Many children’s songs have always reflected the importance of the Sun for living beings , so from a young age we can already get an idea. The Sun is the largest star in the Solar System, the one that provides us with light and heat and the one that has made life on Earth possible for millions of years. A series of chemical transformations occur in the Sun, in which hydrogen is transformed into helium and in which huge amounts of energy are released into space. This energy reaches the Earth and is what we know as solar energy. To learn more about what solar energy is used for, continue reading on EcologíaVerde because we will show you the answer.
What is solar energy?
Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun’s rays . This star emits electromagnetic radiation that reaches the Earth in the form of light and heat . Every year our planet receives 180 billion kilowatts of power from the Sun, although part of it is returned to space by the reflection produced by the atmosphere. This means that on a sunny day, 1 kilowatt per square meter can reach the Earth’s surface.
The sun has been shining on us for 4,543,000,000 years and the scientific community believes that it will continue to do so for another five hundred thousand years. Due to its inexhaustible nature, it is currently one of the most important renewable energy resources or inexhaustible natural resources in the world. Solar energy is a sustainable alternative energy source that has a lower environmental impact; it does not generate waste or emit toxic gases. However, it has the disadvantage that sunlight is intermittent and does not reach all areas of the planet equally.
For example, Spain, due to its geolocation and climate, has one of the highest rates of solar radiation in Europe, a figure similar to that of Latin American countries. It is estimated that per square metre it receives an amount of 1,500 kilowatts per hour during the year. Unfortunately, we are not among the countries that base their energy production most on solar energy. We are surpassed by countries such as China, and in Europe, Germany leads in solar energy production.
Solar energy has numerous applications, both in the natural world interacting with all living beings, and in the human economy. The sun provides all living beings with light, energy and heat , but humans get more out of it for our lifestyle. With this energy we get electricity, heat, transportation and much more. Below, we describe the most important uses of solar energy .
What is solar energy used for in nature?
As we have said before, solar energy is used by all living beings and these are the main uses given to this energy source in nature:
Photosynthesis
Thanks to solar energy, plants, algae and cyanobacteria can carry out photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, as we already know, is the process by which these living beings obtain the organic matter and energy they need to live. Solar energy is captured by chlorophyll, a very light-sensitive pigment found in plant cells, specifically in organelles called chloroplasts. In addition, for photosynthesis to occur, water and carbon dioxide are needed. Sunlight causes photolysis, that is, the breaking down of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen is released into the atmosphere and hydrogen is used in other reactions that allow the organism to obtain organic matter and energy. The importance of photosynthesis lies in the fact that it provides us with the oxygen we need to live, it reduces carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere (reducing the greenhouse effect) and above all it transforms solar energy into energy available for the rest of living beings.
We recommend you learn more by reading this other post about Photosynthesis: what it is, process and importance .
Source of vitamin D
We have always heard that “go out in the sun for a while to get vitamin D”. Although the Sun does not provide us with vitamin D directly, it is true that ultraviolet rays activate the enzymatic machinery of our skin cells to produce it. Vitamin D allows the body to fix calcium, which is so important for our bones, for muscle movement, the transmission of nerve impulses, and helps the immune system fight pathogens. Thanks to the Sun and its energy, we can help prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, rickets, fibromyalgia, and depression, among others. Therefore, the Sun provides us with another very important service: health.
Regulation of body temperature
For the metabolism of animals to be adequate, a certain temperature is needed. At a physiological level, animals can be classified as endotherms or ectotherms depending on whether or not they are able to regulate their own body temperature. The body temperature of endotherms or formerly called warm-blooded animals, such as birds and mammals, depends on the chemical reactions that occur in their body. However, the temperature of ectotherms or formerly called cold-blooded animals; reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, depends on the environment in which they live. Solar energy is very important for them, since it depends on their metabolism to be activated and they can move, hunt, flee from predators and seek shelter. They can obtain it directly from sunlight or by contact with surfaces previously heated by the Sun.
What is the use of solar energy in people’s daily lives?
Apart from the basics it provides to all living beings, solar energy serves us for the following in our daily lives :
Electricity
Solar energy is converted into electricity by photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic panels are made up of photovoltaic cells. These cells are made of semiconductor materials, that is, materials capable of behaving as conductors of electricity or as insulators. The most commonly used semiconductors are silicon and gallium arsenide, which are combined with other elements such as phosphorus or boron to generate a difference in negative and positive charges, thus creating electricity. Electricity is defined as the movement of electrons from the negative pole to the positive pole. When the photons of the sun’s rays excite the electrons, they begin to move towards positive charges, and that is when the electric current is produced.
You may be interested in learning more about What is electrical energy and examples by reading this other article.
Heat and cold
Solar energy is also used to produce the heat we need in our homes, for example for heating or to warm up food. For this purpose, solar thermal panels are used. They consist of parabolic mirrors that concentrate the sun’s rays and direct them towards a specific point, usually a tank of water. The water is heated and flows to our homes where it can be used in the shower, for cooking and even for heating.
This technology can also be used to generate cold air like that which comes out of air conditioning units. This ecological alternative is known as “solar cooling”. The same process is followed as before, except that a heat absorber, lithium bromide, is added, which allows the air to become cold.
Means of transport
Thanks to solar energy, we can achieve more sustainable and ecological means of transport. Although electric vehicles already exist, we could go one step further if the electricity they consume came from clean and renewable energy sources. By installing photovoltaic solar panels, we would be able to obtain the electrical energy necessary for cars, trams and even planes to move.
Artificial irrigation
Solar energy technology is also used for irrigation systems in gardens, farms and crops. There are solar water pumps that allow the extraction and transport of water masses thanks to the electricity produced by the photovoltaic solar panels connected to them. In addition, some of these pumps contain batteries that store energy to continue working when there is no sunlight available.
