Title: What is Solar Energy And How Does It Work?

Introduction:

Do you know? The sun emits enough energy in one hour to power the entire
world for a year. Yes, it is true. Solar energy is a reliable source that can
change the world's power scenery. Solar energy has many benefits. It is a
sustainable, economical, and renewable energy source.

Imagine a world where energy is clean, abundant, and accessible to all. Solar
energy is turning this vision into reality. It is revolutionizing the way we power
our planet. Solar energy comes as the radiant light and heat from the sun and
is harnessed to generate electricity or thermal energy.
However, we are going to explore solar energy basics. We will cover the solar
energy conversion process, solar technologies, advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s dive into the depths of the article.

What is solar energy?

Solar energy means the energy produced by the sun. Solar energy is the energy
harnessed from the radiated sunlight.
The solar energy can produce heat, generate electricity, and cause chemical
reactions. The total energy from the sun exceeds the world's current energy
requirements. If we can harness solar energy, it can fulfill our energy needs.
Solar energy has become popular as renewable energy in the 21st century. A
solar system is nonpolluting and has an inexhaustible supply forever. The total
energy the sun releases to the earth is 10000 times more than mankind's total
consumption. So, it is the green replacement of fossil fuels such as natural
gas, coal, and petroleum.
Solar energy is not an alternative; it's a necessity. The amount of fossil fuel
reserves is decreasing daily, and climate is changing due to the excessive use of
fossil fuels. In both cases, solar power can be the solution to a brighter future.

What is the Source of Sun Energy:

The sun produces solar energy through a continuous nuclear fusion reaction
inside it. Fusion happens when hydrogen protons collide violently in the sun’s
core. Then, the proton fuses to form a helium atom.
This reaction is a proton-proton chain reaction which emits huge energy. The
sun consumes about 620 million metric tons of hydrogen per second in a single
nuclear fusion reaction. Around two percent of the total sun’s energy is created
by the CNO(carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) cycle.
The nuclear fusion reactions by the proton-proton chain reaction and CNO
cycles discharge huge amounts of energy. It comes to the earth as particles and
waves. Solar energy causes wind, warms the earth, controls weather, and
retains animal and plant life.

How Does Solar Energy Work, or How is Solar Energy Obtained?

Everyone knows solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. But most people
don’t know about the science of solar energy transformation. Here we arrange a
step-by-step guide to answer “How does solar energy work?”
First Step: How is Solar Energy Converted into Electricity?

Solar panels convert the solar energy into electrical power. Solar panels consist
of semiconductor materials like polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon,
or thin-film solar cells.
When sunlight hits the thin semiconductive layer of a solar panel, it releases
free electrons from the silicon atoms. These negatively charged electrons are
drawn towards the positively charged side of the solar cell. This electron
movement inside the solar panel creates a flow of electricity. This phenomenon
is the photovoltaic effect. The electrical current generated by this electron flow
is captured by wiring connected to the solar panels. Thus it ensures the
production of usable electricity.

The more sunlight falls over the solar panel, the more electricity it generates.
The solar panels receive maximum sunlight on peak sunny days and generate
more electricity than on a cloudy or gloomy day.

Second Step: Energy Conversion of Solar Energy

Solar panels generate electricity as direct current or DC form. Direct current

means the electricity flows in a single direction. But most of the home
appliances consume AC to run.
Hence, solar electricity(DC) needs to be converted into AC electricity. The
inverter converts DC to AC. The inverters also keep your solar system
connected to the internet. The solar system informs you about the system's
performance through this internet connection.

Third Step: Electricity Distribution Through the Electrical Panels

The solar electricity is not directly supplied to the home appliances. The
electrical distribution system does this job. The solar panels supply electricity
to the distribution panel. The distribution panels distribute the solar power
into different individual circuits.

Step Four: Metering Of Electricity Production and Consumption

You need an electric meter or utility meter to measure the electricity

consumption. Some smart meters track both consumption and generation.
If you have both a grid connection and solar power, a smart meter is a better
choice. It will calculate the electricity consumption from the grid by deducting
the amount generated by your solar system. The smart meter also sends
real-time data to the local utility company for billing, research, and customer
service.
The net metering system of the smart meter will allow you to supply the
surplus electricity to the grid to earn credits. You can use these credits to
deduct future electric bills.

Step five: Solar Battery System to Store Surplus Energy

You have to install a solar battery system to store extra energy. It will allow you
to use the electricity on rainy days, at night, and whenever the sun goes down.
We hope you understand what solar energy is and how it works. Stay
connected with us to learn about solar panels, solar batteries, solar inverters,
and meters.

How is Solar Energy Produced Or Technologies to Harness Solar Energy:

Solar energy is harnessed through three basic technologies. "The technologies
are photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and heating and
cooling systems.
The PV technology converts sunlight into electricity. The CSP technology
utilizes the sun's heat to power large-scale electric turbines. The heating and
cooling systems harness thermal energy from the sun to provide hot water and
air conditioning.
Other solar technologies are solar architecture, molten salt power plants, and
artificial photosynthesis. Solar architecture involves designing buildings to
maximize the use of solar energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation.
The molten salt power plants use concentrated solar power to heat molten salt.
This molten salt is stored and used to generate electricity when needed.
Artificial photosynthesis technology imitates the natural process of
photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into fuels and
chemicals.
We will discuss the details of those technologies later.

Uses Of Solar Energy:

Solar energy has a wide range of applications to ensure a sustainable future.
The following are the common uses of solar energy.
In Electricity generation:
This is the popular use of solar energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into
electricity. You can use this electricity to power homes, businesses, and even
entire communities.
In Heating and cooling systems:
Solar energy is used to heat water for residential and commercial use. It is also
used for power heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Solar lighting:
Solar lighting is popular in remote areas. The only cost involved in solar
lighting is the installment charge. Now it is a popular outdoor lighting system.
Solar transportation:
At present, Solar energy powers vehicles, such as cars, buses, and airplanes.
Although still under development, solar-powered transportation can reduce our
dependency on fossil fuel-run vehicles.
Solar-powered devices:
Devices such as calculators, watches, and phone chargers run on solar energy.
These devices are portable, convenient, and reduce the need for disposable
batteries.
In Agriculture and Farming:
Solar energy is suitable for irrigation, crop drying, and powering farm
equipment. It can reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
For Water treatment:
Solar-powered desalination systems can be a sustainable solution for
producing clean drinking water. It is a reliable water system in coastal regions
with limited freshwater.
For Remote Powering:
Solar energy provides electricity to remote areas. Those areas are not
connected to the electrical grid. It helps to improve the quality of life for people
in these regions.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy:

Everything in this universe has some pros and cons. Solar energy is not
exceptional. Here's a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of solar
power:
Advantages of solar energy:
Renewable and Sustainable: Solar energy is an abundant and inexhaustible
energy resource.
Environment Friendly:
Solar energy produces no greenhouse gas or air-polluting ingredients during
operation. Thus, it reduces the impact of climate change on public health.
Cost Savings:
Solar energy systems can reduce or even cut electricity bills over time. Though
the initial investment for solar panel installation may be high, it is
cost-effective in the long run.
Energy Independence:
Solar energy provides you with energy independence. You generate your power
and reduce reliance on the grid by installing solar power.
Job Creation:
The solar energy industry creates opportunities in manufacturing, installation,
maintenance, and research.
Versatile Applications:
Solar energy has applications in electricity generation, heating, cooling,
lighting, and powering devices.
Disadvantages of solar energy:
There are some disadvantages of solar energy. The drawbacks include high
initial costs, reliance on weather conditions, large space requirements,
challenges with energy storage, and geographic constraints.

FAQs
The following frequently asked questions will make you more clear on solar
energy.
Question 1: What is solar power?
Answer: The power from the solar or sun is the solar power. Solar power is
generated by the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity.
Solar power is a renewable and clean source of energy. It reduces dependency
on fossil fuels and helps to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Question 2: Why solar energy?
Answer: The present world is dependent on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited
and will be finished in the future. So, men should search for a new source of
energy. Solar energy is an unlimited source of energy that has no adverse effect
on the climate.
It is a form of renewable energy that plays a crucial role in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. It always positively impacts climate change. So
solar energy is an emergency.
Question 3: Who invented solar?
Answer: Solar power has a long history, and many scientists have contributed.
Edmond Becquerel first introduced the basic principle of solar energy in 1839.
Charles Fritts created the first working solar cell using selenium wafers in
1883.
In 1905, Albert Einstein explained the photoelectric effect theoretically. He got
a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for this work. His work provided a deeper
understanding of how light could generate electricity.
Later, in 1954, Bell Labs Developed the first practical silicon solar cell. This
cell could convert sunlight into electricity with an efficiency of about 6%. This
is considered the birth of modern photovoltaic technology or solar energy.
Conclusion:
We should focus on solar energy for our planet and future generations. The
fossil fuel reserves are diminishing. The use of fossil fuels is harmful also to the
world's climate. So, mankind should emphasize green energy, such as solar
power.
Our articles aim to learn, analyze, and scatter knowledge about solar energy.
We hope you enjoy the writing and will be with us on this green journey.

Author,
Engr. MD. RAFIQUL ISLAM
BSc in EEE
Content Writer And Copywriter