In this article we have discussed about solar energy. The amount of solar energy an area receives depends on the time of day, the season of the year, the cloudiness of the sky, and how close you are to the earths equator. Alternative methods of solar energy are discussed in part v. It does not pollute or otherwise damage the environment. Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves. In one hour the earth receives more energy from the sun than the world consume in one year. Solar energy 315 diluted form, at a rate of about 220 wm2 see figure 31. Before the industrial revolution, the main source of energy was wood and biomass, which is a secondary form of solar energy. Solar energy, with a focus on photovoltaics, which is the technology that allows to. Pdf solar energy and photovoltaic systems researchgate. Unlike other types of energy, the sun wont ever run out. The other form of obtaining solar energy is through thermal technologies, which give two forms of energy tapping methods. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. This is shown in illustration 171, based on the information given in table 171.
By better understanding the basics of solar energy, your options to go solar, and what questions to ask solar professionals, you can feel confident that you. Fossil fuels will eventually run out and the future of nuclear power is uncertain. In chapter 20 we introduce different concepts related to solar thermal energy. The quarterly solar industry update, a presentation produced by the national renewable energy laboratory, focuses on statistics and trends within the solar industry. In chapter 21, which is the last chapter of the regular text, we discuss solar fuels, which allow to store solar energy on the long term in the form of chemical energy. The payback has decreased, making solar energy much more attractive now than in 2003. In solar thermal technology, solar energy is harnessed into thermal energy for domestic andor commercial applications such as drying, heating, cooling, cooking, etc. Solar national energy education development project. The method of obtaining electricity from sunlight is referred to as the photovoltaic method. Solar energy international renewable energy agency. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect. Solar energy solar training, solar pv training, solar. A number of southwestern states have high solar potential and some have renewable energy portfolio standards particularly, az, ca, nm, and nv and the potential to gain from development of their solar energy resources. In other words, if one square meter were available for conversion of solar energy to electricity at 100% efficiency, the energy produced would be sufficient for just two or three light bulbs.
Because the intensity of solar radiation at earths surface is so low, these collectors must be large in area. Humanity has now declared its readiness to accelerate the transition to a lowcarbon economy, conscious of the finite. It is not like fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are called nonrenewable energy. Solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells photovoltaic cells. People now use many different technologies for collecting and converting solar radiation into useful heat energy for. Solar thermal heating is the result of the whole solar. Energy information administration wind and solar projections from the u.
Solar energy simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Pv energy is a very effective solution for renewable energy. Solar energy has been used to cook food, power vehicles, power homes, and is totally free and renewable. We know solar energy as a source of light and heat. Solar electricity introduction harnessing energy from the sun holds great promise for meeting future energy needs because solar energy is a renewable and clean energy resource. Solar energy is the transformation of heat, the energy that comes from the sun. In such cells, a small electric voltage is generated when light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor such as silicon or the junction between two different semiconductors. It turned out to be a premonition, since, 80 years later and electricity is being supplied to millions of human beings in the world from renewable energies such as solar.
We deliver handson experience, safety, and technical skills solar training to scale the global workforce at a pace to that significantly impacts climate change whether thats equipping utilities with the skills to operate largescale solar farms, or helping people access clean, reliable energy for the. Past performance and planned enhancements 1 introduction several articles, papers, and comments over the past year offered critical views regarding renewable. The modern solar cell is likely an image most people would. The solar energy is the energy obtained by capturing heat and light from the sun. Solar energy has advanced greatly since 2003, when a consumers guide. Even in sunny parts of the worlds temperate regions, for instance, a collector must have a surface. The sun emits a vast amount of solar energy, but once that energy begins to travel through the. Pdf the spectrum of solar energy is quite wide and its intensity varies. Solar energy is free and its supplies are unlimited. The european strategic energy technology set plan proposed by the european commission in order to accelerate the availability of lowcarbon energy technologies has already established the european solar initiative, as one of the industrial initiatives in the six energy sectors most relevant for europe. Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics pv, indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination. Many are familiar with socalled photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. This publication was adapted and updated from one prepared for the energy trust of oregon, inc. A solar collector is one way to capture sunlight and change it into usable heat energy.
Photovoltaics pv, also called solar cells, are electronic devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The total amount of solar energy incident on earth is vastly in excess of the worlds energy requirements and could satisfy all future energy needs if suitably harnessed. Among the most common devices used to capture solar energy and convert it to thermal energy are flatplate collectors, which are used for solar heating applications. Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been. This chapter only discusses the use of solar energy for the direct production of electricity photovoltaic solar energy. Going solar is a significant decision, similar in scope to getting a car.
Truefalse the energy from the sun is completely transformed into electrical energy by using a solar panel. Solar is now available as a power choice in all fifty states and the district of columbia. If wecan improve the technology to harness the suns enormous power,wemaynever face energy shortages again. Solar electric and solar thermal energy global energy network. Solar electric system design, operation and installation. Electrical characteristics iv curve of the solar cell, measured on both sides. Solar energy is used worldwide and is increasingly popular for generating electricity or heating and desalinating water. As of 2011, the technology produced less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. However, the power output from the pv system relies on climatic factors such as the solar radiation, the ambient tem perature, wind speed and the state of the pv module cell material, ageing. As the world looks for new energy sources, solar energy is becoming far more important. Advances in renewable energies and power technologies, 2018. For 29 years, sei has been dedicated to training the global solar energy workforce. Solar energy is defined as the energy obtained from the sun, which reaches the earths surface in the form of electromagnetic waves photon. It cannot be controlled by any one nation or industry.
The solar guidebook contains information, tools, and stepbystep instructions to support local governments managing solar energy development in their communities. Solar energy refers to energy that comes from the sun and has been used by humans for a long time for things like heating, cooking food, removing salt from seawater and things like drying clothes. I have given this seminar for civil engineering students. The purpose of the project is to offset energy consumption at the offices and provide members with realtime data and accurate information about solar systems.
The oldest uses of solar energy is for heating, cooking, and drying. Solar power information and facts national geographic. The guidebooks chapters cover a variety of solar energy topics including, the permitting process. Solar energy, radiation from the sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. Solar energy wikipedia, the free encyclopedia soest hawaii.
Disclaimer while the information included in this guide may be used to begin a preliminary analysis, a professional engineer and other professionals with experience in solar photovoltaic. Seto has compiled resources for firefighters, architects, and code officials to provide information on solar standards, safety, and how to incorporate solar into design projects. Sunlight helps all living things grow and makes it possible for plants, animals and people to live on earth. This was the headline in the new york times on 4 april 1931. It has been used for thousands of years in many different ways by people all over the world. Like electricity and gas, solar energy can also be used as power. The challenge of solar energy utilization is to concentrate it. There are two types of energy first is primary energy and second is secondary energy. A closed car on a sunny day is like a solar collector. Energy information a dministration s eia primary report of recent and historical energy statistics. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the suns energy and make it useable.
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