The development and use of renewable energy is essential to address the challenges related to climate change and sustainability . For this reason, it is increasingly common for countries and different productive sectors of society to continue adopting measures that contribute to caring for the environment to guarantee a cleaner world and improve people's quality of life.
Renewable energy is a key element in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the negative environmental impact associated with their extraction and use.
In this post we explain the main sources of renewable energy .
What are renewable energies?
In general terms, it could be said that renewable energies are those obtained from different natural resources (water, sun, wind or biomass) , which are characterized by being practically inexhaustible and continuous, that is, they are not depleted with their consumption and are constantly renewed due to their availability in the usual environment.
You can expand your concepts on what finland phone data renewable energies are in the following article: What are renewable energies and what are they used for?
Common sources of renewable energy
Solar thermal energy
This type of energy uses solar radiation to heat a fluid, such as water or air , and then use that heat for various applications, such as heating, hot water production, drying, cooling and electricity generation.
Its use is constantly growing due to its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving conventional energy. It is especially useful in regions with abundant solar radiation, where it can provide a reliable and sustainable source of heat.
Photovoltaic solar energy
It is a technology that directly converts sunlight into electricity through the use of devices called photovoltaic cells .
These cells, commonly known as solar panels, are composed mainly of semiconductor materials, such as silicon, which have the property of generating an electric current when exposed to solar radiation.
Its process consists mainly of:
Harvesting sunlight: Solar panels are designed to capture incident solar radiation. When photons of light strike the photovoltaic cells, they release electrons into the semiconductor material.
Electricity generation : The release of electrons creates an electrical potential difference between the sides of the cell, which generates an electric current in a closed circuit connected to the panels.
Inverter: The electric current created by solar panels is direct current (DC). However, most electrical devices use alternating current (AC). Therefore, the DC current is directed to an inverter, which converts the DC electricity to AC, allowing it to power electrical appliances and devices in homes, businesses, or the power grid.
Use or injection into the electrical grid: the electricity generated can be used directly at the location where the solar panels are located, which helps to reduce the consumption of electricity from the conventional grid.