Encyclopedia
Articles
Long-form educational entries. Featured pieces sit on the homepage; this index is the full set.
csp
Concentrating Solar Power
Mirrors concentrate sunlight to make heat, then electricity — sometimes after storing the heat.
6 min read
solar energy
Solar Collectors
Solar thermal collectors can use air or water (flat-plate collectors) as a heat transfer medium. Vacuum insulation is used in evacuated tube collectors.
5 min read
renewable future hub
The future of renewable energy sources
Human society needs energy to grow and energy consumption increases every year. One has to think not only about the meeting of current demand, but also about a sustainable energetics concept that will secure sufficient energy supplies in the future as well. Fossil fuel deposit…
6 min read
solar basics
Solar Energy
The solar resource is vast. Engineering is about converting a variable, dilute flux into useful heat or electricity.
7 min read
solar energy
The Energy Use of the Photovoltaic Effect
When a photon with an energy of up to 1.12 eV hits a semiconductor, an electron is released. This photovoltaic effect is used in solar panels.
5 min read
solar energy
Solar Rays Energy
Solar energy comes from the Sun, where fusion reactions take place. Solar radiation falls on Earth. Part is reflected into space, the rest is absorbed.
5 min read
solar energy
Ways to Use Solar Heat
Solar rays can heat greenhouses or water in thermal collectors. The energy from the parabolic trough collector can drive machinery or produce electricity.
8 min read
solar energy
Solar Concentrators
A parabolic dish collector concentrates sun rays into one focal point. A temperature of up to 700°C could be reached and used by the Stirling engine.
3 min read
solar energy
Central Tower Solar Power Plants
In the central tower solar power plant, flat mirrors, heliostats, concentrate sun rays on the top of the tower where heat-transfer medium is heated.
3 min read
solar energy
Solar Farms
A parabolic trough collector is a parabolic mirror concentrating sun rays onto a tube with heat-transfer medium. Collectors are connected to large farms.
3 min read
solar energy
The Largest Solar Power Plants
The largest thermal solar power plant is the parabolic trough collector type farm SEGS in the Mohave Desert, USA, with 354 MW of installed capacity.
3 min read
solar energy
Photovoltaic Farms
Photovoltaic farms produce electricity from sunlight in many solar panels. The largest photovoltaic farm is Montalto di Castro, Italy (84.2 MW output).
3 min read
solar energy
Solar Energy and the Environment
The solar farm produces electricity without noise or pollutants. The negative impact is the high energetic and financial costs of solar cell production.
3 min read
solar energy
Solar Energy and Solar Power Systems Summary
The energy coming from the Sun is vital for life on Earth and can be used in various ways for electricity and heat production.
20 min read
renewable future
Rapid development of energy consumption
The human population and its energy consumption are growing rapidly. As renewables still develop too slowly, fossil fuel will be part of the energy mix.
6 min read
renewable future
The Future of Solar Energy
Solar power is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources. Large farms as well as integrated photovoltaics in the cities are being built.
5 min read
renewable future
The Future of Hydro Energy
Hydropower will grow most in countries with unused hydrologic potential, with an important role in energy storage. Tidal and wave energy use will grow.
3 min read
renewable future
The Future of Renewable Energy Sources
Wind turbines will grow offshore, connected via HVDC to the super-grid. Biofuel production will rise. Waste, GM plants, and bacteria will be exploited.
5 min read
renewable future
Development of Renewable Sources
The rate of development of renewable energy sources will depend on many factors: funds, their competitiveness, and the growth of energy consumption.
3 min read