Solar energy is a renewable resource provided by the Sun. The Sun is the great star of our Solar System with a diameter of 1.4 million kilometers. It is made up of a series of hot gases and the most abundant are: hydrogen (71%) and helium (21%). These gases are converted into energy in the core of the Sun and this energy generated is released from the interior of the Sun to the Solar System in the form of light and heat. The light and heat released by the Sun are the energy that reaches us on Earth and makes life possible on it.
In addition to making life on Earth possible, this solar energy that reaches us is given different uses or exploitation. Knowing this, it is convenient to know better how solar energy is produced. As mentioned above, solar radiation reaches the Earth in the form of light and heat, this energy is captured by solar panels or plates through different collectors (photocells, heliostats or solar collectors), once the energy is captured it is transformed into thermal or electrical energy.
If after reading this you want to continue discovering this renewable energy and see what it can offer us, we encourage you to continue reading this article from EcologíaVerde, as here we talk about the uses of solar energy .
Types of solar energy
Solar energy is becoming more and more popular globally, increasingly pushing aside other types of energy, such as those derived from fossil fuels (oil, gas or coal). If you do a little research on the Internet, you can find several rankings showing the main solar energy producing countries.
The top ten countries that produce this energy are: China, the United States, Japan, India, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Australia and Pakistan. Now, the two most used types of solar energy that we find are:
- Solar thermal energy.
- Photovoltaic solar energy.
- Bioclimatic energy, a more recent type of renewable energy .
The advantages of solar energy over other energies are, basically, that it is a very clean and inexhaustible energy. The disadvantage is its discontinuity, since this energy depends on the weather , and the visual impact generated by the fields of solar panels or plates .
Solar thermal energy is used to provide heat , for example, for heating or heating water. The uses of photovoltaic solar energy are to provide electricity , and to achieve this, solar radiation is converted into electricity through photovoltaic panels.
Bioclimatic energy involves harnessing solar energy in construction , such as making the most of natural light, but this requires taking into account the climate conditions of the location where the new building is to be built.
Now that you know what it is, let’s learn about 10 uses of solar energy that may interest you.
10 uses of solar energy
The following list shows what solar energy is used for and, in general, the uses it can have:
- Bioclimatic architecture.
- Electricity.
- Lightning.
- Domestic hot water (DHW) production.
- Heating.
- Heating water for swimming pools and spas.
- Irrigation.
- Transport.
- Wearable technology.
- Ships and satellites.
Let’s look at the use of solar energy in these examples so that you can understand the 10 ways to harness solar energy.
Bioclimatic architecture
It is one of the most recent uses with respect to the production of electricity, lighting or water heating. It is based on the construction and design of buildings and homes in such a way that it allows the use of natural light and solar energy .
In this way, windows and walls can capture and store energy to distribute it in the form of heat in cold weather and to reject this energy in hot weather. The use of natural solar energy provided by bioclimatic architecture is free of electrical and mechanical devices .
Electricity
It is one of the most well-known uses for electricity. It is thanks to photovoltaic solar panels , which are responsible for transforming solar energy into electricity , that we can use it however we want in our homes, from charging a mobile phone to putting on a washing machine.
To use this electricity, the capacity of the system we have installed must be taken into account. This energy can be stored in batteries, making it possible to have electricity during cloudy periods.
Lightning
It is one of the most well-known uses of solar energy , as it is increasingly common to see lights with a small solar energy collector. It is used to illuminate exteriors such as:
- Paths
- Trails
- Roads
All this without the need for an electrical line. This is possible because the different lighting points have a small plate that captures solar energy during the day, stores it and when night comes it makes use of this stored energy to provide light.
Domestic hot water production (DHW)
Sanitary water , also known as hand sanitizer, needs 45 ºC to be disinfected and be able to be used for this purpose, and it is easy to bring the water to this temperature with thermal solar panels . These thermal panels are not only seen in houses that have been recently built, but also in houses already built previously in which a replacement is made in the facilities, this replacement allows significant economic savings for both homes and companies.
Heating or air conditioning
Solar energy is captured and transformed into thermal energy . This use is valid for the production of hot air in winter and cold air in summer. It allows for significant energy savings of 70% and, consequently, also economic savings. There are two systems:
- Active system : which uses pumps to circulate hot water to transfer heat.
- Passive system : natural water circulation is used.
Water heating, pools and spas
Thermal energy obtained from solar energy is used to heat water . This is an increasingly common use in places where sunny weather predominates, such as Spain or Latin America. This practice means significant economic savings on electricity or gas in homes, as well as allowing longer bathing time in swimming pools, whether indoor or outdoor.
Solar powered electric transport
The utility of solar energy is also currently being seen in transport. Solar-powered transport is still under development , but is already being applied, especially to buses, railways, electric cars and roads that can be powered by sunlight.
This is achieved through photovoltaic energy . If this development with photovoltaic energy were to give good results, it would help significantly to reduce pollution in urban areas.
Irrigation
Since water optimization is becoming increasingly important, solar energy can be used as a good ally, since by installing pumps that work with solar energy, it allows farmers to regulate irrigation and, therefore, optimize it well. This practice saves water and can provide a small respite for water reserves or aquifers, depending on where the water comes from.
Here you can find out more about What is solar irrigation and how to do it .
Wearable technology
Nowadays, it is very common to carry smart devices, not only a mobile phone, but also other devices such as tablets, smart watches or e-books. This has led to the manufacture of solar batteries capable of charging these devices or devices that charge themselves when exposed to sunlight . We can find everything from a hairdryer or radio to a wireless speaker and a tablet.
Furthermore, it now also applies to what is known as wearable technology , such as smart watches that charge with sunlight or smart glasses that charge in the same way.
Ships and satellites
In order for the satellites and spacecraft we know to have a minimum lifespan, they also need a minimum level of technology. This is where the use of solar energy comes in, allowing them to stay far from Earth without having to come down to recharge.
Now that you know how to use solar energy, if you want to learn more about this renewable energy and discover more about its uses and advantages, we recommend this other video where we give more details about the usefulness of solar energy today .
