Solar energy has multiple uses in our daily life. It can be used
as a passive source of energy as well as an active source of energy.
Solar energy is an inexhaustible and affordable form of renewable energy used to cook food, heat water and generate electricity. In the solar system, solar cells are used to generate electricity from sunlight. The solar cell converts light energy into electrical energy. For this process, photovoltaic cells are also used when the light source is unspecified.
There are different types of solar energy technologies used in our daily life. Let’s discover the different types of solar energy technologies and explore the uses of solar energy in everyday life.
Different Types of Solar Technologies and Their Uses in Our Daily Life
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| Solar energy technologies |
The
Most Common Uses of Solar Energy in Daily Life
There are many uses of solar
energy from ancient times to the present. the main uses of
solar energy may include:
energy from ancient times to the present. the main uses of
solar energy may include:
⇒Solar energy is
used to heat water through a solar heater, which is a cleaner and less
expensive way to operate than stoves used for this purpose, which was dependent
on burning wood or coal. Solar heaters are placed on the roofs of the
houses diagonally, which fits the inclination of solar radiation and its
direction.
used to heat water through a solar heater, which is a cleaner and less
expensive way to operate than stoves used for this purpose, which was dependent
on burning wood or coal. Solar heaters are placed on the roofs of the
houses diagonally, which fits the inclination of solar radiation and its
direction.
⇒Solar energy
helps dry clothes by evaporating water molecules from them.
helps dry clothes by evaporating water molecules from them.
⇒Solar energy
assists plants in photosynthesis and helps bones to make vitamin D which is
very important for bone growth.
assists plants in photosynthesis and helps bones to make vitamin D which is
very important for bone growth.
⇒Solar
technology brightens streets and roads at night through the use of solar cells
that store solar energy during the day and convert it to light energy at night.
technology brightens streets and roads at night through the use of solar cells
that store solar energy during the day and convert it to light energy at night.
⇒Water
distillation and seawater desalination using solar energy have created
solutions for areas suffering from rainfall and river shortages.
distillation and seawater desalination using solar energy have created
solutions for areas suffering from rainfall and river shortages.
⇒Solar
technologies find a solution to remote areas that are not
served by electricity, by relying on solar energy to manage their lives.
technologies find a solution to remote areas that are not
served by electricity, by relying on solar energy to manage their lives.
⇒The Solar Power
Satellite (SPS) system helps deliver power
and electricity to elements on planetary surfaces and
to space vehicles.
Satellite (SPS) system helps deliver power
and electricity to elements on planetary surfaces and
to space vehicles.
⇒Solar
technologies help establish solar thermal power plants to generate
electricity and summarize the mechanism of work in the focus of solar radiation
on pipes where water flows, which leads to the conversion of water to steam
passes to the turbines to generate electricity.
technologies help establish solar thermal power plants to generate
electricity and summarize the mechanism of work in the focus of solar radiation
on pipes where water flows, which leads to the conversion of water to steam
passes to the turbines to generate electricity.
⇒Many factories
use solar heat to generate electricity as an abundant source
of renewable energy. This process involves the use of
sun-tracking mirrors that reflect their rays to a central point at the top of a
tower that has tubes with the liquid that absorbs heat. This liquid is
then pumped when it becomes hot in a generator that turns it into
steam. The resulting steam drives a turbine responsible for generating
electricity.
use solar heat to generate electricity as an abundant source
of renewable energy. This process involves the use of
sun-tracking mirrors that reflect their rays to a central point at the top of a
tower that has tubes with the liquid that absorbs heat. This liquid is
then pumped when it becomes hot in a generator that turns it into
steam. The resulting steam drives a turbine responsible for generating
electricity.
Types
of Solar Energy Technologies
Solar technologies are used to produce electricity, heat, light, hot water, and
heating and cooling processes.
heating and cooling processes.
There are different types of solar technologies that have been
developed to benefit from solar energy such as Passive solar energy,
Active solar energy, Solar Thermal Energy, Photovoltaic Solar Power,
Concentrating Solar Power.
developed to benefit from solar energy such as Passive solar energy,
Active solar energy, Solar Thermal Energy, Photovoltaic Solar Power,
Concentrating Solar Power.
There are three basic technologies through which solar energy is
harnessed:: photovoltaics (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), and solar
heating and cooling (SHC) systems.
harnessed:: photovoltaics (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), and solar
heating and cooling (SHC) systems.
The Most Important Solar Technologies
The following are the most important solar technologies:
Photovoltaic Power
System
Photovoltaic
panels or
photovoltaic System is a photoelectric system that uses solar
power to generate electricity.
panels or
photovoltaic System is a photoelectric system that uses solar
power to generate electricity.
The system consists of solar cells made of semiconducting
materials. When exposed to the sun, they collect the energy of solar
radiation to convert it to electricity. Electricity generated in this way can
be stored in batteries or used directly.
materials. When exposed to the sun, they collect the energy of solar
radiation to convert it to electricity. Electricity generated in this way can
be stored in batteries or used directly.
In the photovoltaic power system, solar cells are used to convert
sunlight directly into electricity.
sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar cells are made of semiconducting materials and
often used to power watches and calculators. These materials are
similar to those used in computer chips.
often used to power watches and calculators. These materials are
similar to those used in computer chips.
When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, solar energy
stimulates electrons out of their atoms, which allow electrons to flow through
the material to produce electricity.
stimulates electrons out of their atoms, which allow electrons to flow through
the material to produce electricity.
The process of converting sunlight (photons) to electricity (voltages)
is called “Photovoltaic Effect”.
is called “Photovoltaic Effect”.
Concentrated Solar
Power (CSP)
Concentrated
solar power (CSP) system is a system that uses mirrors or lenses to focus a
large area of sunlight on a small area. Electric power is produced when solar
energy is converted to heat, which drives a thermal engine connected to an
electric generator.
solar power (CSP) system is a system that uses mirrors or lenses to focus a
large area of sunlight on a small area. Electric power is produced when solar
energy is converted to heat, which drives a thermal engine connected to an
electric generator.
Solar Electric Power
Systems
Many power
plants today use fossil fuels as a heat source for boiling water, where steam
produced by boiling water runs huge turbines that power generators to
produce electricity.
plants today use fossil fuels as a heat source for boiling water, where steam
produced by boiling water runs huge turbines that power generators to
produce electricity.
A new
generation of concentrated solar power plants (CSP plants) has also emerged
which works with concentrated solar systems.
generation of concentrated solar power plants (CSP plants) has also emerged
which works with concentrated solar systems.
There are three main ways of these systems to produce
electricity; Parabolic trough, Dish/Engine, and Power Tower.
electricity; Parabolic trough, Dish/Engine, and Power Tower.
Solar Power Systems for
Heating and Cooling
Commercial
and industrial buildings use the same solar technologies found in residential
buildings – PV systems, passive heating, and water heating – and these
buildings can also use impractical technologies in homes that include
ventilation air heating, solar heating processes, and solar cooling.
and industrial buildings use the same solar technologies found in residential
buildings – PV systems, passive heating, and water heating – and these
buildings can also use impractical technologies in homes that include
ventilation air heating, solar heating processes, and solar cooling.
Let’s see heating and cooling separately:
Solar heating: We
use solar energy to provide suitable indoor thermal conditions in two main ways:
use solar energy to provide suitable indoor thermal conditions in two main ways:
The first is
the active solar heating), in which the hot fluid (liquid or gas) is circulated
by a pump or fan.
the active solar heating), in which the hot fluid (liquid or gas) is circulated
by a pump or fan.
The second is passive solar heating that does not use external
energy, but allows heat to flow into the building in natural ways.
energy, but allows heat to flow into the building in natural ways.
Solar cooling: Solar
energy can be used to cool buildings and rooms in one of two ways:
energy can be used to cool buildings and rooms in one of two ways:
The first is
an absorption cooling system that derives its energy from solar energy sources.
an absorption cooling system that derives its energy from solar energy sources.
Second, passive and energy-efficient refrigeration systems, all of
which are readily available at present, but the high initial cost of effective
systems has limited their widespread use.
which are readily available at present, but the high initial cost of effective
systems has limited their widespread use.
Passive Solar Systems
for Heating and Daylighting
When you
leave your house on a hot and sunny summer day, you will definitely feel the
heat of the sun in your body caused by the intensity of solar energy.
leave your house on a hot and sunny summer day, you will definitely feel the
heat of the sun in your body caused by the intensity of solar energy.
Today many homes around the world are designed to take advantage
of this natural source. In summer, the south side always faces
sunlight, so houses designed for passive heating usually have large
windows overlooking the south.
of this natural source. In summer, the south side always faces
sunlight, so houses designed for passive heating usually have large
windows overlooking the south.
Walls, floors, and windows are made to absorb and store solar
energy, they release heat stored in the winter for heating and other
domestic purposes while rejecting solar energy in summer.
energy, they release heat stored in the winter for heating and other
domestic purposes while rejecting solar energy in summer.
Homes that use these environmentally friendly materials are often
called greenhouses.
called greenhouses.
Another advantage of passive heating is that it provides daylight
for homes, using natural sunlight to give some beautiful touches indoors.
for homes, using natural sunlight to give some beautiful touches indoors.
Solar Water Heating
System
In winter,
shallow water – a little deep – for lakes is usually warmer than deep water
because sunlight heats the bottom of lakes located in shallow areas. This
process is a natural way of heating water by solar energy.
shallow water – a little deep – for lakes is usually warmer than deep water
because sunlight heats the bottom of lakes located in shallow areas. This
process is a natural way of heating water by solar energy.
Sunlight can also be used by the solar system in the same way to
heat water used in buildings and swimming pools.
heat water used in buildings and swimming pools.
How Solar Technology can Change the Future?
In recent years, renewable energy technologies, particularly solar
and wind energy, have gained increasing benefits in their efficiency, enough to
achieve economic competition among countries and cost-equality in some
countries.
and wind energy, have gained increasing benefits in their efficiency, enough to
achieve economic competition among countries and cost-equality in some
countries.
The days when renewable energy
sources were expensive are forgotten. We are currently avoiding the use of
traditional coal-based energy sources, which will become more expensive in the
future.
sources were expensive are forgotten. We are currently avoiding the use of
traditional coal-based energy sources, which will become more expensive in the
future.
Some economists have predicted
the potential prices for renewable energy, especially solar power and
they suggested that renewable energy will be consistently cheaper than
conventional fossil
fuels by 2020.
the potential prices for renewable energy, especially solar power and
they suggested that renewable energy will be consistently cheaper than
conventional fossil
fuels by 2020.
Even the most expensive
renewable energy technology, CSP, competes with fossil fuels under certain
conditions.
renewable energy technology, CSP, competes with fossil fuels under certain
conditions.
The World Economic Forum
published a report mentioning the lower cost of solar energy compared to the
cost of fossil fuels.
published a report mentioning the lower cost of solar energy compared to the
cost of fossil fuels.
For example, the average cost
of unsubsidized electricity for a solar photovoltaic facility – which was not
desirable five years ago – has dropped by 23% to the compound annual rate,
making it better and more convenient than coal in many countries.
of unsubsidized electricity for a solar photovoltaic facility – which was not
desirable five years ago – has dropped by 23% to the compound annual rate,
making it better and more convenient than coal in many countries.
This is why we have witnessed
an increasing use of solar energy, and we are witnessing the combined efforts
of nations and private institutions in this field and the establishment of
giant solar energy infrastructure.
an increasing use of solar energy, and we are witnessing the combined efforts
of nations and private institutions in this field and the establishment of
giant solar energy infrastructure.