Activity 8 - Renewable Energy Sources - Solar and Wind

Use the resources listed below to help you complete this activity.

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

Solar Heating

"Solar Heating and You" - North Dakota - Explains how solar heating works, including descriptions of different types of solar collectors. Also discusses why solar energy is an important resource. Includes directions for making a solar air heater and a glossary of relevant terms.

Photovoltaics

How do Photovoltaics Work? - NASA
Site explains how photovoltaic technology has evolved, how it works, and where the technologies are typically applied.

"Photovoltaics" - EREN - DOE List of links to articles that cover topics related to photovoltaics, including how photovoltaics works, different types of photovoltaic systems, materials used to make solar cells, applications and uses of photovoltaics, current uses of photovoltaics, current news about photovoltaics, and more.

Wind Power

"Wind Energy FAQ/Technical Information" - American Wind Energy Association List of frequently asked questions about wind as an energy resource, including information about how to calculate the amount of power in the wind at a given wind speed, the basic types of wind turbines, the cost of wind power, and more.

"Wind Energy in California" - California Energy Commission Site gives an overview of wind energy. Also visit the "Fast Facts" page, which gives wind facts in a table format.

 

Inquiring Further:

To learn more about solar-thermal electricity generation, visit the following web sites:

Solar Heating - EREN - DOE

"The Luz Experience" - EIA - DOE

"Solar Thermal Energy" - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

"The Energy Story - Chapter 15: Solar Energy" - California Energy Commission

To learn more about photovoltaic electricity, visit the following web sites:

How do Photovoltaics Work? - NASA
Site explains how photovoltaic technology has evolved, how it works, and where the technologies are typically applied.

"Photovoltaics" - EREN - DOE List of links to articles that cover topics related to photovoltaics, including how photovoltaics works, different types of photovoltaic systems, materials used to make solar cells, applications and uses of photovoltaics, current uses of photovoltaics, current news about photovoltaics, and more.

"Photovoltaic Power Generation" - Institute of Energy Conversion

To learn more about the history of wind energy or solar energy, visit the following web sites:

"Illustrated History of Wind Power Development" - TelosNet

"History of Wind Energy Use" - EREN - DOE

"History Of Solar Power" - Go Solar Company

To learn more about wind farms, visit the following web site:

Wind Farms - EREN - DOE

Send all comments about this website to education@agiweb.org

Last updated: May 11, 2010

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the AGI Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.