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INTRODUCTION
The process of burning fossil fuels always produces greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2). This will cause global warming and climate change1. Through its study in 1981, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis found that the consumption of fossil fuels would increase between 1980 and 20302. Scientists keep doing research to find alternative fuels to substitute these harmful fossil fuels. One of them is by using free solar energy which will convert solar radiation into electrical energy or heat to run not only vehicles but also many home appliances.

WHO WILL USE THE PRODUCT?

Solar energy could benefits the whole society economically. Basically, users have to learn how to use this product since it involves the generation of electrical energy or heat which is very dangerous in certain circumstances. Consumers also have to at least know about the operation of the solar cells so that problems such as the need to store solar energy for the usage during the lack of sun radiation may be handled correctly.

HOW WILL THE PRODUCT BE DELIVERED?

Solar energy could be converted or delivered as electrical energy (current) or heat. It is possible to store both. No doses applied to solar energy. The larger the surface area of the collectors, the more efficient it would be for generating energy. However, a bigger size might give rise to other problems like bulkiness and portability.

WHAT FOR?
Generally speaking, solar energy could be use as alternative fuel to fossil fuel. It could be converted into electrical energy and heat. Thus, it is suitable for many applications such as in heating system and electric appliances.

HOW IT IS PRODUCED?
Electron is the central of chemistry. The two most approachable technologies for solar energy production are photovoltaic (PV) cells which store electrical energy, and solar-thermal conversion involving heat storage3.

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Electric Vehicle Technology Explained , LARMINIE, James and LOWRY, John (2003) pg 246 Solar Hydrogen: Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels, OGDEN, Joan M. and WILLIAMS, Robert H. (1989) pg 3 Solar Energy: Technology And Applications , WILLIAMS , J.Richard (1974) pg 47-48

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1. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS One of the non-fossil energy sources is the PV electricity generation4. STRUCTURE

The Structure of PV Cells Silicon is the main semi-conductor material used to produce PV cells5. Nowadays, PV cells are made of mono- or polycrystalline silicon wafers or amorphous silicon films6. PV cells consist of two layers - n-layer and p-layer. N-layer comprises phosphorous which gives the layer excess free electrons and thus a negative character. P-layer has a positive character as it tends to attract electrons. Both layers are uncharged7 as they already have equal negative and positive charges that are free to move to other positions within the layer. HOW IT WORKS When both layers come together, electrons of the n-layer will be attracted and flow to the p-layer before they form a p-n junction, stops further electron flows between the layers.

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Energy Efficiency Manual, DONALD R, Wulfinghoff (1999) pg 1267 Solar Electricity : An Economic Approach To Solar Energy , PALZ , Wolfgang (1978) pg 180 6 http://www.total.com/static/en/medias/topic1618/Solar_Energy-21-03-06.pdf 7 http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/SolarS.pdf

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The Production of Electric Field

N-layer will be positively charged and vice versa. This uneven charge distribution produces an electrical field between both layers. Exposure to the sun illumination, would then allow photons to eject electrons from the p-n junction to make them free from their atoms. Nlayer will subsequently attract these electrons while p-layer repels them away. Electrons in the n-layers also repel each other. If a wire is connected to a load, electrons will be able to move from n-layer to the p-layer. These flowing electrons represent current that can be used as electrical energy. Electricity can finally be stored in rechargeable batteries.

2. SOLAR-THERMAL CONVERSION Solar-thermal conversion store heat using high capacity materials like water, earth and stone8. Two main approaches are the solar furnace and solar farm. In the solar furnace approach, sunlight is concentrated into a single heat exchanger. In the latter approach, rays are focused on long pipes which collect the heat by several linear reflectors.

Passive Solar Buildings. BALCOMB, J. Douglas, (1992) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pg 6

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Pyrheliometer

Pyranometer

Pyrgeometer

Pyrradiometer

In order to maximize the production of solar energy, scientific apparatus can be used. Solar energy collectors must be placed at an open and spacious area where the sun rays are not blocked by any building or plant. This will ensure that the collector will produce energy at the maximum amount. We can also determine the radiation flux at one area and compare it with the others. Indirectly, this will enable us to set a solar collector at the best location. Several apparatus to measure fluxes are pyrheliometer, pyranometer, pyrgeometer and pyrradiometer9 which have different usages, depending on the conditions. Solar energy is a green energy which produces neither air nor water pollution at all. It is environmental-friendly. Cost-wise, it is free except for the installation and manufacture. A research shows that users could save more in a year on electricity bills10. People might notice the reliability of solar energy to sun light. However, solar energy can be stored either as electricity or heat. No fuel is needed by the photovoltaic, thus it is very cost effective11. Furthermore, generating the energy is a silent process. Research also shows that its lifespan may reach another 50 million years12.

Solar Energy Measuring Equipment, WOOD, Byard D. in Solar Energy Engineering, SINGH, A.A.M, (1977) , pg 397-398 10 http://www.osa.org/News/policyprograms/specialevents/SolarEnergyCaucus/Powering%20the%20Future%20with% 20Solar%20Energy.pdf 11 Plant Engineers Reference Book 2nd Edition, SNOW, Denis. A. (2002) pg 43
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Solar Cells, BACKUS, C.E. (1976)

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LAWS AND REGULATIONS

With the awareness on the harmful greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6, HFCs, PFCs), many developed countries including the UK, have agreed to the Kyoto Protocol which aims to reduce the emissions to 5% below than those in 1990, by 201213. In order to achieve the objective of Kyoto Protocol, UK Government has supported the renewable energy industries including that of solar energy and microgeneration. One of the government initiatives is that, anyone who wants to install the microgeneration technologies including solar panel (PV cells) and solar-thermal heating system will be given a grant as financial incentives; up to 2 500 for solar panel and 400 for solar-thermal heating system14. Generally, anything related to solar energy is bound to the Energy Act. Energy Act 2004 has stated that electricity produced must not exceed 50 kilowatts and 45 kilowatts thermal for heat produced15. Government also states in item number 4 to 6 of Electricity Act 1989, that any person who would like to generate, transmit and supply electricity to any premise or person must apply for a license16. (995 words)

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Sustainable And Environmental Impact Of Renewable Energy Sources, HESTER, R.E. and HARRISON, R.M, (2003) pg 94 14 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/D G_072660
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http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040020_en_1
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukpga_19890029_en_1

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REFERENCES:

BACKUS, C.E. (1976). Solar Cells. IEEE Press, New York. BALCOMB, J. Douglas. (1992). Passive Solar Buildings. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. DONALD, R Wulfinghoff. (1999). Energy Efficiency Manual. Energy Institute Press. HESTER, R.E. and HARRISON, R.M. (2003). Sustainable and Environmental Impact of Renewable Energy Sources. Royal Society of Chemistry. LARMINIE, James and LOWRY, John. (2003). Electric Vehicle Explained. John Wiley & Sons. OGDEN, Joan and WILLIAMS, Robert H. (1989). Solar Hydrogen: Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels. World Resources Institute. PALZ, Wolfgang. (1978). Solar Electricity: An Economic Approach to Solar Energy. The Butterworth Group. SNOW, Denis A. (2002). Plant Engineers Reference Book 2nd Edition. Elsevier. WILLIAMS, J Richard (1974). Solar Energy: Technology and Applications. Ann Arbor Science Publisher, Inc. WOOD, Byard D. (1977). Solar Energy Measuring Equipment, In: Singh A.A.M. Solar Energy Engineering. Academic Press, Inc. (London) Ltd. Solar Energy; Photovoltaic Technology : Proficiency and Performance. [online] http://www.total.com/static/en/medias/topic1618/Solar_Energy-21-0306.pdf [accessed 7th October 2008] Solar [online] http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/SolarS.pdf [accessed 7th October 2008] Powering the Future with Solar Energy [online] http://www.osa.org/News/policyprograms/specialevents/SolarEnergyCauc us/Powering%20the%20Future%20with%20Solar%20Energy.pdf [accessed 19th October 2008] Financial Incentives for Generating Your Own Energy for your Home.[online] http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwater saving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/DG_072660 [accessed 19th October 2008] Electricity Act 1989 [online] http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukpga_19890029_en_1 [accessed 19th October 2008] Energy Act 2004 [online] http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040020_en_1 [accessed19 October 2008]

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PICTURES: Pyrheliometer : http://www.angstrom.uu.se/om_angstrom/historia.php?lang=en& [accessed 22nd October 2008] Pyranometer : http://www.novalynx.com/240-8101.html [accessed 22nd October 2008] Pyrgeometer : http://www.cimel.fr/meteo/sens/pyranometer_us.htm [accessed 22nd October 2008] Pyrradiometer: http://www.novalynx.com/240-8111.html [accessed on 22nd October 2008]