Solar energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solar energy - Essay Example Using oil as a major resource to generate power is insufficient, as oil is a non-renewable energy source and there is no way to obtain more once it has been depleted. This fact has the potential to cause a major threat to the country. In addition, using oil produces considerable amounts of gases that result in damaging our environment. Topic and thesis This research will examine power generating in the United Arab Emirates. It will analyze the importance of changing the method of using oil to generate power. Furthermore, this proposal will discuss how renewable energy can be beneficial to this country. The emphasis of this research will be on the significance of using solar energy instead of using oil. The government of the UAE should communicate the importance of solar energy to the major cities due to the following three reasons: Solar energy is completely renewable Solar energy doesn't create pollution UAE has a good environment and conditions to consider using solar energy Backgr ound Information The UAE is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is considered to be one of the richest countries in regard to oil. Indeed, oil has a large array of uses in the UAE. One of its main uses is to generate power. For example, conventional steam is created, which is when oil is burned to heat water to create steam to generate electricity. Also, they can burn the oil so that it produces hot gases, which spin a turbine to generate power. This method is known as combustion. This massive consumption of oil leads to many serious environmental problems. These problems should be controlled by using an alternative way of generating power, which can be done by using solar energy. This kind of energy, unlike the burning oil, doesn't produce pollution. Solar energy can be used through technology devices such as solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity and solar architecture. Sources of Information Future Energy - Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for Our Planet (book) Photovoltaic Systems for High-Performance Housing Solar Energy Masdar City website Organization and the scope of the Proposal What is solar photovoltaics? Why is the UAE a good place to use solar energy? Is solar energy renewable? What is the impact of both solar PV and burning oil to our planet? Key Terms Solar energy: energy that uses the power of the sun's light and heat to produce electricity Photovoltaic: a piece of equipment that changes light into electricity How do solar photovoltaics work? Here is an explanation from Science NASA News about how PV works: The diagram below illustrates the operation of a basic photovoltaic cell, which is also called a solar cell. Solar cells are made of the same kind of materials as semiconductors, such as silicon, which is used in the microelectronics industry. For solar cells, a thin semiconductor wafer is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other. When light en ergy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides, forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current -- that is, electricity. This electricity can then be used to power a load, such as a light or a tool. Environment and climate The UAE has a great environment and climate to implement solar energy to generate power