Solar energy – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We have talked on many other occasions about photovoltaic energy, how to install solar panels or self- consumption in general. But exactly what is solar energy ? how does it work? And, above all, why is it one of the best renewable energy options ? We go over it all in today’s post.

  Solar energy definition wikipedia: What is solar energy?

Ahora veremos cual es la definicion de energia solar que da Wikipedia. Solar energy is a renewable energy obtained from the electromagnetic radiation of the Sun. It is a renewable energy because it is obtained from a natural and inexhaustible source , in this case the Sun.

How is solar energy produced?

Solar energy can be captured through photoelectric cells (which make up the photovoltaic panels that we all know), heliostats or solar collectors, which later transform it into thermal solar energy (through temperature) or photovoltaic solar energy (through the light). It can also be used passively with bioclimatic and sustainable architecture techniques, as we will see below.

Solar energy is one of the easiest renewable energy sources to produce , especially photovoltaic solar energy, which is causing its use to be extended in climatic zones with more hours of sunshine. And Spain is no exception, although we still have a lot of room for improvement to continue transforming energy from non-renewable sources (oil or coal) into renewable sources.

What types of solar energy exist?

Depending on the origin and processing of solar energy, we can divide it into different types:

Solar thermal energy wikipedia

Solar thermal energy harnesses the sun’s energy to produce heat, which is later used as a source of energy both domestically and industrially, transforming it into mechanical energy and from it into electricity.

In the case of domestic energy , we would be talking about a low-temperature solar thermal installation , with an installation made up of collectors or solar collectors  installed on the roof or in a sunny part of the building. These capture solar radiation and convert it into heat, which is passed through a circuit of metal tubes and generates enough energy for normal use in a home: hot water and heating.

But solar thermal energy can also be harnessed on a large scale. We are talking about the thermosolar plant or solar thermal power plant , large extensions of land with high temperature solar energy collectors . These facilities operate at temperatures above 500ºC: they transform thermal energy into electrical energy to supply the traditional electrical network, and can cover large areas of territory. In addition, current technologies allow heat to be stored in a very economical way, being able to later transform it into electricity as needed, thus regulating production.

Photovoltaic solar energy wikipedia

Unlike solar thermal, photovoltaic solar energy consists of obtaining electricity directly from solar radiation . This is achieved thanks to the installation of photovoltaic solar panels , which have silicon cells that transform the sun’s light and heat into electricity. As in the case of solar thermal, these solar panels or plates can be installed both at the domestic level in buildings and houses, as well as in large installations – those known as photovoltaic plants .

Photovoltaic panels do not produce heat, so this energy cannot be stored; however, the surplus of this photovoltaic energy can be discharged into the consumption network, which is known as “photovoltaic surplus”. Thanks to photovoltaic panels, self-consumption of energy has been greatly democratized , that is, each household can produce its own electricity for its own consumption.

Passive solar power

Solar thermal and photovoltaic energy use different technologies to capture and process the sun’s energy – this is what is known as active solar energy . But we can also take advantage of this energy passively, that is, without the need for any mechanism that collects and treats it.

Passive solar energy is achieved mainly through bioclimatic architecture : a building design principle where, through the use of different materials and orientations, it is possible to use the energy captured during the day to keep the building warm at night, or to avoid excessive heat during the sunnier hours. Although all this may seem very modern and technological, it is actually one of the oldest ways of taking advantage of solar energy: adapt buildings to the climate of the area to achieve perfect air conditioning at all times.

 Wikipedia: What are the benefits of solar energy?

Although there are other types of renewable energies (such as wind, hydraulic or geothermal), solar has become popular as one of the easiest renewable energies to produce and has democratized access to green energy sources . These are some of the advantages and benefits of this type of energy:

• It is ecological , an inexhaustible source (the Sun will be with us for the next million years), and its transformation into thermal or photovoltaic energy does not produce waste (unlike nuclear or fossil fuels).
• It has less impact on the medium . Although other renewables are also inexhaustible and without waste, the impact of solar energy is less. For example, wind turbines have a negative impact on birds, just like hydraulic installations on fish in rivers. This does not happen with solar installations.
• It is reusable . One of the problems with renewable energies is that they are irregular (they depend on whether the wind blows, the river goes down, the tide rises or the sun shines). But thanks to technological progress, solar energy can now be stored to transform it into electricity on demand, or take advantage of the surpluses generated.
• It is democratic . The installation of solar panels has been gradually falling in price , so almost everyone can access solar self-consumption with their own solar panels in their home or neighboring building. A way of self-sufficiency even for nuclei isolated from the network.
• It is customizable . From private installations of a few square meters to large energy production areas located in solar plants, solar energy adapts to all types of needs, land and societies.
• It generates wealth, employment and contributes to sustainable development . The reconversion of the sector and the development of careers related to solar energy are increasingly important, covering sectors ranging from engineering, installation and operation.
• It reduces the use of fossil fuels , and therefore energy imports from oil, thus allowing us to be more self- sufficient as a society.

Self-consumption and solar energy

Throughout this post we have repeated several times that solar energy is the best way to be self-sufficient in terms of energy production. And it is that, if we are concerned about the environment and where the electricity that we consume in our home comes from, it is best to produce it ourselves.

Solar photovoltaic installers

At factorenergia we are experts in solar self -consumption. We accompany you throughout the process: from the design of the best solution for your home according to its orientation, situation or depending on whether it is a single-family house or a neighboring building; passing of course through the installation of photovoltaic solar  panels; to the management of your invoices and the redistribution of the surpluses produced.

We have our own team of solar panel installers who will be in charge of giving you the best solution for your case, thus optimizing both production and energy consumption.

So, if you want to know more, contact us and we will be happy to analyze your case and propose a personalized solution. You can fill out our web form, call us at 900 377 538 or write to [email protected].

Because where your energy comes from says a lot about you… switch to solar energy and start saving while taking care of the environment.