Technical English

Renewable energy
Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy or alternative
energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly
replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and
blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable

- something that can't run out, or is endless, like the sun.
It means sources of energy that are alternative to the most
commonly used non-sustainable sources - like coal.

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 Text 1
• Our everyday activities depend heavily on energy. Traditional fossil
fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, however, pollute the
environment, and it is becoming more and more expensive to find
and extract them. Furthermore, we are running out of them. So, it is
very urgent to find new sources to meet the increasing energy needs
of the growing population of the Earth.

• Eco-friendly, or green energy sources like solar and wind power,

hydropower and biomass do not have a negative impact on the
environment. They are also renewable, which means we will never
run out of them as they are continuously replenished.

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 Text 1 : Exercice 1
• Which of these energy resources are renewable?

– Wind energy
– Coal
– Oil
– Solar energy
– Hydropower
– Natural gas
– Biomass

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 Text 1 : Exercice 2
• Match the words to form phrases

Fossil On something
Depend Needs
To have Fuel
To meet An impact on something

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 Definitions
Fossil fuels

Are combustible substances of organic-origin as oil, coal, or natural

gas formed by natural processes from the accumulated remains of
ancient plants and animals. The age of the organisms and their
resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes
exceeds 650 million years.

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases generated by burning

fossil fuels are considered to be one of the principal causes of global
warming.

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 Definitions
Coal

Combustible mineral, a hard black substance, formed from organic

matter (mostly plants) that is extracted from the ground and It took
millions of years to form.

Coal is combusted and used to generate electricity. Mining

techniques and combustion are both dangerous to miners and
hazardous to the environment. However, coal accounts for about
half of the electricity generation in the United States.

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 Definitions
Oil, Petroleum or crude oil

It is a colorless petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used

primarily as a fuel for cars and other vehicles. Like coal and natural
gas, petroleum was formed from the remains of ancient marine
organisms, such as plants, algae, and bacteria.

The Industrial Revolution created a vast new opportunity for the use
of petroleum. Petroleum based fuel was in demand. The invention of
the mass-produced automobile in the early 20th century further
increased demand for petroleum.

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 Definitions
Biomass

Biomass is a renewable energy source used to create electricity or other

forms of power, derived from organic matter such as biofuels (ethanol
and biodiesel), wood and wood waste, crop waste, biogas from
landfills, and municipal solid waste. Like solar power, biomass is a
flexible energy source, able to fuel vehicles, heat buildings, and
produce electricity. In biomass power plants, wood waste or other waste
is burned to produce steam that runs a turbine to make electricity, or
that provides heat to industries and homes.
.
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 Definitions
Natural gas

It is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture formed from the

remains of plants and animals and consisting of methane and nitrogen,
along with varying amounts of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and
other hydrocarbons.
Today, natural gas is used in countless ways for industrial, commercial,
residential, and transportation purposes. Although burning natural gas
still emits greenhouse gases, it emits almost 30 percent less CO2 than
oil, and 45 percent less CO2 than coal.

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 Text 2
• Over the last 200 years, an ever-increasing proportion of our energy has come from
nonrenewable sources such as oil and coal. While demand for energy rises, these resources are
running out and scientists are exploring the potential of renewable sources of energy for the
future. All life on earth is sustained by energy from the sun. Plants and animals can store energy
and some of this energy remains with them when they die.

• Fossil fuels are non-renewable because they will run out one day. Burning fossil fuels generates
greenhouse gases and relying on them for energy generation is unsustainable. Hence the need to
find more renewable, sustainable ways of generating energy. Renewable or infinite energy
resources are sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and
again. Estimates from international organizations suggest that if the world's demand for energy
from fossil fuels continues at the present rate, oil and gas reserves may run out within some of
our lifetimes. The estimated length of time left for oil is 50 years, while for natural gas it is 70
years. Coal is expected to last longer, about 250 years.

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 Text 2 : Exercice 1
• True or False?
– About 200 years ago, people used a lot of oil and coal.
– All life on earth depends on the energy of the sun.
– If we rely on non-renewable energy in the future, our life will be
sustainable.
– The energy in animals and plants comes from the sun.
– The estimated time left for coal reserves is 250 years, if demand does not
grow.

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 Reminder : The passive voice
• You can use renewable energy resources again and again.
• Renewable energy resources can be used again and again.

“be” in the right tense and form + Past Participle.

1. If the sentence is in the present tense = > Use 'am', 'is' or 'are'.

2. If it is in the past tense => Use 'was' or 'were'.

3. After auxiliary verbs like 'will', 'must', 'can', 'should' => Use the infinitive form
'be'.

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 Reminder : The passive voice
• The passive voice is used in formal texts.

• This house was built in 1972.

• Renewable energy resources weren't considered important 100 years ago.

• Wind energy will be used in more countries in the future.

• The energy of the sun has been used for a long time.

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 Exercice
Complete the following sentences:

1. Next year, a new power plant will ______________ near our town. (To build)

2. Non-renewable energy sources must ______________ less often. (To use)

3. How long wind energy ______________ by humans? (To use)

4. Oil and natural gas should ______________ by renewable energy sources. (To

replace)

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 Text 3
• As we need more and more energy, it is very important to
choose sources that have less negative impact on the
environment. As CO 2 is one of the most important
greenhouse gases, the negative impact of our activities is
usually measured by the amount of carbon dioxide we emit,
which is called our carbon footprint.

• Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q7_aV8eLUE

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 Text 3 : Exercice 1
• Are these sentences true or false on the basis of the video?
– Your carbon footprint is a mark you leave upon the environment with

every action that releases carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.

– Burning fossil fuels causes harmful greenhouse gases.

– You have no carbon footprint when you brush your teeth.

– You can reduce your carbon footprint choosing less polluting options.

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 Definitions
Carbon dioxide (CO2)

A colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, CO2, present in the

atmosphere and formed during respiration, usually obtained from
burning organic materials: coal, oil, gas, wood, and solid waste.
CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas, responsible for about three-
quarters of emissions. It can linger in the atmosphere for thousands
of years. In 2019, carbon dioxide levels reached 412 parts per
million at Hawaii's Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory,
the highest monthly average ever recorded.

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 Definitions
Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint corresponds to the whole amount of greenhouse

gases (GHG) produced to, directly and indirectly, support a person’s
lifestyle and activities. GHGs may be emitted in the atmosphere, such
as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
These Carbon footprints are usually measured in equivalent tons of
CO2, during the period of a year, and they can be associated with an
individual, an organization, or a product, among others.
Solar thermal energy, being one of the leading resources of green
energy, can reduce the carbon footprint considerably
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 Text 4
Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar
energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available, and the U.S. has
some of the richest solar resources in the world. Modern technology can harness this energy
for a variety of uses, including generating electricity, providing light or a comfortable interior
environment, and heating water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use.
There are several ways to harness solar energy: photovoltaics, solar heating & cooling,
concentrating solar power and passive solar energy.

The first three are active solar systems, which use mechanical or electrical devices that
convert the sun's heat or light to another form of usable energy. Passive solar buildings are
designed and oriented to collect, store, and distribute the heat energy from sunlight to
maintain the comfort of the occupants without the use of moving parts or electronics.
Solar energy is a flexible energy technology: solar power plants can be built as distributed
generation (located at or near the point of use) or as a central-station, utility-scale solar power
plant (similar to traditional electrical power plants). Some utility-scale solar plants can store
the energy they produce for use after the sun sets.

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 Text 4 : Exercice 1
• Match the technologies with their descriptions using the text above

• SHC: Solar • A technology that converts light into electricity with the help of
Heating & Cooling certain materials that can absorb photons and release electrons .

• CSP : • It includes choosing special building materials that can collect,

Concentrating store and distribute the heat of the sun in the winter, and reject
Solar power it in the summer. It also means orienting buildings so that they
can use the heat and light of the sun in the most efficient way.
• PV : Photovoltaic • Plants use mirrors and lenses to concentrate the energy of the
sunlight and convert it into heat to create steam. This steam
drives turbines or engines that create electricity.
• PST : Passive Solar • Technologies that collect the thermal energy from the sun and
Techniques use this heat to provide hot water, heating, cooling, and pool
heating for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

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 Text 4 : Exercice 2
• Using the information in the previous text, write a '+' in the boxes that are true
for that type for solar technology, and write a '-' if it is not true.

Active solar Passive solar

Electricity Heat
systems systems

PV : Photovoltaics

SHC: Solar Heating & Cooling

Concentrating Solar Power

PST : Passive Solar Techniques

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 Reminder

Economic & Economical

• The country's economic situation is almost the

same as last year.

• LED lamps are more economical than neon

lamps.

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 Reminder
• The new law may cause …. disaster in the country.

• The country's …. growth slowed down in 2013.

• Hybrid cars are more…..

• Their heating system is more ... than ours.

• The majority of the population are already experiencing the results of

the ... reforms.

• The bicycle is more ... and healthier than the car.

• Cars have become more ... in the past few years.

• There was a drop in the unemployment rate due to ... development.

• Most of the shops in our town closed down during the ... crisis.
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Modules technical data sheets

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Modules technical data sheets

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Modules technical data sheets : Exercice

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 Definitions
The open circuit voltage (VOC): is the highest voltage that can polarize the
device when it works as a generator.
The short circuit current (ISC): is the value of the current flowing through
the panel when the voltage at its terminals is zero, V = 0 Volts, and is the
maximum current that could be obtained (ideally) from the panel when he
works as a generator.
The point of maximum power (Pmax): is a point of work in which the
power delivered by the solar panel to the external load is maximum. The
corresponding work point, (Vmp, Imp), defines the nominal valuesof the
voltage and current at the maximum power point (not to be confused with
maximum voltage and current), being: Pmax = Imp x Vmp.
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 Definitions
The Efficiency: is usually expressed as a percentage and is the ratio between
the electrical power delivered by the panel and the power of the radiation that
falls on it.
Power Tolerance: This is the range within which a panel manufacturer is
saying the module can deviate from its specified STC max power. For
example: if you had a -10%/+10% power tolerance on a 200W panel, the
actual panels on your roof could have actual max Powers of between 180W
and 220W.

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 Definitions
The nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT): is defined as estimated
temperature of the based on four main standard reference environment: an
Irradiation on the solar panel of 800W/m2, a Wind velocity of 1 m/s, an Air
temperature of 20°C, and an Inclination angle of 45° from the horizontal.
The system voltage: It refers to the nominal voltage of the PV system as a
whole. It is the voltage at which the charge controller, lamps and appliances
in a system operate, and at which the module(s) and battery are configured.
The system voltage of any given installation is usually determined by the
battery bank required by the application being served; the inverter, if one is
used, will influence this decision as well.

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 Text 5
The Solar Cell I-V Characteristic curves shows the current and voltage (I-V)
characteristics of a particular photovoltaic ( PV ) cell, module or array. It gives a detailed
description of its solar energy conversion ability and efficiency. Knowing the electrical I-
V characteristics (more importantly Pmax) of a solar cell, or panel is critical in
determining the device’s output performance and solar efficiency.

Photovoltaic solar cells convert the sun’s radiant light directly into electricity. With
increasing demand for a clean energy source and the sun’s potential as a free energy
source, has made solar energy conversion as part of a mixture of renewable energy
sources increasingly important. As a result, the demand for efficient solar cells, which
convert sunlight directly into electricity, is growing faster than ever before.

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 Exercice
Fill in the blanks using the list.
Solar array / Semi conductor / Electric current / Absorved / Electrons / Photon.
1. A … is a number of solar panels connected into one system.

2. A material that allows electricity to move through it easily when its temperature
increases is called … .

3. The smallest unit of light is a … .

4. The movement of electricity through a wire is an …

5. When photons strike a solar panel, only a part of them will be taken in, or in other
words, … .

6. When photons strike a PV cell, their energy frees some ... in the semi-conductor

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 Definitions
Monocrystalline Silicon Cell: Monocrystalline solar panels are
generally thought of as a premium solar product. This is the most
efficient photovoltaic technology, typically converting around 15% of
the sun's energy into electricity. The main advantages of moncrystalline
panels are higher efficiencies and sleeker aesthetics. Because the cell is
composed of a single crystal, the electrons that generate a flow of
electricity have more room to move. As a result, monocrystalline
panels are more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts but
their manufacturing process is slow and labour intensive, making them
more expensive than their polycrystalline or thin film counterparts.
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 Definitions
Polycrystalline Silicon Cell:

Instead of a single uniform crystal structure, polycrystalline (or

multicrystalline) cells contain many small grains of crystals. A cheaper
(due to the simpler manufacturing process) but less efficient alternative
(around 12%), polycrystalline silicon PV cells dominate the world
market. But the square shape of the polycrystalline solar cell ensures
that less space is wasted on the module itself.

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 Definitions
Amorphous silicon or thin film PV panels:

Amorphous silicon can be deposited on a wide range of substrates,

both rigid and flexible, which makes it ideal for curved surfaces or
bonding directly onto roofing materials.

This technology is, however, less efficient than crystalline silicon,

with typical efficiencies of around 6%, but it tends to be easier and
cheaper to produce.

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Isolated sites
Text 6
When the electrical network does not reach the place of residence, it is possible to
produce its electricity on the spot. However, it will be necessary to store it in order to
have a regular electrical current because the solar flow varies according to the time of day
and the weather. If the photovoltaic panels constitute the generator, the storage will be
ensured by batteries.

Two other devices will be added to the whole installation. These are a regulator and an
inverter.

• The regulator is used to control the filling of the batteries to avoid a too fast
deterioration.

• The inverter is used to transform the direct current of the batteries into alternating
current if the receivers used in the house work with alternating current. This device is
not necessary if the receivers are running on direct current.
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 Text 6
Since the house is self-sufficient in electricity, its daily consumption must be calculated.
Thus, it will be necessary to add the consumption of all the receivers according to the
needs of the family over a period of 24hours. Then the number of batteries will be chosen
to meet this need for electricity with a small safety margin.

Any appliance that does not consume a lot of electricity can be operated on a photovoltaic
system isolated from the grid. The "low consumption" equipment must always be
privileged because the storage of electricity in batteries is expensive and takes a lot of
space.

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 Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8_NdUb8sjc

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 Video : Exercice
Watch the video again, and decide whether the statements are true or false.

1. PV panels don't work on cloudy days

2. The PV panels create direct current.

3. An inverter converts the AC into DC

4. We use alternating current in our homes

5. At night, your home gets electricity from the grid.

6. Any solar power that you don't use is lost

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 Vocabulary

Appliances Electricity Grid Generator

Inverter Generation meter Battery

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 Vocabulary

Wind turbine Blade Wind firm

Gear Shaft Blocking diode

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 Vocabulary

Wire Plug Light bulb

Connectors String line Light bulb socket

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 Vocabulary

String line level Shovel Hammer

Forklift Crane Tape measure

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 Vocabulary

Multimeter Crimping tool Drill

Wire cutters Flat-head screwdriver Screws

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 Reminder: Prepositions
Prepositions of position:

On Under / Below The left side

Beside/Next to/by/near/ Far Over / Above

close to/ the right side 46
 Reminder: Prepositions
Prepositions of position:

In front of Between Around

Amoung Inside Outside

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 Reminder: Prepositions
Prepositions of position:

Down Up Into

Out of Away Around

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 Reminder: Prepositions
Prepositions of position:

Off Towards Under

Along Across Through

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