SOLAR ENERGY

INTRODUCTION

Solar energy is a renewable energy, obtained from the use of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. The solar radiation that reaches the Earth has been exploited by humans since Antiquity, through different technologies that have been evolving. Today, the heat and sunlight can be exploited by means of various sensors such as photoelectric cells, heliostats or solar collectors, which can be transformed into electrical or thermal energy. It is one of the so-called renewable energies or clean energies, which could help solve some of the most urgent problems facing humanity.

DESCRIPTION

Solar energy is what reaches the Earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation (light, heat and ultraviolet rays mainly) from the Sun, where it has been generated by a nuclear fusion process. The use of solar energy can be done in two ways: by high-temperature thermal conversion (photo-thermal system) and by photovoltaic conversion (photovoltaic system).

High temperature thermal conversion consists of transforming solar energy into thermal energy stored in a fluid. To heat the liquid, devices called collectors are used.

Photovoltaic conversion consists of the direct transformation of light energy into electrical energy. For this purpose, solar panels formed by photovoltaic cells (silicon or germanium) are used.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages of solar energy

The advantages of solar energy depend on different factors. Depending on the characteristics of the solar installation, certain advantages can be observed with respect to other sources of energy.

Solar energy is a renewable energy and, therefore, it is inexhaustible. Although the sun has a limited life, on a human scale it is considered inexhaustible.

Low pollution and respect for the environment. The production of electrical energy in the case of photovoltaic energy or domestic hot water in solar thermal energy is not polluting or causes greenhouse gases.

Installations with a reduced installation and maintenance cost. The cost of a solar installation compared to other types of facilities such as a nuclear power plant are very low. Similarly, the maintenance of a solar installation underway is not very expensive.

Favorable public opinion Public opinion is mostly favorable to the use of solar energy. The perception of the population is that it is a clean and sustainable renewable energy.

Favorable for isolated sites. In cases where access to the electricity grid is difficult, solar energy is a very good option.

Disadvantages of solar energy

Depending on the characteristics of the solar installation, the disadvantages of solar energy will be more or less important. Despite all the advantages, it is convenient to analyze the disadvantages carefully. Certain disadvantages of solar energy may imply that a solar installation may be unfeasible. The aspects to consider are the following: Energy efficiency is poor compared to other sources of energy. The ratio of the amount of energy received in a solar panel to the amount of electrical energy is low compared to other sources of energy such as nuclear energy. The economic cost compared with other options. Especially in solar thermal energy, taking advantage of the properties of temperature and thermodynamics, the performance is superior to photovoltaic energy. The performance is a function of the weather. Dependence on the weather makes this energy source an unworkable option in areas where the sky is mostly cloudy. Limitations in the solar schedule. Keep in mind that in certain areas the solar time is shorter. The Nordic countries, for example, during the winter days the solar hours are very few. In addition, the inclination of the Sun with respect to the surface varies during the different days of the year. The variation of the inclination of the radiation alone influences the performance of the solar panels. Limitations to store the generated energy. Because the hours where electrical energy can be obtained do not always coincide with the hours in which it is necessary to store the energy. For this, there are solar batteries and hot water tanks, but the efficiency is still very low.

Conclusion

Photovoltaic energy is a good option as an alternative to traditional energies which, in addition to having a limit, cause damage to the environment, photovoltaic solar energy is clean, it does not cause greater damage to the environment, besides it is an inexhaustible source of energy.