How solar power is used

There is a growing demand for energy in the world. The chance to manage the task for considerable amount of additional energy is seen in solar energy that reaches the Earth in a great amount,in the form of so-called ‘pure energy’ This kind of energy is one of inexhaustible sources of energy.

From a point of view of using solar radiation energy the most important parameters are annual values of solar exposure ( insolation )- a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time.

About 40% of solar radiation reaching the Earth is reflected by the atmosphere and about 20 % is absorbed, only 40% of solar energy reaches the earth’s surface. The Earth’s lighting by the Sun is not regular. It depends on latitude, season of the year and part of a day.

The map of insolation in Europe

Other factors which have an influence on the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth : the degree of air pollution, the sky cloudiness, water vapour content in the atmosphere, the degree of solar energy absorption in upper layers of the atmosphere, dispersion and absorption on atmoshere components.

In connection with the geografical situation of Poland 1000KWh/m² of insolation is assumed as the norm a year. However, about 80% of the annual insolation falls on spring and summer seasons, remaining 20% on autumn and winter months.. THE INSOLATION IN POLAND

Weather conditions in Poland are distinguished by a very irregural solar radiation in different parts of the country during the year. The strongest insolation falls on spring and summer seasons the time of sun presence extends to about 16 hours a day, while in winter it shortens to 8 hours a day.

Using the solar light to heat water in special containers which are placed on roofs. They are called collectors. The most important ways of using solar energy are : Using solar batteries to produce eletric current.

Solar energy is free and efficient.Thanks to the sun collectors we can cover from 50% to 60% of annual demand on water heating in our houses. For people who realize how important is environmental protection it is a real challange to make a system that uses the sun energy. One square meter of solar collector gives as much energy as ten 100W light bulbs.

Solar collectors in European countries in 2004 That’s how it looks in Europe.

Another important way of using solar energy are solar power stations.  directly in photo-volaic cell,  indirectly by processing solar radiation into heat, and then into electric energy Solar power stations can be based on different processes of energy conversion. It might have been achieved:

It is a renewable source of energy, It doesn’t cause the production of waste, It doesn’t pollute the envirnoment, It doesn’t cause the emission of gases which have an influence on greenhouse effect, The collector with the surface area of 6 m 2 gives l of warm potable water and helps to reduce annual emission of : carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) by around 1,5 t, sulphur dioxide(SO 2 ) by around 12 kg, nitrogen oxides by around 5 kg and dusts by around 2 kg. Advantages of using solar energy:

twenty four-hours and seasonal changebility of solar radiation, small 24-hour density of solar radiation stream, short-term storage of aquired thermal energy from the Sun, for about 1-2 days very high prices of appliances. Disadvantages of using solar energy:

So is it worth to invest in solar energy? Yes, because the Sun is completely free and renewable source of energy, collectors don’t pollute our envirnoment and financial investment in panel purchase will pay for itself not much longer than few years.

Opracowanie grupa eTwinning: S. Andreasik, E. Czenczek, N. Drewniak, K. Kot, A. Miś, M. Mucha, A. Nowak, D. Pluta, D. Wyżykowski, M. Zięba, B. Kozak, G. Włosiński, K. Zachariasz. opiekun - E. Gawron, korekta językowa - S. Skiba. Wykorzystano materiały: wykorzystanie_energii_odnawialnych_za_szczeg_lnym_uwzgl_dnieniem_energii