Questions about Solar Energy

¿How to take advantage of Solar Energy?
The solar energy is the main source of life on Earth: directs the biophysical and geophysical cycles and chemicals that sustain life on this planet, the cycles of oxygen, water, carbon and climate. The Sun provides us food through photosynthesis, and as is the energy from the sun which induces the movement of wind and water, and plant growth.
The solar energy is the source of most of the renewable energy sources, both wind energy, hydropower, biomass, and the waves and ocean currents, as well as solar energy itself. Solar energy can be used passively (passive solar), ie without using any device or intermediate gadget through the proper location, design and orientation of buildings, proper use of the physico-chemical properties of materials and architectural elements: insulation, roofing, protections, and so on.

By applying bioclimatic architecture criteria it can significantly be reduced or even eliminate the need of acclimatization (heating and cooling) buildings, as well as the need to enlighten during the day. These architectural practices contrast with the trend in Spain for years to install air conditioning equipment that consume a great deal of energy.

You can also take an active advantage (active solar energy), capturing thermal energy (heat) or generating electricity. The thermal use of solar energy for water heating is possible thanks to solar water collectors; An installation of 4 m2 of collectors and 300 liters accumulation of hot water provide for a whole family (depending on the location, consumption habits, etc.). , saves more than half a ton of CO2 per year and costs around 2,100 euros, without subsidies; if we include the price of a solar equipment could assert 1,500 euros. Even broadening the surface of solar collectors, energy for heating can be obtained, distributing it in a radiant floor. There are also air solar collectors (for heating), solar cookers, solar desalination plants, and other thermal applications.

On the other hand, you can generate electricity from solar thermal energy, by the so-called central tower or by collectors parabolic tubes; in this appliances a fluid is heated, which transports heat and generates electricity through a turbine and an alternator or a  concentrator ( "Thermoelectric Solar Energy 2020. Firm Steps against climate change. " report, Greenpeace 2004) And, of course, the use of photovoltaic cells for the development of solar electricity .

What are the advantages of solar photovoltaic installations?

The photovoltaic technology directly converts the radiation from the sun into electricity. The energy that gives us the sun is clean, renewable and so abundant that the amount received by the Earth in 30 minutes is equal to the total electricity consumed by mankind in a year.

An installation of photovoltaic technology is characterized by its simplicity, silence, long-term, require very little maintenance, high reliability. The recovery of energy consumption in the manufacture of the panels will profit in 2-3 years of operation and produces no environmental damage.

Unlike fossil fuels and nuclear energy, photovoltaic energy does not pollute. However, no source of energy is absolutely safe. In the case of photovoltaic energy,  their use will not cause any impact but to manufacture the cells requires the use of toxic elements, so that manufacturers should reduce the consumption of these compounds, reuse and recycle everything  possible, and avoid the uncontrolled disposal of their waste.

Despite this, considering the whole life cycle of solar photovoltaic technology (from the extraction of raw materials until the end of its useful life) the impact on nature is incomparably smaller than the technologies based on fossil or nuclear fuels.

On the other hand, photovoltaic technology has the added value of generating jobs and employment, reducing energy dependence from outside, and use an inexhaustible source of energy: the sun. (Solar)

An installation of solar photovoltaic system can be placed almost anywhere and in any size facility. This is a technology of renewable electricity generation whose production easy to install and can be distributed directly at the point of consumption of our towns and cities, where and when consumed most of the country's electricity. Thus, any building can be turned into a small electricity generating central.

While there are significant regional and seasonal differences, Spain received an average insolation of 1,600 kWh/m2-year; What puts it, along with Portugal, at the helm of Europe. In fact, back in 1990 enormous potential of photovoltaic solar roofs in Spain was estimated, close to 32,000 MWp that could help us save between 17.5 and 50 million tons of CO2. The potential obviously has increased since the expansion of the real estate sector has grown nonstop since 1990. It is clear that this is merely indicative and could be even more,  if we take the appropriate political decisions.

Spain ´s current status