Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated by the sun. It is increasingly becoming a popular alternative to non-renewable sources of energy like coal, oil, and gas. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that have embraced solar energy as a way of reducing carbon emissions and meeting the energy needs of its citizens. In this article, we will take a closer look at how solar energy is made.
The sun is the source of solar energy. It emits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, and this energy is captured and converted into usable forms of energy. There are two primary ways that solar energy is generated: through photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar thermal systems.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells
PV cells are also known as solar cells. They are made of a semiconductor material like silicon, which absorbs photons (light) from the sun and releases electrons. These electrons then flow through the cell in a current, which can be harnessed as electricity.
PV cells are assembled into solar panels, which are then installed on rooftops, open fields or other suitable locations where they can receive direct sunlight. The panels are connected to an inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which can be used to power homes, businesses, and other appliances.
Solar Thermal Systems
Solar thermal systems use sunlight to heat a fluid, which is then used to generate electricity. This system involves the use of mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, which is filled with a fluid like water or oil. The fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight and then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity.
There are two types of solar thermal systems: concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar water heating (SWH) systems.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems
CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver to generate heat. The heat is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity. There are several types of CSP systems, including parabolic troughs, power towers, and dish/engine systems.
Parabolic troughs use curved mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube filled with a fluid, which is heated by the concentrated sunlight. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity.
Power towers use a field of mirrors called heliostats to reflect sunlight onto a receiver on top of a tower. The receiver heats a fluid, which is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity.
Dish/engine systems use a parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver at the focal point of the dish. The receiver heats a fluid, which is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity.
Solar Water Heating (SWH) systems
SWH systems use sunlight to heat water or another fluid, which is then used for space heating or to generate electricity. There are two types of SWH systems: passive and active.
Passive SWH systems use the natural circulation of fluid to move heated water or air around the system. Active systems use pumps or fans to circulate the fluid.
In conclusion, solar energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated by the sun. It can be generated through photovoltaic (PV) cells or solar thermal systems. PV cells use a semiconductor material like silicon to absorb photons from the sun and release electrons, which are harnessed as electricity. Solar thermal systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, which is filled with a fluid that is heated by the concentrated sunlight. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity. The United Kingdom has embraced solar energy as a way of reducing carbon emissions and meeting the energy needs of its citizens.
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