ENERGY DREAM MAP

Solar Energy 

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This kind of energy is collected from sun radiation, which is converted to thermal or electric power. The most used technologies are photovoltaics, solar heaters, and concentrated solar power.

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Photovoltaic panels: Photovoltaics convert solar radiation into electricity by the photovoltaic effect – when a highly charged photon collides with an electron, it is set free from the atom, following the direction of positive charges and creating an electrical field. Conventional solutions are usually in the form of panels, but innovation is adapting to many different applications, such as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), in the form of tiles or windows.

In 2015, solar PV were responsible for 1.013% of the World’s production of electricity.

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Solar Heaters: Solar heaters capture solar energy and use it to heat water, which is used as a heating system or as hot water for consumption. This is done by running the water in dark pipes, which absorb the solar radiation and transfer it to the water.

In 2015, solar Thermal produced 0.039% of world’s electricity and 0.007% of the heat.

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Concentrated Solar power: Concentrated solar power is used as a replacement for combustion in the conventional power plants. A structure of mirrors tracks and reflects solar radiation, focusing it in a small area and heating water steam which is used to power a steam turbine connected to a generator. Depending on the technology, steam reaches temperatures up to 1000˚C. CSP systems work efficiently with direct sunlight, but the efficiency decreases drastically with cloudy weather. The largest system in the world, located in Spain, has a capacity of 377 MW, comparable to medium sized coal power plant.

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Advantages:

• A renewable and abundant source in many countries.

• Solar technology is in a constant state of innovation and proving to be very adaptable.

• Allows home energy production in remote areas where the electric system is not yet fully developed.

• Electrical independence from the grid to consumers.

• Cheap source of energy (competing even with fossil fuel energy).

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Disadvantages:

• Inconsistent energy production (it is not possible to produce at night and it depends on the weather).

• Batteries must be applied to the system (if it is photovoltaic), which are costly and harmful to the environment.

• Use of exotic materials (which are expensive and unsustainable).

• Large area required.