Solar Energy
LOCATION
School of GeoSciences
The University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute
The Kings Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3JW
UK
SPEAKER: Prof. Tariq Muneer, Edinburgh Napier University.
ABSTRACT: Solar radiation striking the earth on an annual basis is equivalent to 15,000 times that of current global energy consumption. Although photosynthetic energy capture is estimated to be ten times that of global annual energy consumption, only a small part of this solar radiation is used for photosynthesis. In contrast engineering applications of solar energy offer significantly higher efficiencies, i.e. for thermal applications the efficiency may easily exceed 50% while for solar photo-voltaics an efficiency of over 15% is possible. The presentation will cover water and space heating, thermal power plants, photo-voltaics and light-pipes.
SPEAKER: Prof. Tariq Muneer, Edinburgh Napier University.
ABSTRACT: Solar radiation striking the earth on an annual basis is equivalent to 15,000 times that of current global energy consumption. Although photosynthetic energy capture is estimated to be ten times that of global annual energy consumption, only a small part of this solar radiation is used for photosynthesis. In contrast engineering applications of solar energy offer significantly higher efficiencies, i.e. for thermal applications the efficiency may easily exceed 50% while for solar photo-voltaics an efficiency of over 15% is possible. The presentation will cover water and space heating, thermal power plants, photo-voltaics and light-pipes.