcula!ons. With those calcula!ons, you will create a technical report for SNHU that explains whether the university should invest in solar energy by purchasing the system or by leasing. Your technical report should include the following calcula!ons and determina!ons: A calcula!on of the total electricity output of a solar panel system in kilowa"s hours (kWh) Use the following steps as a guide to making this calcula!on: How many panels fit on the roof, assuming the building is rectangular? (To make this determina!on, determine the number of panels that can fit along one side, and the number of rows of panels that can fit along the opposite side. Round down to the nearest whole number of panels in each direc!on and mul!ply to obtain the required number of panels.) What are the dimensions of the building’s roof in meters? What are the dimensions of each solar panel in cen!meters? (To convert from inches to cen!meters, mul!ply the dimensions in inches by 2.54 and do not round un!l the last step of the calcula!on.) Find the number of meters for each dimension. How many panels will fit on the roof in each direc!on? Round down to the nearest panel. When calcula!ng the number of panels, be sure that when you change from length to width on the roof, you also change from length to width on the panels. Find the area of the panels in meters to make sure that the area of the panels is less than the area of the roof. What is the total amount of electricity that could be produced by adop!ng a solar panel system that covers the en!re roof based on the average monthly sunlight? (1kW = 1000W, and 1 hour of sunlight produces 400 wa$s per panel) How many kW per hour of sunlight could be produced per solar panel? Per en!re system (based on how many panels could fit on the roof)? How many hours of sunlight are expected on average per month? Calculate the average hours based on the monthly data provided. Round down to the nearest tenth of an hour. What is the likely average amount of kWh produced per panel based on the average amount of sunlight per month? Per year? Round to the nearest hundredth kWh. What is the total amount of kWh that is produced by the en!re solar panel system per month based on the average monthly sunlight? Per year? A calcula!on of the difference between the current electricity usage of the building and the electricity : generated by a solar panel system in kilowa" hours and in dollars generated by a solar panel system in kilowa" hours and in dollars Use the following steps as a guide to making this calcula!on: How much electricity does the building use on average annually? What is the es!mated total amount of kWh produced by the en!re solar panel system on this building per year, based on the average monthly sunlight for the area? Based on the average cost of electricity in the area, about how much is the annual electricity cost for the SNHU building? Is the amount of electricity generated by the solar array sufficient to cover SNHU’s yearly electricity usage? If not, what is the remaining energy needed in kW? How much would this cost in dollars? In other words, what is the remaining u!lity bill? If the energy generated is more than the energy needed to run the building, how much addi!onal savings is there for energy that can be channeled to other buildings on campus or sold back to the energy company? A determina!on of the likelihood of receiving a damaged panel SNHU expressed some concerns about receiving damaged solar panels from the manufacturer. You would like to be transparent and address these concerns by illustra!ng the likelihood of a damaged panel based on the size of the system SNHU would be purchasing. The manufacturer has reported that since solar panels are complex and evolving technology, 1 out of every 1,000 manufactured solar panels is defec!ve. How many panels fit on the roof? What is the probability or likelihood that SNHU will receive a damaged solar panel, based on the number of panels it would be purchasing? A determina!on of how long it would take to pay back the cost of buying the system in years Use the following steps as a guide to making this calcula!on—you can assume there will not be any required maintenance during the first 10 years: What would be the upfront cost to purchase and install the solar panel system? How much does each panel cost? How much does the en!re system cost? How much does installa!on cost? What are the government incen!ves? How does that affect the cost? What is the remaining u!lity cost, if there is one? How much will your solar panels save SNHU per year? How long would it take to pay back the cost of purchasing the solar panel system in years? (Years = Cost to Purchase and Install Solar Panel System / Savings Per Year) The !me in years should take into account all : energy savings, not just those for the building on which the solar array is installed. energy savings, not just those for the building on which the solar array is installed. A determina!on of whether there is a cost savings over 10 years for leasing the solar panel system Use the following steps as a guide to making this calcula!on: What is the total cost without solar for 10 years, in dollars? What is the total cost with solar for 10 years, in dollars? How much does it cost to rent the en!re solar panel system? What is the total remaining u!lity bill for 10 years? What are the 10-year savings? (Cost Without Solar for 10 Years - (Cost of Solar Panel Rental for 10 Years + Remaining U!lity Bills for 10 Years) = Total 10-Year Saving) A recommenda!on for whether SNHU should install solar energy panels on its buildings based on your calcula!ons An explana!on of whether SNHU should invest in a solar energy system by purchasing it upfront or by leasing it (Base your response on your calcula!ons.) What to Submit Every project has a deliverable or deliverables, which are the files that must be submi$ed before your project can be assessed. For this project, you must submit the following: Technical Report (1,000–1,500 words) Using the data provided in the SNHU Site Data document in the Suppor!ng Materials sec!on, you will conduct a series of calcula!ons. Your computa!ons will inform your recommenda!ons. First, you will determine whether or not SNHU should adopt solar panels. Then, you will explain whether or not SNHU should purchase or lease a solar panel system. Specifically, you will reference and incorporate the energy output of a solar panel system, the difference between current usage and the energy generated by the system, the likelihood of a damaged panel, the costs to pay for the system, and any savings for leasing a panel. Your proposi!on should be informed and supported by your calcula!ons. You can include visual and graphical elements in your report to illustrate your proposi!ons. Suppor!ng Materials The following resource(s) may help support your work on the project: Cita!on Help Need help ci!ng your sources? Use the CfA Cita!on Guide and Cita!on Maker. SNHU Site Data This document contains the data that OneEarth’s onsite team has collected over the last few weeks to determine the cost-effec!veness of SNHU adop!ng solar energy. : Informa!on on Solar Energy Informa!on on Solar Energy Website: All About Solar Energy Use this resource to learn more about everything you would need to know about solar energy. Reading: Solar Energy In this Shapiro Library resource, you can explore solar energy. Reflect in ePor!olio Download Print Open with docReader Ac"vity Details Task: View this topic : Read all about your project here. This includes the project scenario, direc!ons for comple!ng the project, a list of what you will need to submit, and suppor!ng materials that may help you complete the project. Building Location Manchester, New Hampshire 03101 United States of America Building Roof Dimensions: 60 m x 30 m Roof Assessment of the Building The engineering team has inspected the roof and determined:   There are no obstructions on the roof; therefore, the panels can be placed close together. The building is structurally sound and can hold more than 15 kg per square meter of weight. Expected Hours of Sunlight in Manchester, NH (by Month) January February March April May June 163 168 214 227 267 287 July August September October November December 301 277 237 206 143 142 Electricity Usage for the Building Average Electricity Usage (kWh) Annually: 271,253 kWh National Average Cost of Electricity: $0.165 per kWh Note: This is a projection of the building’s energy use over the next 10 years based on the assumption that there will not be a drastic increase or decrease during that period. Solar Panels Size and Weight: 80 in x 40 in x 2 in; 50 lbs Watts: 400 Amps: 9.86A Volts: 40.6 DC Cost: $560.00 per panel Purchasing a Solar Panel System for the Building: Installation: $0.75 per watt Incentives: If you purchase the system upfront, you will receive a 30% discount on the total cost of the panels and the installation. Leasing / PPA a Solar Panel System for the Building Upfront Cost: $0.00 Monthly Payment (Including Savings): $97.00 per panel Remaining Utility Bill: $20/month Duration: 20 years Incentives: Assume that SNHU does not qualify for leasing incentives. ! Chat 24/7 with a Librarian ask@snhu.libanswers.com 844.684.0456 (toll free) Carbon Footprint. Authors: Droujkova, Maria Source: Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2019. 3p. Document Type: Article Subject Terms: Ecological impact Ecology Environmental responsibility Abstract: Carbon footprint is intended to be a measure of the ecological impact of people or events. It is a calculation of total emission of greenhouse gases, typically carbon dioxide, and is often stated in units of tons per year. There is no universal mathematical method or agreed-upon set of variables that are used to calculate carbon footprint, though scientists and mathematicians estimate carbon footprints for individuals, companies, and nations. Many calculators are available on the Internet that take into account factors like the number of miles a person drives or flies, whether or not he or she uses energy efficient light bulbs, whether he or she shops for food at local stores, and what sort of technology he or she uses for electrical power. Some variables are direct, such as the carbon dioxide released by a person driving a car, while others are indirect and focus on the entire life cycle of products, such as the fuel used to produce the vegetables that a person buys at the grocery store and disposal of packaging waste. Full Text Word Count: 1578 Accession Number: 89404314 Database: Research Starters Carbon Footprint Listen American Accent Fields of Study: Fields of Study: Algebra; Data Analysis and Probability; Measurement; Representations. Summary: A carbon footprint is a mathematical calculation of a person’s or a community’s total emission of greenhouse gases per year. Carbon footprint is intended to be a measure of the ecological impact of people or events. It is a calculation of total emission of greenhouse gases, typically carbon dioxide, and is often stated in units of tons per year. There is no universal mathematical method or agreed-upon set of variables that are used to calculate carbon footprint, though scientists and mathematicians estimate carbon footprints for individuals, companies, and nations. Many calculators are available on the Internet that take into account factors like the number of miles a person drives or flies, whether or not he or she uses energy efficient light bulbs, whether he or she shops for food at local stores, and what sort of technology he or she uses for electrical power. Some variables are direct, such as the carbon dioxide released by a person driving a car, while others are indirect and focus on the entire life cycle of products, such as the fuel used to produce the vegetables that a person buys at the grocery store and disposal of packaging waste. : The notion of a carbon footprint is being considered in a wide range of areas, including the construction of low-impact homes, offices, and other buildings. The design must take into account not only the future impact of the building in terms of carbon emissions, but carbon-related production costs for the materials, labor, and energy used to build it. Mathematical modeling and optimization helps engineers and architects create efficient, useful, and sometimes even beautiful structures while reducing the overall carbon footprint. Mathematicians are also involved in the design of technology that is more energy efficient, as well as methods that allow individuals and businesses to convert to electronic documents and transactions rather than using paper. These methods include using improved communication technology, faster computer networks, improved methods for digital file sharing and online collaboration, and security protocols for digital signatures and financial transactions. Manufacturers are increasingly being urged and even required to examine their practices, since manufacturing processes produce both greenhouse gasses from factory smokestacks and waste heat. Mathematicians and scientists are working on ways to recycle much of this heat for power generation. One proposed device combines a loop heat pipe, which is a passive system for moving heat from a source to another system, often over long distances, with a Tesla turbine. Patented by scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla, a Tesla turbine is driven by the boundary layer effect rather than fluid passing over blades as in conventional turbines. It is sometimes called a Prandtl layer turbine after Ludwig Prandtl, a scientist who worked extensively in developing the mathematics of aerodynamics and is credited with identifying the boundary layer. These are in turn related to the Navier–Stokes equations describing the motion of fluid substances, named for mathematicians Claude-Louis Navier and George Stokes. The Navier–Stokes equations are also of interest to pure mathematics, since many of their mathematical properties remain unproven at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Carbon Footprints of People A calculation of the carbon footprints of different aspects of people’s lives, and then the aggregate for a year, is always an estimate. For example, different towns use different methods for generating electricity. Entering data for an electric bill allows for a rough estimate of the household’s carbon footprint, but not exact numbers, which would depend on the electricity generating methods. Houses contribute to carbon footprints through their building costs, heating and cooling, water filtration, repair, and maintenance—all of which use products with carbon footprints. Travel is another major contributor to peoples’ carbon footprints. Daily commutes and longer trips with any motorized transportation contribute to carbon dioxide emissions. When computing carbon footprints, fuel production and storage costs have to be taken into consideration. A man rides a bicycle to work in an effort to reduce his carbon The food that people eat contributes to the carbon footprint if it is transported by motorized vehicles before footprint. By David Dennis being eaten. The movement of locavores (people who eat locally grown foods) aims to minimize the Scotts Valley, CC BY-SA 2.0 carbon footprint of food. Also, different farming practices may contribute more or less to the carbon (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/2.0), via Wikimedia footprint of food. Commons The objects people use contribute to their carbon footprints. Recycling and reusing reduces the need for landfills, waste processing, and waste removal, all of which have carbon footprints. There are individuals and communities who avoid waste entirely; several countries, such as Japan, have plans to mandate zero-waste practices within the next few decades. Economy and Policy There are two main strategies for addressing carbon footprints. The first strategy is to lower the carbon footprint by modifying individual behaviors, such as traveling by bike, eating locally, and recycling. The second strategy is to perform activities with negative carbon footprints, such as planting trees, to match carbon footprints of other activities. Some companies incorporate activities that offset the carbon footprint of their main production into their business plans, either lowering their profit margins or passing the cost to their customers. There are economic laws and proposals that attempt to integrate carbon footprint considerations into the economy, usually through taxes on use of fuel, energy, or emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions, in economic terms, are a negative externality (a negative effect on a party not directly involved in the economic transaction). Money collected through carbon taxes is : generally used to offset the cost to the environment. Emissions trading is another mathematics-rich area of dealing with carbon footprints economically. Governments can sell emission permits to the highest-bidding companies, matching their carbon footprints, and capping the total emission permits sold. This method allows prices of permits to fluctuate with demand, in contrast with carbon taxes in which prices are fixed and the quantities of emissions can change. Economists model the resulting behaviors, and advise policymakers based on the models’ outcomes. Marginal Abatement Cost Curve “Marginal cost” is an economic term that means the change of cost that happens when one more unit of product is made, or unit of service performed. For physical objects, the curve is often U-shaped. The first units produced are very costly because their cost production involves setting up the necessary infrastructure. As more units are produced, and the infrastructure is reused, the price goes down until the quantities of production reach such levels that the logistic difficulties drive the price per additional units higher again. A marginal abatement curve shows the cost of reducing emissions by one more unit. These curves are usually graphed in percents. For example, such a curve can be a straight line, with the cost of eliminating the first few percent of emission being zero or even negative. This happens because it can be done by changing practices within existing economic infrastructures, such as cheap smart switches into the residential sector’s lighting grids. Additional lowering of the carbon footprint, however, requires deeper and costlier changes to the way of life. For example, there are relatively high costs involved in switching to wind and solar power, or switching to the use of crop rotations that do not require high-carbon fertilizers. Country by Country The average carbon footprint of citizens varies by country. For example, in the late 2000s, the average annual carbon footprint of a US citizen was about 30 metric tons per year, and a Japanese citizen about 10 metric tons per year. However, these calculations are extremely complicated because of global trade. For example, many developed countries “export” or “outsource” their carbon emissions to developing countries. Products imported from developing countries account for anywhere from a tenth to a half of the carbon footprints of developed nations. International calculations indicate a strong correlation between the average carbon footprint of a country’s citizen and the average per capita consumption. The higher the consumption rates, the higher the average carbon footprint. The categories used for calculation for countries are similar to those used for individuals and include construction, shelter, food, clothing, manufactured products, services, transportation, and trade. The ratios of these items to one another in the carbon footprints vary by country. For example, the greatest item in the US carbon footprint is shelter (25%), with mobility being second (21%). In contrast, Canada’s greatest item affecting carbon footprint is mobility (30%), and its second greatest is shared between shelter and service (18% each). Studies have also been conducted to determine whether population density directly correlates with the carbon footprint of an area. The nuances revealed through such studies continue to stress the significance of the theory regarding the need for more thorough and flexible approaches to reducing carbon emissions. Bibliography Berners-Lee, Mike. How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything. Greystone Books, 2011. Dickerson, Kelly. "These Maps Show Which Areas of the Country Have the Biggest Carbon Footprints." Business Insider, 11 Feb. 2014, www.businessinsider.com/carbon-footprint-maps-2014-1. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Goleman, Daniel. Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. Broadway Books, 2009. : Muthu, Subramanian Senthilkannan, editor. The Carbon Footprint Handbook. CRC Press, 2016. Zubelzu, Sergio, and Roberto Álvarez Fernández. Carbon Footprint and Urban Planning: Incorporating Methodologies to Assess the Influence of the Urban Master Plan on the Carbon Footprint of the City. Springer, 2016. Copyright of Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science is the property of Salem Press. The copyright in an individual article may be maintained by the author in certain cases. Content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. Source: Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2019, 3p Item: 89404314 Research Help More Ways to Search Library Services University Links Getting Started Guide A - Z Database List Interlibrary Loan mySNHU Search Tips Find Books & eBooks Off-Campus Library Services Brightspace Video Tutorials Find Scholarly Articles & Reports About the Library Request Info Citing Sources Find New & Current Topics Library Hours Contact SNHU Southern New Hampshire University | 2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106 | 603.645.9605 EBSCO Connect Privacy Policy A/B Testing Terms of Use Copyright powered by EBSCOhost : © 2021 EBSCO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. Cookie Policy Contact Us ! Chat 24/7 with a Librarian ask@snhu.libanswers.com 844.684.0456 (toll free) Solar Energy. Authors: Plitnik, George R., B.A., B.S., M.A., Ph.D. Source: Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2018. 7p. Document Type: Article Subject Terms: Solar energy Abstract: Solar energy is light from the sun that has been converted into heat energy or electricity. The three most common conversion methods are passive systems, which collect and store solar energy without the use of any other source of energy and using few or no moving parts; active systems, which collect and store energy by employing electric energy; and photovoltaic systems (PV), which convert sunlight into electricity. Both passive and active systems use glass to admit sunlight and prevent heat from escaping and mass to store the heat collected. The four types of passive systems are direct gain, indirect gain, attached gain, and thermosyphon. Active systems either collect sunlight directly on flat surfaces or use parabolic reflectors to achieve high temperatures by focusing the light. Either air or water may be used to transfer the heat from the collector to storage. Full Text Word Count: 4229 Accession Number: 89250581 Database: Research Starters Solar Energy Listen American Accent Summary Related Information Solar energy is the energy from the sun that is captured and used to heat homes or provide electricity. The three main types of solar energy systems are passive, in which solar energy is stored without using any other energy source; active, in which electricity is used to capture the sun's energy; and photovoltaic, which directly converts sunlight into electricity. Although solar energy is free in that costs are not involved in generating it, it is not constant and must be captured and stored. Also, the systems used to capture solar power remain expensive. Definition and Basic Principles Solar energy is light from the sun that has been converted into heat energy or electricity. The three most common conversion methods are passive systems, which collect and store solar energy without the use of any other source of energy and using few or no moving parts; active systems, which collect and store energy by employing electric energy; and photovoltaic systems (PV), which convert sunlight into electricity. Both passive and active systems use glass to admit sunlight and prevent heat from escaping and mass to store the heat : collected. The four types of passive systems are direct gain, indirect gain, attached gain, and thermosyphon. Solar Power Active systems either collect sunlight directly on flat surfaces or use parabolic reflectors to achieve high temperatures by focusing the light. Either air or water may be used to transfer the heat from the collector to storage. PV systems use arrays of photocells to transform solar radiation directly into DC (direct current) electricity. The photocells, typically semiconducting silicon crystals, act as insulators until illuminated by radiant energy. The material then conducts electricity, effectively making each cell a small battery. By connecting photocells into large modular arrays, sufficient electric energy can be generated to power homes or, when sufficient modules are present, to produce electricity for a centralized power plant. Small PV systems may use battery storage or tie into the electric grid to Solar Cell Panel: The solar cell allow energy to be withdrawn when needed or fed into the grid when not panel collects energy from the necessary. Energy Storage Technologies sun and can provide electric energy. © EBSCO Although solar energy is free energy in that there is no cost to generate it, it has several disadvantages. It is diffuse and intermittent, and it must be Fuel Cell Technologies stored. Also, active collection devices are constructed of expensive nonrenewable resources such as aluminum and copper. Hydroelectric Power Plants Background and History Solar energy has always provided, directly or indirectly, virtually all of humanity's energy. Ancient Greek homes were oriented toward the south, and early Chinese architecture incorporated solar design to heat interior Hydrology and Hydrogeology spaces. By the first century BCE, Rome had added clear glass windows to Greek solar designs to trap the heat, thus creating the first true passive solar design. The sun was also used to heat water entering the huge public baths indigenous to Roman society. Wind Power Technologies After the fall of Rome, solar architecture was forgotten until the sixteenth century, when greenhouses were used to grow exotic fruits and vegetables in northern Europe. By the eighteenth century, large glass windows enabled the construction of better greenhouses, which evolved in the nineteenth century into ostentatious conservatories for displaying exotic plants. Active systems that focused sunlight to produce high temperatures were developed in the nineteenth century. Domestic hot water systems were first built and marketed in the early twentieth century. By mid-century, active systems using air to heat homes appeared, but their acceptance was limited because of their high costs. Photovoltaics (PV) trace their origin to the late 1880s when Charles Fritts (1850–1903) developed a solar electric cell using germanium crystals, but commercial development stagnated until the 1950s when Bell Laboratories produced a viable but costly silicon-based system to power remote communication devices. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), needing lightweight reliable energy sources for its nascent space program, adapted these PV systems for its first satellites, launched in the late 1950s. In the 1970s, because of the oil embargoes and rise in fuel prices, solar energy began to capture the interest of the public. However, the decline in oil prices in the 1980s produced a drop in the interest in solar power. Since the mid-1990s, solar water heating systems have grown at an average annual rate of 20 percent, rendering solar water heating the most widely deployed solar technology of the early twenty-first century. How It Works Although less than half of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth is available for human use (some is absorbed by the atmosphere, land, and oceans, and some is radiated back to space), this amount is prodigious enough to provide for all human energy needs if it could be efficiently : captured. Because solar radiation is dilute and noncontinuous, large collector areas are necessary, and storage devices must be integrated. Photovoltaic systems convert radiation directly into electricity, and solar thermal units collect energy for interior spaces or water heating. Passive systems convert sunlight directly into interior space heating, and active heating systems require electricity to power pumps or fans. Active systems may be subdivided into those that use flat-panel stationary collectors and those that focus incoming solar rays to achieve temperatures high enough to create steam. Photovoltaic.Photovoltaic cells transform solar radiation directly into electricity. The cells consist of two types of silicon crystals in which bound electrons are energized into a conducting state when irradiated by light. The freed electrons cross the junction between the two crystals more easily in one direction than the other, thus creating negative and positive surfaces, the basis of a battery. This photobattery provides direct current (DC) electricity. The brighter the irradiating light, the greater the current. By connecting large arrays of such cells, a solar module, which typically can provide 170 watts per square meter of surface area at 14 percent efficiency, is created. Solar panels that are used to power homes and businesses are typically made from modules holding about forty cells. A typical house requires an array of ten to twenty solar panels to provide sufficient power. The panels are mounted at a fixed angle facing south, or they can be mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun, allowing them to maximize solar energy capture. For large electric facility or industrial applications, hundreds of solar arrays are interconnected to form a large utility-scale photovoltaic system. Passive Solar Heating. Passive solar heating systems use south-facing glass windows to collect solar energy and a room's interior mass to store energy and regulate temperature swings. The three main types of passive systems are direct, indirect, and attached gain. Direct-gain systems incorporate ample interior mass for storage, and indirect-gain systems require a massive wall positioned directly behind the southfacing glass. Attached-gain systems consist of a greenhouse, accessible to the house, attached to an exterior southern wall. When the greenhouse is warm, the doors can be opened to heat the house. A fourth system, the thermo-siphon, uses flat-plate collectors to heat water and a storage tank located above the collector top. Heated water rises by natural convection into the storage tank, creating a siphon effect that keeps the fluid circulating. Because no electricity is used, this constitutes a passive system. A well-designed passive system, in addition to double-paned south-facing glass and interior mass, includes movable insulation to cover the windows at night, overhangs above the windows to keep out the summer sun, and sufficient house insulation to minimize heat loss. In direct-gain systems, the thermal mass, incorporated into a floor or wall, is typically brick, tile, or concrete. The mass must be sized to the total area of south-facing glass—the greater the area of glass, the greater the mass required to prevent overheating the room. Indirect gain systems use a massive wall of brick or barrels of water located in proximity to the south-facing glass. The outside-facing surface of the mass is painted black to effectuate solar gain stored in the mass. The heat is released through vents into the interior living space by natural convection; at night, the vents are closed, preventing convective heat loss, while the mass radiates heat into the interior space. Attached gain, or greenhouse, systems are usually entirely glass with concrete or soil serving as the mass. When properly designed, an attached greenhouse can be used to provide food as well as heat during the winter. A different application of passive solar is the thermal chimney ventilation system, consisting of an interior vertical shaft vented to the exterior. When the chimney warms, the enclosed air is heated, causing an updraft that draws air through the building. Active Solar Heating. Active solar heating systems transfer a sun-heated fluid (air or water) from an exterior south-facing collector to the point of use or to a storage facility. In air systems, the storage facility is a bed of rocks, and in water systems, tanks of water. In addition to the collector and storage feature, active systems include a pump or fan to circulate the fluid and a differential thermostat that regulates fluid flow to those times when the collector is at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the storage facility. Active systems may be used to heat interior space or to produce domestic hot water. The circulating fluid for domestic hot-water systems is always water, and the storage unit is a water tank. Space heating units may circulate either air or water, but air systems are more common. Solar flat-plate collectors consist of a rectangular box containing a black metallic plate covered by nonreflecting tempered glass. In water systems, tubes to conduct water are soldered to the plate, and in air systems, small channels direct the air. When the sun strikes the black surface, light is changed into heat, which is transferred to the fluid moving across the heated surface. For maximum efficiency, collectors should be oriented directly south and set at an angle (from horizontal) equal to the local latitude (for domestic hot-water systems) or latitude : plus 10 degrees (for space heating systems). Both space heating and domestic hot-water systems use water mixed with propylene glycol antifreeze as the circulating fluid, propelled by a pump. Heat from the fluid is transferred to the hot-water storage tank through a heat exchanger, to be used for domestic hot water or as preheated fluid for hydronic baseboard heating systems. When air is used as the working fluid, excess heat is stored either in smooth rocks or in a phase-change material. Rock storage consists of a 280-cubic-foot bin of 1-inch-diameter smooth rocks weighing 7 tons. When the collector is warmer than the house, a fan pumps the air directly from the collectors into the house. When heat is not required, air is directed through the rock bin, transferring the heat into the rocks. At night, air from the house can be circulated through the rocks to reclaim the stored heat. Focusing Collectors. Concentrated sunlight is realized in one of two ways: troughs of parabolic mirrors that focus sunlight to an oil-filled tube positioned along the focal line, or huge assemblies of mirrors that reflect sunlight from a large area to a small central receiver. Either method may be used in a solar thermal power plant, where the concentrated radiation is used to produce high-temperature steam that drives a turbine to create electricity. A solar furnace is a type of focusing collector employing parabolic curved mirrors to concentrate sunlight to a focal point to generate extremely high temperatures. Applications and Products Photovoltaic Systems. Because PV cell arrays are expensive, the cost of the electricity produced in photovoltaic systems has traditionally exceeded the cost of fossil fuel electricity. Since the mid 1970s, however, the cost has consistently decreased so that by 2014, the cost per kilowatt of photovoltaic electricity was comparable to fossil fuel costs. Low market penetration and insufficient economies of scale have inhibited even lower costs for PV systems, but prices are projected to continue to drop as research raises the conversion efficiency of PV cells. It is projected that by the year 2020, the cost of installed PV units will be half the 2010 cost. As one of the most rapidly growing alternate energy sources with production doubling every two years since about the 1980s, it is projected that by 2020, there will be 500,000 additional installations and a cumulative world capacity of 1,500 gigawatts. Although individual household PV modules are more expensive per kilowatt than large centralized PV power plants, individual units become cost competitive when distribution costs are eliminated. From 1995 to 2009, solar module costs per installed watt declined at 5 to 6 percent annually, a trend projected to continue, particularly in regions with ample sunlight, expensive fossil fuel electricity, and government incentives. Traditionally solar cells have been made from pure crystalline silicon doped with boron or phosphorus. The manufacturing process is not inexpensive, and the conversion efficiency rarely exceeds 15 percent. Research on using amorphous silicon has led to less expensive PV cells but these cells have considerably lower efficiencies of less than 6 percent. Nevertheless, PV laminates composed of thin nonreflective layers of amorphous silicon photocells coated on flexible plastic have been made into roofing material. With such panels, a dual function is served: Roofs are weather-protected with material that generates electricity whenever the sun shines. Because PV modules have no moving parts and low maintenance, these systems are projected to last at least thirty years, the typical lifetime of quality roofing shingles. If the excess energy is stored in rechargeable batteries, it would be possible for homeowners to eliminate their reliance on the grid. Alternately, if the PV system is integrated with the grid, the need for a large bank of storage batteries is eliminated. Excess electricity is sent back into the grid for credit, and the grid provides for nighttime or cloudy weather requirements. Worldwide, the trend through the 2000s has been toward ever larger scale centralized PV power stations, as typified by the large-scale, 550megawatt solar park in Charanka, India, which was the first of its kind in the country. was completed by the end of 2014. The 550-megawatt facility in San Luis Obispo, California, called the Topaz Solar Farm, was also completed in 2014. The following year, Solar Star in Rosamond, California, was complete and was at the time the world's largest solar farm with 1.7 million solar panels. Since batteries are not practical as a backup supply in large-scale applications, storage is achieved using excess energy to pump water from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher one; the energy is reclaimed by releasing the water through a hydroelectric generator. By judiciously pairing PV systems with wind energy and biogas generators, a twenty-four-hour supply of renewable electricity can be virtually guaranteed. Such a system has been successfully pilot tested by the Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology at the University of Kassel, Germany. Passive Solar Heating.Daylighting systems collect and disperse sunlight into interior spaces using skylights, clerestory windows, and light tubes. Physiological and psychological benefits accrue when natural lighting replaces artificial, and the necessity of summer air-conditioning to : eliminate waste heat from incandescent bulbs is reduced. Properly implemented systems can reduce lighting related energy consumption by 25 percent. Integrated passive systems that combine solar heating, ventilation, and lighting, tailored to the local climate, create well-lit spaces maintaining a comfortable temperature with minimal use of fossil fuel energy. For agriculture, greenhouses have been superseded by less expensive tunnels of polyvinyl covering rows of crops to support winter growth. Another application, still in the experimental stage, is the solar pond, a pool of saturated saltwater at least 6 feet deep that collects and stores solar energy. The concentration of salt increases with depth, preventing convection currents and allowing the temperature to increase with depth. An experimental pond near the Dead Sea was able to achieve temperatures approaching 200 degrees Fahrenheit at its bottom layer. When used to drive a heat engine to produce electricity, the overall efficiency was 2 percent. Solar cookers use solar radiation for cooking, drying, and pasteurization. The simplest solar cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent cover that can achieve temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit. More elaborate cookers, using focusing mirrors, can achieve temperatures of 600 degrees Fahrenheit in direct sunlight. Active Solar Heating. Solar thermal technologies can be used for water heating, space heating, air-conditioning, and process heating. The most common types of solar water heaters are glazed flat-plate collectors, evacuated tube collectors to achieve higher temperatures, and unglazed flat-plate collectors used to heat swimming pools. As of 2012, the global capacity of these systems totaled 255 gigawatts, with China being the greatest consumer at over 70 percent of that capacity. Over 90 percent of homes in Israel and Cyprus use solar domestic hot-water systems, while in the United States and Australia, the main application is as heaters for swimming pools. Solar distillation, operating by passive, active, or hybrid modes, is used to make saltwater or brackish water potable. Water for household use or storage may be easily disinfected by exposing water-filled bottles to sunlight for several hours. More than 2 million people in developing countries disinfect their daily drinking water by this method. In small-scale sewage treatment plants, solar radiation is an effective means of treating wastewater in stabilization ponds without employing chemicals or using electricity. Phase-change materials, such as Glauber's salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate), store energy by transforming from solid to liquid at a temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat from the sun is absorbed by melting the salt; when the temperature drops below the melting point, the salt resolidifies, releasing the stored heat. Concentrating Collectors. Hybrid solar lighting systems use sun-tracking focusing mirrors and optical fiber transmission to provide interior lighting. Typically half of the incident sunlight can be transmitted to rooms, where it replaces or supplements conventional lighting. The Solar Kitchen, located in Auroville, India, uses a stationary spherical reflector to focus light to a linear receiver, perpendicular to the sphere's interior surface, where steam, used for kitchen process heat, is produced. A solar concentrating device developed by Wolfgang Scheffler in 1986 produces temperatures between 850 and 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit at a fixed focal point by means of flexible parabolic dishes that track the sun's diurnal motion and adjust curvature seasonally. By 2008, more than 2,000 large Scheffler cookers had been built, most used for cooking meals. The world's largest system, in Rajasthan, India, can cook up to 35,000 meals daily. Another application, developed by Sandia National Laboratories, combines high temperatures from focusing collectors with a catalyst to decompose carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide can then be reacted with hydrogen to produce hydrocarbon fuels. In the United States, the first commercial concentrating system, Solar Total Energy Project (STEP), was developed in Shenandoah, Georgia. This system was developed as part of the National Solar Thermal Energy Program that was instituted in the 1970 during the oil crisis, and STEP was jointly financed by Georgia Power and the US Department of Energy. In Southern California, a system of parabolic trough collectors heats oil in tubes along the focal line. The heated oil is used to produce steam to power a generator. : Central receivers, or power towers, use an extended assembly of moveable sun-tracking mirrors to reflect sunlight to a small region on top of a tower, where temperatures between 1,000 and 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit provide the motive power to produce electricity. The first large-scale demonstration facility, constructed in southern California in 1982, was a 10-megawatt plant, later increased to 200 megawatts, at a cost competitive with fossil fuel plants. Shortly after this plant proved its feasibility, additional commercial units in the 30- to 50-megawatt range were constructed in the southwestern United States, Spain, Italy, Egypt, and Morocco. By the end of 2013, several new large thermal solar generating stations became operational in the United States, which more than doubled the generating capacity. Abengoa's Solana plant, which was constructed in Arizona, produces 250 megawatts of energy, and Bright Source in California's Mohave Desert produces over 390 megawatts. More large-scale additions were completed in 2015 and 2016, and in 2014, Iraq successfully experimented with several versions of small-scale power towers with the goal of collecting and redirecting solar energy to produce steam for power generators. Thermal storage is provided by molten nitrate salts pumped from a cold reservoir to a hot reservoir by excess solar energy. The stored energy is used to produce superheated steam for the electric generation system when the tanks are emptied. The high-temperature storage increases the efficiency of electrical conversion, making these systems competitive with coal-burning plants. The world's largest solar furnace, constructed in 1970 in the French Pyrenees mountains, where annual sunlight exceeds three hundred days, consists of an array of 63 flat moveable mirrors that reflect sunlight into a huge curved mirror. The mirror, covering one entire side of a multistoried building, consists of 9,600 curved glass reflectors totaling an area of 20,000 square feet. This mirror focuses the light onto an area of about 1 square foot, where the 1,000 kilowatts of power delivered creates a temperature in excess of 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Furnaces of this type are primarily used for research in the high-temperature properties of metal oxides or in exposing materials to intense thermal shock. Careers and Course Work By the middle of the twenty-first century, solar power is likely to be the dominant global energy resource; consequently, numerous new career opportunities await those with technological interests and skills. If a student finds that their college or university does not offer an undergraduate major in solar energy, those wanting to enter the field can major or minor in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics. The Research Laboratory of the University of Central Florida (Cocoa), in addition to researching PV materials, conducts solar thermal systems testing. Other US research programs are found at Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, and the Universities of Wisconsin, Texas, Delaware, Oregon, and Arizona. Social Context and Future Prospects Every day, the Earth receives 10,000 times more energy from the sun than humans consume from fossil fuels. As fossil fuels are depleted and the pollution produced by them becomes increasingly problematic, sustainable alternate energies, with the sun as a major provider, will become the planet's viable energy future. The increased use of solar energy will require two economic shifts, supply and demand. First, the pressure to shift to clean, renewable energy supplies is mandated by the increased costs to society of continued reliance on polluting nonrenewable fuels. Second, a move away from large centralized power plants to increased reliance on smaller locally generated energy providers is anticipated. Several indirect benefits of the world's transition to a solar economy include the creation of wealth in underdeveloped countries rich in solar resources, improved homeland security through reductions in energy imports, reduced pollution and lessened effects on the global climate, and the ready availability of potable water through desalination plants. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, it became apparent that several crises were converging. As the world's population increases, obtaining the basic necessities of life, such as food and water, becomes progressively more problematic for underdeveloped nations. At the same time, the global demand for energy is accelerating as fossil fuel resources are being depleted and global warming threatens ultimately to render Earth uninhabitable. Arguably, the best course for humanity is to convert to sustainable food production and energy use. Solar energy, in all its myriad forms, is uniquely positioned to accomplish this transition, if people have the fortitude to endure temporary deprivation so as to ultimately abide harmoniously with the natural environment. Bibliography Bradford, Travis. Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry. Cambridge: MIT P, 2008. Print. : Chiras, Daniel. The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling. White River Junction: Chelsea Green, 2002. Print. Fisk, Marion, and H. C. William Anderson. Introduction to Solar Technology. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1982. Print. Hossain, Jahangir, and Apel Mahmud, eds. Large Scale Renewable Power Generation: Advances in Technologies for Generation, Transmission, and Storage. Singapore: Springer, 2014. Print. Hough, Tom P., ed. Trends in Solar Energy Research. New York: Nova Science, 2006. Print. Kut, David, and Gerald Hare. Applied Solar Energy. 2nd ed. London: Butterworth, 1983. Print. Mackay, Michael E. Solar Energy: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2015. Print. Norton, Brian. Harnessing Solar Heat. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014. Print. Quaschning, Volker. Understanding Renewable Energy Systems. 2nd rev. ed. New York: Routledge, 2016. Print. Rathore, Mahesh, et al. "A Review of Solar Cookers." International Jour. of Modern Trends in Engineering 2349–9745 (2–4 July 2015): 1997– 2004. Print. "Renewables Global Status Report." REN21. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, 6 June 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. Scheer, Hermann. The Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future. Sterling: Earthscan, 2002. Print. "Solar Energy Facts: 2013 Year in Review." Solar Energy Industries Association. SEIA, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. Solar Energy International. Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual. Gabriola Island: New Society, 2004. Print. Towler, Brian F. The Future of Energy. Waltham: Elsevier, 2014. Print. Trabish, Herman K. "Solar Hot Water at Intersolar: Something Old, Something New Something Borrowed." Greentech Media. Greentech Media, 11 July 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2014. "Worlds Largest Solar Furnace at Odeillo." Amusing Planet. Amusing Planet, 10 June 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. Copyright of Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science is the property of Salem Press. The copyright in an individual article may be maintained by the author in certain cases. Content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. Source: Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2018, 7p Item: 89250581 : Research Help More Ways to Search Library Services University Links Getting Started Guide A - Z Database List Interlibrary Loan mySNHU Search Tips Find Books & eBooks Off-Campus Library Services Brightspace Video Tutorials Find Scholarly Articles & Reports About the Library Request Info Citing Sources Find New & Current Topics Library Hours Contact SNHU Southern New Hampshire University | 2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106 | 603.645.9605 EBSCO Connect Privacy Policy A/B Testing Terms of Use Copyright powered by EBSCOhost : © 2021 EBSCO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. Cookie Policy Contact Us
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1

Clean Solar Energy Solution for SNHU

Name of Student:
Institution Affiliation:
Professor Name:
April 1, 2021.

2

Abstract
An organization wishing to invest in solar energy must put into consideration several
facts. First, it is vital to establish the organization's average annual electricity usage or the
specified building and compare. Secondly, it is essential to do a comparative analysis on both the
electrical and solar energy outputs. This will enable the organization to evaluate the cost required
and determine whether to lease or buy solar panels. Also, an analysis offers an insight into the
associated costs and risks of acquisition, maintenance, or efficiency. According to our,
calculations SNHU has a roof capacity of 826 solar panels on an area of 1705.29 square meters.
The average monthly sunlight hours are 219. 3 hours. This translates to an annual production of
869480.64 KWh. The annual electricity usage at SNHU is averaged at 271,253kWh. If SNHU
acquires a total of 826 solar panels, there is a probability of 0.826 that a solar panel is damaged.
The total discounted cost of buying and installing the solar panels is $ 213,108, which is payable
in 3.46 years. The institution expects an annual saving of $ 143,464.31 on electricity use. The
total leasing cost over 10 years is $447,567.50, while buying the solar panels inclusive of utility
costs is $9,617,040. The analysis report offers a conclusive recommendation on the best option
for solar energy use within the organization.

3

Clean Solar Energy Solution for SNHU
Introduction
The emission of greenhouse gases contributes to environmental destruction. Clean energy
is on the rise to reduce the ecological impacts of increased carbon footprint. Non- renewable
energy sources such as oil reserves are on the verge of depletion. Therefore, non-renewable have
become increasingly expensive to the economy, forcing economies to consider the use of clean
and renewable energy sources (Dincer and Acar, 2015). The use of solar energy offers a clean
energy solution in the form of heat and electrical energy. However, solar energy is harnessed
from the sun and highly depends on climatic conditions within a location. In regions where
sunshine is seasonally experienced, solar energy may be difficult to rely on, but with the right
technology, the energy can be harnessed and stored for the future (Mirabella and Allacker, 2020).
How it works
The use of solar panels was revolutionized from the invention of the photovoltaic cell.
The photovoltaic cell is made up of silicon crystals that energize bound electrons when irradiated
by light rays (Mirabella and Allacker, 2020). The energized electrons are free and in a conducting
state, and once they cross the negative-positive junction, they can create electricity. The
electricity is generated and stored within a photo battery, which offers electricity as a direct
current (DC). A solar panel contains an array of photovoltaic cells that transform solar energy
into electrical energy for domestic and industrial use (Pandey and Chaujar, 2016). The solar panel
is placed at a tilted angle facing the sun with maximum sunlight absorption. However, some
highly advanced models are fitted with light and heat detector sensors, modified to rotate in the
sun's direction (Bello, Solarin, and Yen, 2018).

4

Calculations and Analysis
A calculation of the total electricity output of a solar panel system in kilowatts hours (kWh)
Building dimension: 60m x 30m
Area: 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟎𝐦𝟐
Maximum weights: 15kg/m2
Solar panel dimension: 80 in x 40 in x 2in, 50lbs
or 2.032 m x 1.016 m, 22.6796 kg
or 203.2cm x 101.6 cm
Solar panel area: 2.0645m2
Weight: 10.9855kg/m2
Panels in the width: 30m/2.032m = 14.76378 panels
Panels in the length: 60m/1.016m = 59.055 panels
Number of panels to fit the roof: 14 x 59 = 826 panels
Area of the panels: 826 x 2.0645 = 𝟏𝟕𝟎𝟓. 𝟐𝟗𝐦𝟐
kW per Hour of sunlight: 400 watt/1000 x 826 = 330.4kW
Average monthly sunlight hours: 219.3 hours
The average amount of kWh produced per panel:

Monthly kWh per pannel =

330.4 ∗ 219.3
= 87.72kW
826

5

Annual kWh per pannel = (87.72 ∗ 12) = 1,052.64kW
The average amount of kWh produced.
Monthly KWh = 87.72 ∗ 826 = 72,456.72 kWh
Annual kWh = 1052.64 x 826 = 𝟖𝟔𝟗, 𝟒𝟖𝟎. 𝟔𝟒 𝐤𝐖𝐡
A calculation of the difference between the building's current electricity usage, the
electricity generated by a solar panel system in kilowatt-hours, and dollars.
Average electricity usage (Annual): 271,253 kWh
Solar panel production: 869,480.64 kWh
The average cost of electricity: $0.165 per kWh
Annual electricity cost: 271,253 kWh x $0.165 = $44,756.75
Excess power: $869,480 kWh- 271,253 kWh = 598,227.64
The amount of electricity generated by the solar arrays is sufficient to cover the SNHU's yearly
electricity usage. The energy generated is more than the energy required in the SNHU building,
and 598,227.64 kWh can be channeled to other buildings on campus or sold to the energy
company.
A determination of the l...


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