PV Gap

Kent Said:

How Solar cell could be an alternative energy toward fossil fuel ?

We Answered:

Fossil Fuels are used in power plants to create energy for your home, or in certain vehicles to create motion, such as in a plane. These fuels are burned to create heat, which makes steam which turns a turbine, connected to a generator. The largest problems with fossil fuels are that they take millions of years to be made, release toxic gases, and the efficiency of the entire process is maybe 3%, meaning that three percent of the energy in the fossil fuels are converted to electricity. A large amount of the heat made is lost, and other mechanical imperfections that add up. Solar panels create electricity directly through a process that is difficult to explain. In essence electricity is the movement of electrons, and solar power works on the hypothetical photon, a single packet of light energy. A solar panel has bare wires in layers of solid chemicals that shows out through a glass cover. Photons travel through the glass and knock electrons out of the wire into one below, and since an electron has to fill that missing electrons place, the electrons move, creating a current. Solar panels create electricity with a higher efficiency rate, using renewable resources, and without releasing toxins. It is estimated that if the whole earth were covered in solar panels, we would get as much electricity in a day, as would be needed to power the world for three years.

Hope this helps!

Alice Said:

How do companies emit greenhouse gases / how can alternative energy be applied?

We Answered:

One of the reasons this is difficult is that companies do a lot of different things that produce greenhouse gasses (and so do individuals).
Just to name a few:
- Heat buildings and furnaces
- Operate many, many different kinds of machinery
- Drive vehicles short distances
- Drive vehicles across the country
- Operate ships and airplanes
A solution that works well for one of these purposes usually doesn't work well for others. So we keep coming up with solutions for individual problems. And make a little progress.

Harvey Said:

how do hydrogen fuel cells compare to solar or wind energy as an alternative energy source?

We Answered:

Solar and wind energy are alternative sources of energy, whereas hydrogen fuel cells are not exactly a source of energy at all, unless you have pure hydrogen. You see, hydrogen is a fuel, just like gasoline, except with no emissions other than water. The problem is that hydrogen is not abundant on earth, and must be derived from water. It takes just as much energy to do this as the hydrogen produces when used as fuel, so it is not really a source of energy, but rather a mode of transporting energy. Any source of energy, however, may be used to get hydrogen from water, including solar and wind.

Bradley Said:

How do the democrats and the repbulicans differ about solar power and other alternative energy?

We Answered:

I disagree with Bonzi to say the least. Sen Obama's plan to tax oil companies will only increase our dependence of imported oil. This action will i no way benefit the consumer. Just the government, the suppliers will simply raise prices to cover the difference so there will be no "upside" to the end users. By increasing internal production we will influence the markets and prices will decrease as a result of a greater supply. Simple economics really. the US should invest in an upgraded power distribution network(the grid) and also in just about any domestic fuels. Nuclear, wind, solar, coal and oil. Nuclear in my opinion is the short term answer as is the plan put forth by T B Pickens. Nothing should be overlooked as a path to the future. As to the difference between D's and R's I see none really. Each party is owned by one "special interest" or another. Letting oil companies drill without oversight is not the answer but then again not allowing drilling and being held hostage by extreme environmentalists is not acceptable either.