Solar energy is an important renewable source that can be used to power our homes, cars and businesses. It is a clean and renewable energy that reduces our dependency on fossil fuels like coal and oil.
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Solar energy comes in many forms, and each has its own benefits. They include thermal energy, photovoltaic power and passive solar power.
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is the process of converting light energy directly into electricity. This happens when photons of light (either natural or artificial) penetrate certain semiconductor materials, causing them to excite electrons to a higher energy state.
The resulting current flows through a device, such as a solar panel. These solar cells can be made from different materials, including silicon, cadmium, and copper.
PV systems can be used to generate power for homes and businesses, or they can be connected to the grid. These systems are becoming more affordable as the cost is falling.
Unlike CSP, which concentrates sunlight to heat a fluid into steam for power generation, PV uses photovoltaic cells to convert light directly into electricity. These cells can be grouped together to form modules, arrays, or panels.
Concentrating solar power
Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a technology that harnesses the sun`s thermal energy to produce electricity. CSP uses mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a receiver, where the heat is collected and stored.
A similar concept to solar photovoltaics, CSP systems can be used in utility-scale power plants and other large-scale projects. They can also be integrated with other renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydroelectric power.
Since its conception, the cost of concentrating sun power has steadily declined. The average levelized energy cost (LCOE), as of 2019, is 18.2 cents for a kilowatt-hour. The cost is lowest of all renewable sources and is expected continue to fall.
There are many types of concentrated solar power systems, including parabolic dishes, solar power towers, parabolic troughs, and linear Fresnel systems. They all use long rows of collectors to focus sunlight into a receiver. The receiver holds a fluid that can be used to store heat, or it can be used immediately to generate electricity.
Solar heating & cooling
Solar heating & cooling is the ability to use the sun`s energy to heat air or water in a building. This can be an effective way to reduce your monthly energy bill and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Solar hot water systems, solar air heaters and other solar heating methods are available. Regardless of which method you choose, it`s important to understand how your system works and how to best maximize its performance.
Solar heating systems consist of three main elements: solar collectors (usually water), a heat-exchanger, and thermal storage. Solar collectors transfer thermal energy from a working fluid (usually, water) to another fluid that is used to heat or chill the air or water within a building.
Passive solar energy
The sun`s rays are used to heat or cool buildings using passive solar energy without the use of electrical fans or pumps. This is a cost-effective and efficient way to harness the sun`s energy.
Passive solar buildings do not use photovoltaics in order to convert sunlight into electricity. Instead, they use a combination that includes proper orientation, roof overhangs and shading, window placement, orientation and non-mechanical heat storage as well as convective aircurrents to naturally warm and cool the home.
In order to cool a passive solar house, the windows and windowsills on the shady north side of the building need to open and cool air can be pulled in from outside by causing a draft through high vents or opening shaded windows. This principle also applies to the Trombe wall design or sun space, which uses convective airflows to warm the home and create a draft to pull the heated air out of the room.
