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About Solar Energy

Energy from the sun travels to the earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation similar to radio
waves, but in a different frequency range. Available solar energy is often expressed in units of
energy per time per unit area, such as watts per square metre (W/m

!. "he amount of energy


available from the sun outside the Earth#s atmosphere is approximately $%&' W/m

( that#s nearly
the same as a high power hair drier for every square meter of sunlight) *ome of the solar energy
is absorbed as it passes through the Earth#s atmosphere. As a result, on a clear day the amount
of solar energy available at the Earth#s surface in the direction of the sun is typically $+++
W/m

. At any particular time, the available solar energy is primarily dependent upon how high the
sun is in the s,y and current cloud conditions. -n a monthly or annual basis, the amount of solar
energy available also depends upon the location. .urthermore, useable solar energy is depends
upon available solar energy, other weather conditions, the technology used, and the application.
"here are many ways that solar energy can be used effectively. Applications of solar energy use
can be grouped into there are three primary categories/ heating/cooling, electricity production,
and chemical processes. "he most widely used applications are for water and space
heating. 0entilation solar air heating is also growing in popularity. 1pta,e of electricity producing
solar technologies is increasing for the applications photovoltaics (primarily! and concentrating
solar thermal2electric technologies. 3ue to recent advances in solar detoxification technologies
for cleaning water and air, these applications hold promise to be competitive with conventional
technologies.

The advantages of solar energy
*olar energy has the following advantages over conventional energy/
"he energy from the sun is virtually free after the initial cost has been recovered.
3epending on the utili4ation of energy, paybac,s can be very short when compared to
the cost of common energy sources used.
*olar and other renewable energy systems can be stand2alone( thereby not requiring
connection to a power or natural gas grid.
"he sun provides a virtually unlimited supply of solar energy.
"he use of solar energy displaces conventional energy( which usually results in a
proportional decrease in green house gas emissions.
"he use of solar energy is an untapped mar,et.

Applications of solar energy
"he following table shows some applications of solar energy, who uses it and how the energy is
obtained. 5ot all applications listed exist in 6anada and this is not a complete list of all solar
energy applications in use around the world.
What is solar
energy used
for?
Where is it used? Which solar technologies are
used?
Which secondary
technologies are used?
(where applicable)
7eating 2 Water
7omes
8la4ed flat plate collectors
9atch collectors
0acuum tube collectors
7eat exchanger
7ot water tan,
6ommercial :iquid2based collectors
7eat exchanger
;edium2large water tan,
Agriculture
8la4ed flat plate collectors
1ngla4ed flat plate collectors
7eat exchanger
;edium2large water tan,
Aquaculture 1ngla4ed flat plate collectors ;edium2large water tan,
7eating 2
*wimming <ools
-utdoor pools 1ngla4ed flat plate collectors

=ndoor pools 8la4ed flat plate collectors 7eat exchanger
7eating 2
0entilation Air
All building types all Air2based collectors
9y2pass dampers
;a,e2up air handling units
7eating 2
9uildings
7omes / 6ommercial
Advanced windows
"ransparent insulation
Appropriate building materials
9uilding design
"rombe wall

:iquid2based collectors with home
heating system
7eat exchanger
Advanced thermal storage
6ommunity2wide

:iquid2based collectors
large2scale arrays
*easonal thermal storage
3istrict heating networ,
8reenhouses "ransparent insulation

6ooling 2
9uildings
6ommercial
0acuum tube collectors
8la4ed flat plate collectors
6ooling cycles 2 various
3aylighting
29uildings
7omes > 6ommercial
Advanced windows
"ransparent insulation
9uilding design
6rop 3rying Agricultural all Air2based collectors

Electricity
8eneration 2 -ff
8rid
6ottages / *easonal
homes
<hotovoltaics ? small arrays
9atteries
<ower =nvertors
*mall wind turbines or microhydro
<ower for remote
equipment
<hotovoltaics ? small2medium arrays
Electricity
8eneration
All building types
<hotovoltaics ? building integrated
medium2scale arrays
<ower =nvertors
23istributed <ower
@emote communities
<hotovoltaics ? medium2scale arrays in
a hybrid system
combined with diesel generators on
local grid

Electric 1tilities
<hotovoltaics 2 large2scale arrays
<ower =nvertors
*un trac,ers
<ower tower
<arabolic trough
*team turbine
7igh temperature thermal storage
3etoxifying 2
Water
=ndustrial / ;unicipal
<hotocatalysts for oxidation 10 lamps for bac,up
"hermal catalysts for oxidation with
concentrating collectors

3etoxifying 2 Air 6ommercial / 7omes <hotocatalysts for oxidation 10 lamps for bac,up
6oo,ing food >
7- treatment
7omes *olar coo,ers

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