Solar Energy Systems: Types, Advantages, and Challenges

Harnessing Solar Power: Technologies and Benefits

A solar thermal power plant functions by utilizing solar energy from the sun to produce electricity. Solar thermal power plants use the sun's energy directly and therefore must be located in regions that receive high solar radiation, such as Mediterranean Europe, Africa, and Central America. To collect solar power, solar energy is transmitted to a fluid (e.g., oil) as heat. This heated fluid, through a circuit, transports heat to a boiler where water is heated. The water, due to the absorbed heat, transforms into steam and powers a turbine-alternator group to generate electricity.

Solar thermal power plants are thus power plants that use a renewable and free energy source.

Advantages of Solar Thermal Power

• Uses a renewable energy source.
• Produces no emissions (CO2, SO2, etc.) into the atmosphere and generates no waste.
• Facilities are easy to dismantle, and the local area can be quickly restored.
• Facilities are compatible with other land uses.

Disadvantages of Solar Thermal Power

• Electricity production depends on the specific area of the planet, the season, the time of day, and weather conditions.
• Solar energy cannot be stored directly, and the heat produced by the plant requires more complex facilities for storage.
• Currently, the electricity produced is still relatively expensive.

A photovoltaic (PV) or solar cell is a device made of silicon that directly transforms light energy from the sun into electrical energy. Solar cells are not normally used in isolation but are grouped into panels or solar modules. Solar panels are used to supply electricity to devices like solar calculators, space vehicles, and isolated homes. They are also installed in buildings connected to the electricity distribution network, which allows them to obtain energy from the grid during deficits or feed excess energy back into the network. For example, the installation on the cranes at the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia in Terrassa uses this system. The electricity produced by the installation is primarily dedicated to the building's own consumption; if it requires more energy, it is obtained from the power distribution grid, and if there's a surplus, it's diverted to the network.

Benefits of Photovoltaic Systems

• The energy source is renewable.
• The raw material, silicon, is extracted from sand, an abundant substance.
• It is an effective system for providing energy to remote places where electricity or gas distribution networks do not reach.

Challenges of Photovoltaic Systems

• The manufacturing technique for solar cells is expensive and complex.
• The system can have relatively poor performance, meaning that obtaining the necessary energy often requires the installation of very large panels.