The sun is the main source of energy on Earth, because about 173 PW (or 173 million GW) of solar energy reaches our planet every year, which is more than 10,000 times the world’s energy demand. Photovoltaic modules on rooftops or outdoor areas convert sunlight into electrical energy using semiconductors – mostly silicon. Solar collectors produce heat for heating and hot water production, as well as for air conditioning.
Solar panels can produce power even when it’s cloudy and even when it’s snowing. For maximum efficiency, they should be installed at a certain angle – the farther away from the equator, the greater the angle of installation of the panels.
Solar energy in one form or another is the source of all energy on Earth. Solar energy provides heat and food for humans as well as for any other animal or plant. At the same time, humans use solar energy and its derivatives in many other ways. For example, the energy of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas burned for power generation and transportation is nothing more than the energy of the sun, bound and stored for millions of years. Another example is biomass. Plants convert the energy of the sun into the energy of chemical bonds, which is released in the process of combustion. For hundreds of years, man has used the energy of the wind, which comes from the irregularity of the air by the sun and the earth’s rotation, in shipping. Today, in addition to the traditional use of wind energy, it is converted into electricity using wind turbines. Even the energy of rivers operated by hydroelectric power plants comes from the Sun. Water evaporates from the Earth’s surface due to the energy of the sun and enters the dams of hydroelectric power plants after it rains.
Photovoltaics (often referred to as PV) is a simple and elegant method of using solar energy. PV devices (solar cells) are unique in that they convert incident solar radiation into electricity directly, without noise, pollution or the use of moving parts, making them a reliable and durable energy source. Solar cells are based on the same principles and materials that have revolutionized communications and computing technology.
