Paper 2: Solar Energy

Areen Hijazi
Student ID: 1310157
Sequence #: 8
Section: 1

Solar Energy

The sun is found everywhere on earth all the time, it is a primary source of
human beings and all living organisms to live. However, the sun can be used for the
benefit of human beings in more advanced ways; solar energy is an example of a way
that humans can use the sun to their advantage such as solar energy, solar
architecture, artificial photosynthesis, and may other inventions and technologies. Solar
energy is the most common way to use the sun's radiation and heat. Solar energy is
derived from the sun's radiation and heat which can be used mainly as a passive source
of renewable energy, which can be characterized as passive solar and active solar. An
example of passive solar energy can be windows, walls, and floors are made to collect,
store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in
the summer. An example of active solar energy is the conversation of sunlight to
electrical energy in solar panels that are made of small cells in order to help provide
electricity for houses, companies, etc... Solar panel refers to a panel designed to absorb
the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating.
Solar energy is starting to be used all around the world primarily due to the fact
that it is a renewable source of energy and can be used by anyone without having to
worry about it ending at a certain time period. Jordan as a country has enormous
potential in having solar energy as a source of use, due to the fact that the geography of
Jordan lies in the solar belt of the world, which has an average radiation range between
5-7 KWh/m2, however in our world today, solar energy is being underutilized in Jordan.
Only 15% of households are equipped with solar water heating systems, and so far 0
households are equipped with solar electricity sources. As for the near future, in 2020
Jordan is planning for 30% of households to have solar water heating systems, which
means that it will be doubled, and that is a great achievement for Jordan. The
government is also planning on constructing the first Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
project in Aqaba and the southeastern side of the kingdom. A second government plan
is a solar desalination plant, therefore Jordan has a promising future in the solar energy
sector.
In general, solar energy will have a positive impact on the economy as a whole
due to the fact that it will have a decrease in the use of foreign imported goods, as for
the economic effect on electrical companies, it will be a negative economical effect
because people will stop using electricity as much and start relying on the sun. The
economic effect of solar energy on consumers will be positive because the consumers
will help save money due to the fact that they won't be relying on fossil fuels for their
everyday needs. And finally, as for the effect on the environment, solar energy will have
a positive effect due to the fact that solar energy is a renewable source that doesn't
cause any greenhouse gases.

References:
The American Heritage Dictionary of Student Science, Second Edition
http://www.ecomena.org/solar-energy-jordan/
http://www.solarenergyworld.com/2011/12/09/how-solar-energy-impacts-the-economy/