Renewable Energy and Solar Technology Notes

Vocabulary and key concepts regarding renewable energy, solar panel systems, and battery storage technologies in Australia.

Renewable energy

Energy that comes from sources that never run out, such as wind or solar, is clean for the environment, and does not change the earth's atmosphere.

Non renewable energy

Energy derived from fossil fuels like gas or coal which exists in a limited amount and can release greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Chemical Energy

The form of energy stored inside a battery after electrical energy is received from solar panels.

Wasted energy

The heat produced by an appliance as a byproduct while generating light, movement, or intended heat.

Solar panel adoption in Australia

$1$ in $3$ homes across the country have solar panels, representing over $4$ million homes and businesses.

Lithium-ion wall batteries

Equipment installed in over $72,000+$ homes (more than $11\%$ of installed homes) to store energy for use at night.

Ethical benefit of solar and batteries

Reduces pressure on the power grid on hot days during high AC usage, preventing community blackouts.

Weather dependency

A major limitation of solar panels where they do not generate electricity at night or on rainy and cloudy days.

Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)

Systems used by energy companies to link neighborhood batteries over the internet to share stored power when local production drops.

Electric Cars (EVs)

Vehicles that use the same battery technology as home storage and may eventually be used to power a home at night.

Portable Power

The application of solar blankets and mini lithium batteries to provide electricity for camping gear, medical tents, and remote science stations.

Grid-Scale Batteries

Large-scale utility batteries the size of football fields intended to back up entire cities during main power grid failures.