Solar Energy VS. Coal

Coal

• Used as an energy resource
• Burned for electricity and heat
• Industrial purposes

Coal (continued)

• One of the largest worldwide anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide release
• Largest source of energy for the generation of electricity
• Combustible black or blackish-black sedimentary rock

Solar Energy

• Technology used to harness the suns energy and make it useable
• Produces less than one tenth of a percent of global energy
• Generates electricity, provides light

Solar Energy (continued )

• Using photovoltaics or concentrated solar power
• Solar power plants were first developed in the 1980's
• Can power calculators

How are they the same?

Benefits Of Solar Power

• Noise and fuel free
• Technology is versitile
• Has surged at about 20 percent a year over 15 years

Benefits Of Coal

• Provides 40 percent of the worlds electricity
• The cheapest

Downsides of Solar Power

• Doesn't work at night without a battery
• Cloudy weather can make it unreliable
• Solar technologies are also expensive
• Require a lot of land

Downsides Of Coal

• Kills thousands a hear in mines
• The dirtiest, most lethal energy siurce we have
• Releases tins of carbon dioxide