Solar Energy Online PD

Background Information

Solar Energy is a form of renewable energy that captures radiation from the Sun and converts it to electrical energy. Renewable energy is electricity generated from sources that cannot be depleted. These energy types generate fewer greenhouse gases than conventional power stations, making them a key element of Queensland's low-emission energy future.

This PD will investigate solar energy and the role of this form of energy in the future energy mix for Queensland. A summary of the ‘Future of Energy’ will also be included in this PD.

Aims

Participants will:

• develop an understanding of renewable energy in Queensland – particularly solar energy;
• be made aware of teaching resources that exist to demonstrate each of these processes, and will be provided with teaching materials that can be incorporated into their teaching;
• have the opportunity to contribute to a range of on-line activities designed to clarify their understanding of the main concepts, including webinars with industry experts.

Pre-Reading

A general understanding of the way in which electricity is generated is assumed.

Useful Sites
http://www.oresomeresources.com 
http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/Energy/renewable_energy.cfm
http://www.energyfutures.qld.gov.au/

Included Activities

Week 1 – Solar Energy in Queensland

Energy from the sun’s radiation can be captured using a number of different technologies including:

• solar thermal electric
• solar thermal gas
• solar photovoltaic cells

Read the fact sheet to obtain a general overview of each of these technologies.

Vote in the poll.

Queensland has a number of power stations which obtain their power from renewable means. Solar energy installations exist across the ‘sunshine’ state.

"We believe solar energy and small forms of renewable power are well placed in those very remote parts of Queensland," Ms Bligh said at the announcement (of the State Government’s Renewable Energy Plan, June 2009).

Read the article: Queensland set to become solar powerhouse.

Look at the Renewable Power Stations in Australia map.

Key for map
Yellow – Solar installations
Orange – Geothermal
Light Blue – Wind
Dark Blue - Hydro
Green – Biomass
Grey – Landfill Methane

Contribute to the forum. 
'Why are solar energy and small forms of renewable energy well placed in very remote parts of Queensland, rather than for use in coastal areas?'

Week 2 – Solar Energy Webinar

This webinar will clarify your understanding of the different forms of Solar Energy.

Guest speaker for the Webinar will be Dr Geoff Walker from Aurecon.

Date: Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Time: 3:30 – 4:00pm

Participants will be emailed URL and log on details prior to the webinar.

If you would like to participate in this event please email traceyl@qrc.org.au to register.

Now,

Vote in the poll.

Week 3 – Locating and sharing useful teaching resources

Useful teaching resources always take a while to locate. Sharing resources is a way to cut down preparation time when developing a unit or lesson plans.

The activities this week are designed to not only learn more about what you are finding out and think about solar energy, but also to share the great resources you are locating.

Firstly,

Vote in the poll.

The second activity this week is to locate and share useful teaching resources, but also to comment about how and where you might use other resources.

Week 4 – ‘Powering the Future’ Illuminate discussion

The future energy mix is a topical issue, and one that students should be exposed to so that they are able to make informed decisions about viable energy sources for use in the future.

The activity for this week is a discussion on how we will ‘Power the Future’.

A specially designed Illuminate discussion room will be set up for use on Monday May 24, 2010 from 3:30pm. Participants will be required to contribute to the discussion and activities through a number of tasks.

URL details for the site, and log in details will be sent prior to the event.

If you are not participating in the On-Line PD, but would like to be part of this discussion please email traceyl@qrc.org.au to register.

Now,

Vote in the poll.