PARTICLE 101: SOLAR ENERGY

1 month ago

The Sun is simply a captious portion of life connected Earth. You could opportunity life connected our satellite virtually revolves astir it.

It powers each surviving things done nan ray and power it brings. This aforesaid powerfulness provides energy to homes and businesses astir nan world.

In Australia, star powerfulness is nan largest root of cleanable energy, making up 47% of each renewable power generated by nan nation.

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A … SUN

Solar powerfulness is created erstwhile ray radiated from nan Sun is absorbed by star technology, past converted into electricity aliases heat.

There are 2 types of star technology. Solar thermal, which converts sunlight into heat, is utilized to lukewarm substances specified arsenic aerial aliases water.

Caption: Solar panels are placed connected roofs of buildings to sorb power and ray from nan Sun
Credit: Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash

But nan astir communal exertion is star photovoltaic (or star PV) cells.

These cells are encased successful star panels and placed successful locations wherever sunlight is readily disposable specified arsenic your roof.

Solar panels cod ray and power from nan Sun, which is converted into energy and transported to wherever it is needed via infrastructure for illustration powerfulness lines.

FULL CHARGE AHEAD

Similar to upwind energy, ample volumes of star power tin beryllium generated done solar farms aliases star parks – a postulation of thousands of star panels successful 1 location.

Caption: Solar farms incorporate thousands of star panels that make ample volumes of energy
Credit: Mariana Proença via Unsplash

The largest commercialized star workplace successful WA is nan Merredin Solar Farm, 260km eastbound of Perth successful nan Wheatbelt.

More than 354,000 star panels placed crossed 4.6km² tin make capable power to powerfulness astir 42,000 homes.

The number of commercialized star farms successful WA is expected to triple complete coming years, but West Australians don’t person to hold to entree this renewable power.

SUN’S OUT, PANEL’S OUT

One successful 3 Australian households now usage star panels to powerfulness their homes, reducing the costs of powerfulness bills and greenhouse state emissions.

Caption: Solar power tin trim emissions and powerfulness costs
Credit: Nuno Marques via Unsplash

The drawback pinch star power is it tin only beryllium generated erstwhile nan Sun is shining. However, star power batteries person been designed successful caller years to seizure and shop power.

This intends star power tin beryllium saved for a rainy time (or night), making it a longer-lasting renewable power option.

As much Australians realise nan benefits of star power, its usage will only emergence – arsenic judge arsenic nan Sun rises each day.

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