Types of solar renewable energy
Solar energy is one of the renewable energy sources that is available to humans, in this article I will tell you about the Types of solar renewable energy. The sun is the main source of energy for our planet . This star allows the Earth to reach the necessary temperature so that living beings can live on it, it also plays a very prominent role in the water cycle and of course in the use of solar radiation by plants to carry out photosynthesis .
Types of solar renewable energy
People can also make use of the sun’s energy in many ways, depending on the types of solar energy that exist, and this is something that is becoming more and more available to individuals. In this article we are going to explain what kind of energy sunlight has and what it is transformed into, as well as what ways there are to take advantage of it. Go for it!
What are the types of solar energy?
As we indicated in the introduction, the human being is capable of taking advantage of the sun’s energy in many ways, depending on the types of solar energy, as well as the purpose and technology used . And it is that solar energy is a type of energy that is obtained from the capture of solar radiation, which can be found in the form of light, heat and ultraviolet rays. Next, we talk about solar thermal energy, types and characteristics:
Solar energy types: Photovoltaic solar energy
Photovoltaic solar energy is the most used by people to take advantage of the sun’s energy. This makes use of solar radiation to produce electricity through photovoltaic conversion —or photovoltaic effect—. Going into details, photovoltaic solar energy uses a special technology based on the action of photovoltaic solar panels. These are made up of silicon cells with several conductive layers that generate electric current due to the displacement of electrons by contact with solar radiation.
The solar panels are connected to other elements that are part of the photovoltaic installation, such as the inverters and charge regulators, the wiring and the batteries —in the case of an isolated photovoltaic solar installation—. The set of these elements allows to obtain electricity, generate direct current and transform it into alternating current, usable in homes and in the rest of the facilities. It is the best way to make use of solar energy .
Solar energy types: Solar thermal energy
The human being is able to take advantage of solar energy to generate heat. This form of energy is used in different ways, mainly for home heating and domestic hot water. This is possible thanks to the action of thermal solar panels. These devices work very differently from photovoltaics, since what they do is absorb light through solar collectors —or solar thermal panels— and concentrate the radiation in order to heat a fluid. found in the circuit for home heating and domestic water.
Solar thermal energy, on the other hand, can also be used to generate electricity —as is done in solar thermal power plants—. In this case, the heat is used to generate mechanical energy and the latter, in turn, generates electricity. The latest developments in the sector allow this heat to be stored in order to later transform it into electricity, without the need to use it immediately.
Solar energy types: passive solar energy
Last but not least is passive solar energy. Now, what does this type of energy consist of and how is it used? The truth is that passive solar energy harnesses the sun’s energy without the need to use extra technology., as is the case of the solar panels mentioned in the two previous cases. Passive solar energy is fed directly from heat and sunlight through a specific architectural design that improves the natural lighting of homes through the facades, for example.
The use of materials also influences, such as those that absorb heat better and those that are translucent. Another way to take advantage of passive solar energy is through the orientation of homes or buildings, in general. At the moment of being designed, the best location and position to take advantage of the light and the solar temperature (in Spain, generally facing south) are studied.
What type of energy is solar energy transformed into?
As we have seen in the previous point, solar energy is transformed into two types of energy: electricity and thermal energy . Now, it can also be used for other purposes, such as to generate mechanical energy – although today, this is mainly used to generate electricity. However, it is not necessary for solar energy to be transformed in order to be used. As with passive solar energy, solar radiation can be used to acclimatize and illuminate a home through specific architectural designs, for example.
How can we harness the sun’s energy? Types of use of solar energy
We have already talked about the types of use of solar energy throughout the article, but in this section we will clearly explain what they are. We refer to photovoltaic solar panels and thermal solar panels . Each one of them fulfills a specific function, although the most used today are photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity and save significant sums of money on the electricity bill each month.
These devices have improved considerably in recent years, lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining quality, which has made them much more affordable. In Photovoltaic solar energyWe have a wide variety of photovoltaic solar panels, and in the catalog of our online store you can find different solar panel kits that include all the necessary components to carry out the photovoltaic solar installation. You have doubts? Our team can help you find the option you need and advise you on the purchase process. Contact us!
Basicamente estos son los Types of solar renewable energy que pueden ser aprovechados por el hombre.
