Today, the problem of energy consumption costs sharply enough - the planet's resources are not infinite, and during its existence mankind pretty devastated what was given by nature.Currently actively carried coal and oil reserves are every day becoming less.The power of thought has allowed mankind to make an incredible step forward and use nuclear energy, bringing with it a great danger for the good of the whole environment.
no less acute problem eco - active mining resources and their continued use is detrimental to the state of the planet, changing not only the nature of the soil, and even climatic conditions.
That is why special attention is always paid to natural sources of energy, so, for example, as water or wind.Finally, after so many years of active research and development of mankind "matured" to the use of solar energy in the world.That's about it, and it will continue.
What's attractive
Before turning to specific examples, find out what is so much interested in this kind of extraction of energy researchers all over the world.Its main asset can be called inexhaustible.Despite the many hypotheses, the probability that a star like the Sun will go out soon, is extremely small.So, before mankind discovered the opportunity to receive a completely clean energy naturally.
second obvious advantage of using solar energy in the world is this environmentally friendly option.Impact on the environment under such conditions will be zero, which in turn provides a whole world where a brighter future than the one that appears when the constant production of limited groundwater resources.
Finally, special attention should be paid to the fact that the use of solar energy is the least danger to the person.As
actually
Now to the point.Under some poetic name "solar energy" lies in the fact the conversion of radiation into electricity with the help of specially developed technologies.This process is provided by photovoltaic cells, which mankind has been extremely active use for its own purposes, and quite successfully.
Solar radiation
so happened historically that the noun "radiation" makes people more negative associations than positive ones due to man-made disasters that have managed to survive the world in his time.Nevertheless, the use of solar energy technology in the world provides it with her work.
Essentially, this type of radiation is electromagnetic radiation, the range of which is between 2.8 to 3.0 microns.
so successfully used by mankind solar spectrum actually consists of three kinds of waves: UV (about 2%), approximately 49% are light waves, and finally, the same amount accounted for infrared radiation.Solar energy has a small amount of other components, but their role is so small that a special impact on the life of the earth, they do not have.
amount of solar energy falling on the earth
Now, when the composition is used for the benefit of mankind spectrum is determined, it should be noted another important feature of this resource.The use of solar energy in the world seems very promising also because it is available in large quantities at relatively little cost to the minimum processing.The total amount of energy radiated by the star is extremely high, but the Earth's surface reaches about 47%, which equals seven hundred quadrillion kilowatt-hours.For comparison, we note that only one kilowatt-hour will be able to provide a ten-year work of the bulb with a capacity of one hundred watts.
power of solar radiation and energy use in the world, of course, depends on several factors: the climatic conditions, the angle of incidence on the surface, season and geographical location.
When and how
easy to guess that the daily amount of solar energy falling on the Earth's surface is constantly changing, as is directly dependent on the position of the planets relative to the sun and the motion of the sun.It has long been known that the radiation maximum at noon, while the amount of the morning and evening rays reaching the surface is considerably less.
is safe to say that the use of solar energy will be the most productive in the regions, as close to the equatorial band, because that is where the difference between the higher and lower rates is minimal, indicating that the maximum amount of radiation reaching the planet's surface.For example, in the territory of the desert areas of Africa the annual amount of radiation reaches an average of 2,200 kilowatt-hours, whereas in Canada, or, for example, in Central Europe did not exceed 1 000 kilowatt-hours.
Solar power in the history of
If you think as broadly as possible, attempt to "tame" the great shining, warming the planet, began in ancient times in pagan times, when each element was embodied separate deity.But, of course, if the use of solar energy even speech could not be - in the world of magic reigned.
Subject use of solar energy in the world has become actively raised only in the late XIV - early twentieth century.The real breakthrough in science was made in 1839 by Alexander Edmond Becquerel, who managed to become a pioneer of the photovoltaic effect.The study of this topic has increased significantly, and already 44 years later, Charles Fritts was able to construct a first in the history module, which was based on a gold-plated selenium.Such use of solar energy in the world gave a small amount of released electricity - the total amount of development time was less than 1%.Nevertheless, for the whole of humanity it was a real breakthrough, opening new horizons of science, which had not previously even imagined.
significant contribution to the development of solar energy, introduced at the time, Albert Einstein himself.In today's world, the name of the scientist often associated with his famous theory of relativity, but in fact the Nobel Prize he was awarded it for the study of photoemission.
to the present day technology of using solar energy in the world is going through a meteoric rise, it is no less rapid decline, but this branch of knowledge is constantly updated with new facts, and we can hope that in the foreseeable future in front of us will open the door to a whole new world.
Nature against us
On the merits of the use of solar energy in the world, we have already spoken.Now pay attention to the shortcomings of this method, which, unfortunately, no less.
Due to the direct dependence on the geographical location, climatic conditions and the movement of the sun to develop solar energy in sufficient quantities requires huge territorial costs.The point is that the larger the area consumption and processing of solar radiation, the greater the amount of clean energy, we obtain at the output.Accommodation is such huge systems require a large amount of free space, which causes some difficulties.
Another problem concerning the use of solar energy in the world, is directly dependent on the time of day, as the development will be zero at night, and in the morning and evening negligible.
additional risk factor is the weather itself - sharp change of conditions may negatively affect the operation of such a system, because they cause difficulties in debugging the necessary power.In some ways, the situation with the sharp change of the amount of absorption and generation can be dangerous.
clean but expensive
use of solar energy in the world is difficult at the moment because of its high cost.Solar cells necessary for the implementation of the basic processes, have a high cost.Of course, the positive aspects of the use of such resources make it pay off, but from an economic point of view at the moment do not have to talk about full cost recovery expense.
However, as shown by the trend, the price of solar cells gradually falls, so that over time, this problem can be completely solved.
disadvantage of using the sun as an energy source is also a difficulty because this method of processing is quite resource consuming and inconvenient.Consumption and Recycling radiation directly depends on the purity of the plates, which provide quite problematic.In addition, an extremely negative impact on the process and the heating elements, which can be prevented only by the use of powerful cooling systems, which requires additional material costs, and considerable.
In addition, the plates used in solar collectors, after 30 years of active work gradually become useless, and the cost of solar cells mentioned earlier.
environmental issues
previously stated that the use of such resources can save mankind from quite serious environmental problems in the future.Source of resources and the final product is truly the most environmentally clean.
Nevertheless, the use of solar energy, solar collectors working principle is the use of special plates with solar cells, which is required for the manufacture of mass toxic substances: lead, arsenic or potassium.Their very use of harm to the environment does not bring, however, given the limited period of the operation, eventually recycling wafers can be a serious problem.
to limit the negative impact on the ecology of manufacturers are moving to thin film plates, which have a lower cost and less detrimental effect on the environment.
Conversion of radiation energy
films and books about the future of humanity is almost always give us a similar picture of the process, which, in fact, may differ significantly from reality.There are several ways of conversion.
most common can be called already described the involvement of photocells.
Alternatively, mankind makes extensive use of solar thermal energy, based on a special heated surfaces, which allows for the proper direction of the resulting temperature of the heated water.If you simplify the process as much as possible, it can be compared with the tanks, which are used for the summer shower in the homes of the private sector.
Another way to use light for energy is "solar sail", which can only operate in a vacuum.This kind of system converts radiation into kinetic energy.
problem of lack of development in the night-time balloon partially solved solar power plants whose work continues thanks to the accumulation of the released energy and the duration of cooling.
We
solar energy resources are solar and wind energy in the world are used quite actively, even though we often do not notice it.Previously mentioned plebeian heating water in a summer shower.In fact, most of the solar energy is used for these purposes.Nevertheless, there are plenty of other examples in almost every store you can find lighting technology savings light bulbs, which can operate without electrical power even at night thanks to the energy accumulated during the day.
settings based solar cells are widely used at various pump stations, and ventilation systems.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
One of the most important resources for mankind - solar energy, and the prospects for its use are extremely high.The industry is actively funded, expanded and improved.Now solar energy the most developed in the United States, where some regions are using it as a full-fledged alternative source of supply.The same power of this type of work in the Mojave Desert.Other countries have headed for a long time for this type of electricity generation that soon may solve the problem of environmental pollution.
