What is solar energy

Our planet receives from the sun an annual amount of energy of approximately

5.4 x 1024 J, a figure that represents 4,500 times the energy consumed. Even with its abundance, the use of solar radiation is mainly conditioned by three aspects: the intensity of radiation received by the Earth (amount of energy per unit of time and surface), and the daily and annual cycles (day and night, and seasons). of the year) to which it is subjected, and the climatic conditions (annual hours of sunshine) of each location.

In general, the term "solar radiation" refers to global irradiation values, that is, the amount of energy received per unit area in a given time (measured in W/m2). These values normally refer to the energy that comes directly from the solar disk (direct radiation) and to the energy that, diffused by the atmosphere, comes from the rest of the sky (diffuse radiation).

Losses in the atmosphere by reflection, absorption, and scattering reduce the value of solar radiation reaching the Earth by 30%. Thus, the radiation intensity received on the Earth's surface is around 1,000 W/m2, with weather conditions determining the radiation values finally received.