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However, despite the increasing adoption of solar, it''s still a widely misunderstood resource. With that in mind, let''s explore how solar energy works and how it''s going to change the UK economy for the better.
Solar energy has always been an important resource for humans. As early as 6000 BC, the Chinese designed their homes to capture the warmth of the sun. By 1000 BC, the Romans and Chinese were concentrating solar energy with "burning mirrors" to light fires and torches. Later, solar energy was used in solar ovens to cook food, to heat water, and in greenhouses to grow exotic fruits and vegetables in cooler climes.
Then in 1839, a new application emerged that would change how we think about solar energy forever. Alexander Edmond Becquerel (1820-1891) discovered that sunlight created an electrical current between silver chloride and platinum. The photovoltaic effect, as it came to be known, was further developed by Willoughby Smith (1828-1891), who discovered selenium''s greater conductivity in the presence of light.
Building upon these discoveries, Charles Fritts built the first selenium-based solar module in 1883. However, selenium wasn''t a particularly efficient photovoltaic material. It wasn''t until Bell Laboratories in the US began experimenting with silicon in the 1950s that the first solar cell appeared, paving the way for a new generation of solar panels that could power everyday appliances.
Solar energy is the result of nuclear fusion inside the sun''s core. Like all stars, the core smashes lighter elements together to form heavier ones. In our sun''s case, this is the fusion of hydrogen into helium. As they fuse, the reaction releases enormous amounts of energy, heating the core to 15.6 million degrees celsius.
At the surface, the sun releases this energy at around 63 million W/m2, which blasts its way towards Earth at the speed of light, finally reaching Earth after about eight minutes. By the time it hits our upper atmosphere, much of the energy is lost, and we receive about 1370 W/m2.
That''s still a dangerous amount of energy (as anyone with bad sunburn will tell you), and without our atmosphere protecting us from the worst of the sun''s power, our oceans would evaporate and life would die out. Thankfully, the atmosphere attenuates solar energy to a degree that''s safe and enables life to flourish.
Following Becquerel''s discovery, the world went dizzy with dreams of endless, free power. While we''ve not reached those utopian heights yet, we can capture a proportion of that solar energy and convert it into heat and electricity using solar panels. NASA and other space agencies have been doing it for years, powering satellites and spacecraft without the need for heavy generators or fuel tanks.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of solar panel, thermal and photovoltaic. Thermal panels capture sunlight and turn it into heat. Photovoltaic panels capture sunlight and convert it to electricity. So how does each type of solar panel work?
Over 70% of the energy we use is for heating our homes and businesses, therefore thermal panels are an excellent, inexpensive way to cut your energy use. Each thermal system varies, but they work on a similar principle.
"Flat plate" thermal panels
"Evacuated tubes" thermal panel
First, a solar collector captures sunlight and converts it to heat. If it''s a liquid-based system, the solar collector is either a flat plate of insulated copper pipes or a series of evacuated tubes.
The solar collector transfers heat to a liquid within the pipes or tubes, which then enters central heating or plumbing systems via a hot water tank. Newly-cooled liquid is then pumped back to the solar collector for reheating. The pump itself can be powered by a solar photovoltaic panel, making it even more energy efficient.
In an air-based system, the solar collector heats air which is then redistributed throughout the building using fans.
A photovoltaic panel is a collection of modules, themselves comprised of photovoltaic cells. Each cell contains semiconducting material, usually silicon, and when light hits the silicon, electrons are knocked out of the silicon atoms. The free electrons, under the influence of a negative and positive electric field in the silicon, are then drawn from one side to the other, creating a current.
A solar PV array consisting of panels of connected solar modules
Photovoltaic cells are bound together in modules, and modules are wired together to form arrays. Solar farms consist of several solar arrays. The combined electricity output of the solar farm then enters the grid where it''s distributed to homes and businesses throughout the UK.
Photovoltaic panels aren''t as efficient as thermal panels, reaching about 25-30% in the most expensive models, while thermal panels operate between 50% and 70%. But we can do a lot more with electricity than we can with heat, so the panels are an extremely important ingredient of a decarbonised economy. Also, they tend to last longer and require less maintenance than thermal panels.
Commercial solar farms normally use inexpensive arrays of 10-20% efficiency to ensure an acceptable cost-benefit ratio. One of Octopus Energy''s solar farms, for example, in Molland, Devon, uses an array of 12% efficiency, but that''s more than enough to power 12,000 homes at peak output of 5MW.
Solar energy is abundant, free, and sustainable – ideal for generating electricity. As signs of global warming become more prominent and frequent, solar energy helps us keep the lights on without disrupting the planet''s climate.
Fossil fuels upset the natural carbon cycle, as well as polluting our ecosystems. Excess CO2 in our atmosphere is melting polar ice, increasing desertification, and causing more extreme weather like floods, droughts, and hurricanes. And according to a new report in The Lancet, pollution causes 50,000 deaths in the UK every year – mainly from industry and transport.
One of the key benefits of solar energy is that it doesn''t release greenhouse gases or pollutants. While panel installation and manufacture produce a small amount, it''s more than compensated for once panels are operational. In fact, if the UK generated solar electricity exclusively, we''d remove 25% of our greenhouse gas emissions for good.
Another advantage of solar energy is that it frees us from a volatile fuel market. Relying on fossil fuels exposes us to wholesale prices that vary according to supply and demand. This leaves us at the mercy of social, economic, and political forces outside of our control.
All EU countries are net importers of energy, so we''re vulnerable to price rises when something disrupts the supply chain. Conflict, regulations, and leadership changes can all drive up the price of resources bought from that country.
Having our own supply of solar energy means we don''t need to rely on imported fossil fuels for generation. Nor do we need to import electricity from nearby countries, or pay a hedging premium against rises. Instead, we have a reasonably predictable source of free energy that doesn''t swing with market moods – resulting in much lower bills.
The cost to generate solar electricity has fallen substantially in the last few decades. Solar and wind have already achieved grid parity (the point at which the cost to generate renewable energy matches or falls below that of conventional methods), and by 2020, IRENA predicts they''ll be even cheaper.
Indeed, you can buy renewable energy cheaper than many Big Six Standard Variable Tariffs (SVTs). In London, for example, you''d pay just 13.9p per kWh for Octopus Energy''s Green tariff, but 16p per kWh for Scottish Power''s Online Standard tariff. So in many cases, fossil fuels aren''t just bad for your health and the environment, but also your pocket.
"Solar power has become the key energy source of the future because its success in scaling has driven down cost, making it increasingly viable around the world without the need for government subsidies. It is therefore great for the environment and for consumers."
Matt Setchell, Head of Renewables, Octopus Investments
About Octopus energy solar panels
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Octopus energy solar panels have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Octopus energy solar panels for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Octopus energy solar panels featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
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