Solar Energy

Paper instructions:
The Energy Systems part of this class will conclude with a written report and a presentation on a topic, of your choosing, relating to the material in this class. There must be an independent research done on the topic, and an engineering analysis of some sort must be included. The written report must be 7 to 15 pages in length (12 point serif font, 1 inch margins, one-and-a-half or double-spaced) and the presentation must be about 5 minutes in length. External resources must be used, and might include web sources and industry magazines. Resources that you use should be properly cited.
You may take one of any number of perspectives relating to the topic you select. You may take an historical perspective, detailing what has been done with regard to your topic throughout history, for example, the use of wind and/or water power in early civilizations, or even at the start of the industrial revolution. You may take a futuristic perspective, looking at the technological advances that your topic promises or depends upon to become viable, for example the new developments in fuel cell technologies that are currently being pursued.
Part of your report must include some sort of engineering analysis; this is neither a
history paper nor an opinion column. Engineering analysis includes (but is not limited to): a comparison to existing technologies, an analysis of e?ciency, or an analysis of environmental impact. The engineering analysis must be described in the proposal, and approved by the professor.