X SOLAR ENERGY CHARACTERISTICS

The characteristics of solar energy are which is a renewable, sustainable, free energy, available worldwide, constantly improving and does not depend on fossil fuels. In a Teacher we tell you.

The sun is the main and central star of our Solar System, that is why it receives this name. Thanks to this star, planet Earth can receive the light, heat and energy it needs. Thanks to the sun, life can exist and thanks to it we survive. The sun is also our source of vitamin D and helps us produce the hormone melatonin, which is what helps us sleep at night and have all the necessary energy in the morning following.

In this lesson from a TEACHER, we want to explain that solar energy has many benefits for our general well-being, but also for get clean energy. And it is that, if the sun's rays are used well, humans are capable of generating electricity with them, without having to use another type of energy. We explain the characteristics of solar energy!

Index

1. What is solar energy and what does it consist of?
2. What are the characteristics of solar energy
3. What types of solar energy exist?

Solar energy is that which comes directly from the sun. That is, we call all the energy we get from the sun when we take advantage of the radiation it emits or the light rays themselves. This radiation is constantly emitted by the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves that collide with the Earth, to guarantee some vital processes, such as photosynthesis in plants.

However, solar energy has a great advantage and that is that it can be used by people to transform the energy of radiation into another type of energysuch as electric.

In this other lesson from a Teacher we discover you what are the energy sources.

Image: ProfeRecursos

Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most sustainable energy sources that exist in the today, that is, it is not necessary to pollute the planet to get the energy we need the humans. We present you the solar energy features:

• Renewable: Solar energy is inexhaustible, as it comes from the sun, which according to studies is expected to continue to shine for billions of years.
• Sustainable: Sunlight does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or contribute to climate change, so it is an environmentally friendly option.
• Free: It is completely free and available in most regions of the world in large quantity, on a daily basis. Although the installation of solar panels incurs some initial expenses, the use of energy in the long term can help save a lot of money on your electricity bill compared to other energy sources traditional.
• Available worldwide: The intensity of sunlight varies depending on the location and climatic conditions of each region, but solar energy can be harnessed all over the world. In this way, the exploitation of certain communities to obtain energy is avoided, as happens with some fossil fuels, such as oil.
• It is constantly improving: Solar technology has come a long way in recent decades, making energy increasingly efficient and reducing investment dollars.
• Does not depend on fossil fuels: According to studies, the Earth has about 50 years or so of fossil fuels left, so what will happen after that? Solar power is not reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels and will be able to keep running smoothly.
• Various applications: Solar energy can be used to generate electricity through photovoltaic panels in various applications: to heat water, to provide lighting, to move vehicles, etc

Here we discover the different types of energy: renewable and non-renewable.

The sun's energy is only one, the one that comes from the star itself; however, humans have learned to use it in different ways and they are the ones that we want to present to you below:

Photovoltaic Solar Energy

It works through a photovoltaic system that uses the solar panels capable of converting solar radiation directly into electrical energy. When the panels receive sunlight, the photovoltaic cells are activated and release electrons that generate electrical current. Photovoltaic energy is the one that has gained the most momentum in recent years thanks to the appearance of communities that use this type of energy and new facilities that use the sun to self-sufficient

Thermal solar energy

This system uses solar collectors to transform radiation into heat. These collectors collect and store solar energy to heat water, which can be used in heating systems, hot water for showers, or even industrial applications. Another variant of this thermal energy is the concentrated solar power (CSP), which uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a specific surface. This type of energy is very useful to generate steam and move industrial turbines.

passive solar energy

Sunlight is used in buildings, without the need to transform it into other energy. This is an essential part of ecodesign and bioclimatic architecture and is mainly used to heat the spaces where people live. Natural sunlight in your home is also an example of a passive application of solar energy.

hybrid solar power

Finally, we want to talk to you about hybrid solar energy that combine any of the solar systems that we have explained to you, with other energy sourcesto increase production. A very common example is the combination of solar and wind energy. Hybrid photovoltaic and wind systems make the most of the resources of the sun and wind, since they combine solar panels with wind turbines.

We hope this article has helped you understand a little better the solar energy characteristics and what are its applications. If you want to continue learning more about these issues and do your bit to take care of our planet, do not hesitate to consult our section on The Solar System, where we will accompany you to discover the stars that illuminate us from the darling.

Discover here what is hydropower and how does it work.

If you want to read more articles similar to Solar Power Characteristics, we recommend that you enter our category of geology.

• Solar, E. (2007). Photovoltaic Solar Energy. Web page consulted on, 26.
• Mendez, J., & Cuervo, R. (2007). Photovoltaic Solar Energy. Confemetal Foundation, Madrid, 27-28.