Advantages of solar energy

solar energy in homes

We know that the human being is developing renewable energies by leaps and bounds. They are those that do not pollute the environment and allow obtaining an unlimited source of energy. Among renewable energies, solar energy has acquired great importance in recent decades and a growing presence throughout the world. And there are numerous advantages of solar energy compared to other types of renewables.

In this article we are going to tell you about the advantages of solar energy and how important it is for the energy future.

What is solar energy

advantages of solar energy

In order to know the advantages of solar energy, we must know what it is and what types of solar energy exist. first know what it is a source of renewable energy that is obtained through the sun and with which heat and electricity can be generated for any type of use. Despite the fact that it is a sustainable source, it is important to point out that it is not without its drawback, which is that it also influences its scope and use.

It derives directly from the radiation that reaches our planet from the sun, either in the form of light, heat or ultraviolet rays. Depending on whether you have solar energy, there are different types.

Thermoelectric energy

As its name suggests, it is a type of renewable and clean energy that consists of harnessing the sun's energy to generate electricity. Unlike the solar panels used in photovoltaic energy to generate electricity from photons of light found in solar radiation, this energy takes advantage of said radiation to heat a fluid.

When the sun's rays strike the fluid, it heats it up and this hot fluid can be used for various uses. To get a better idea, 20% of the energy consumption of a hospital, a hotel or a home corresponds to the use of hot water. With solar thermal energy we can heat the water with the energy of the sun and take advantage of it so that, in this energy sector, we do not have to use fossil or other energy.

Solar thermal energy contributes significantly to reducing costs, with the consequent savings in energy and reduction of CO2 emissions that cause global warming and trigger climate change.

photothermal energy

It uses heat thanks to solar collectors that receive the sun's rays and transfer it to a working fluid. It is used to heat buildings and water, move turbines, dry grain, or destroy waste.

Photovoltaic Solar Energy

To generate photovoltaic energy, it is necessary to capture the photons of light that solar radiation has and convert it into electricity in order to use it. This can be achieved by the photovoltaic conversion process through the use of a solar panel.

The solar panel has as a crucial element photovoltaic cell. This is a semiconductor material (made of silicon, for example) that requires no moving parts, no fuel, or generates noise.

When this photovoltaic cell is continuously exposed to light, it absorbs the energy contained in the photons of light and helps to generate energy, setting in motion the electrons that are trapped by an internal electric field. When this happens, the electrons collected on the surface of the photovoltaic cell generate a continuous electrical current.

Advantages of solar energy

sun energy

Once we know what the different types of solar energy are, we are going to see what are the advantages of using this type of energy:

  • It is a totally clean energy that helps reduce carbon footprint significantly. Thanks to its use we avoid the generation of greenhouse gases and we do not pollute during its generation or during its use. There is only miniscule pollution when creating the solar panels.
  • It is a renewable and sustainable energy source over time.
  • Unlike other renewable energies, This energy can heat things.
  • It does not require any type of constant extraction of materials for it to work. This makes it a fairly inexpensive energy whose initial investment is easier to recover over the years. It is true that one of the main problems that renewable energy has had since its inception was the initial investment and its rate of return, although this is no longer the case thanks to the development of technology. A solar panel can perfectly have a useful life of 40 years.
  • Sunlight is very abundant and available so the use of solar panels is a viable option. Almost any geographical point on the planet can use solar energy. It is important to keep in mind that one of the great advantages of solar energy is that it does not require wiring. This helps for installation in areas where it is difficult to install such wiring.
  • Another advantage of solar energy is that decreases the need to use fossil fuels so it helps to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental pollution.

Disadvantages

advantages of solar energy in homes

Just as there are some advantages to solar power, we also have some disadvantages. Let's see what they are:

  • You have relatively low efficiency when converting solar energy into electrical energy. This efficiency is around 25%. Technological development is focusing on increasing this efficiency.
  • Although in the long term it can be a railing, the initial cost is high And it is not accessible to everyone.
  • It is necessary to a place for installation larger in order to be able to produce more electric power. It must be taken into account that if the energy needs are greater, it is more complicated to install the solar panels given the lack of space.
  • It is a type of energy that is not constant. It fluctuates throughout the day and is not available at night. Throughout the day it fluctuates due to the amount of sunlight it receives.
  • The performance of the panels decreases in certain atmospheric conditions either long periods of heat and humidity or with clouds and fog.
  • Pollution is also a problem for solar energy. And it is that in cities that have high degrees of air pollution, the performance is much lower.
  • During the production of solar panels large amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted and toxic waste. This is a disadvantage that can be offset later during use as it helps to greatly reduce the carbon footprint.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the advantages of solar energy.


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