Examples of Solar Energy

The solar energy are the radiation that we receive from the sun in the form of light and hot. These radiations can be used in various ways to harness them for our survival and economic development. For example: solar project, photovoltaic energy, greenhouses.

The surface of the Earth is surrounded by a mass of air called the atmosphere. In the upper layer of the atmosphere, our planet receives a radiation of 174 petawatts. However, the atmosphere is responsible for rejecting 30% of this radiation, reflecting it into space.

The energy we receive in the form of visible light is what allows us to see the colors of the objects around us. However, we also receive invisible radiation, in the forms of infrared and ultraviolet rays.

Advantages of solar energy

Disadvantages of solar energy

The problem of the inconstancy of solar energy has been tried to solve through its storage. For this it is necessary:

In this way, the thermal energy of the sun is stored in ammonia, similar to what happens with batteries.

Examples of solar energy

1. Solar project. It is a more ambitious form of solar thermal energy than providing energy to a home. Power plants are used where the sun's energy is concentrated at one point thanks to a large number of mirrors. In this way, heat is produced that is transformed into electrical energy thanks to a steam turbine.
2. Thermal solar energy. Solar energy is used to produce heat energy, which allows to heat water in homes, offer heating or even convert it into mechanical energy which is converted into electrical energy. For this, devices called energy collectors are used. This technology is also called "solar stove".
3. Photovoltaic energy. Radiation is used thanks to a device called a photovoltaic cell. This is currently the third most widely used form of renewable energy. Photovoltaic cells are installed in modules that group between 40 and 100 cells connected to each other. These modules can be installed on the roofs of houses, or occupy large open areas where the sun is continuously falling (without shadows from trees, buildings, hills, etc.). Depending on the latitude in which they are, some buildings can take advantage of their facades to install these panels.
4. Greenhouses. Without using any type of technology, greenhouses are ways of harnessing the thermal energy of the sun. In this case, there is no transformation of energy into electrical energy, but it continues to be heat.

Other types of energy

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