Solar Power in Canada
Credit due to: www.canren.gc.ca
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Solar Power in Canada:
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About SolarrnEnergy
Energy from the sun travels to the earth in the form of electromagneticrnradiation similar to radio waves, but in a different frequencyrnrange. Available solar energy is often expressed in units of energyrnper time per unit area, such as watts per square meter (W/m2). Thernamount of energy available from the sun outside the Earth’s atmosphere isrnapproximately 1367 W/m2; that’s nearly the same as a high power hairrndrier for every square meter of sunlight! Some of the solar energyrnis absorbed as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. As arnresult, on a clear day the amount of solar energy available at the Earth’srnsurface in the direction of the sun is typically 1000 W/m2. Atrnany particular time, the available solar energy is primarily dependent upon howrnhigh the sun is in the sky and current cloud conditions. On arnmonthly or annual basis, the amount of solar energy available also depends uponrnthe location. Furthermore, usable solar energy is depends uponrnavailable solar energy, other weather conditions, the technology used, and thernapplication.
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There are manyrnways that solar energy can be used effectively. Applications ofrnsolar energy use can be grouped into there are three primary categories:rnheating/cooling, electricity production, and chemical processes. Thernmost widely used applications are for water and spacernheating. Ventilation solar air heating is also growing inrnpopularity. Uptake of electricity producing solar technologies isrnincreasing for the applications photovoltaics (primarily) and concentratingrnsolar thermal-electric technologies. Due to recent advances in solarrndetoxification technologies for cleaning water and air, these applications holdrnpromise to be competitive with conventional technologies.
The advantages ofrnsolar energy
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Solar energy hasrnthe following advantages over conventional energy:
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- The energy from the sun is virtually free after the initial costrn has been recovered.
- Depending on the utilization of energy, paybacks can be very shortrn when compared to the cost of common energy sourcesrn used.
- Solar and other renewable energy systems can be stand-alone;rn thereby not requiring connection to a power or natural gasrn grid.
- The sun provides a virtually unlimited supply of solarrn energy.
- The use of solar energy displaces conventional energy; whichrn usually results in a proportional decrease in green house gas emissions.
- The use of solar energy is an untapped market.
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Credit due to: www.canren.ga.ca
Credit due to: www.canren.gc.ca
rn
Solar Power in Canada:
rn
About SolarrnEnergy
Energy from the sun travels to the earth in the form of electromagneticrnradiation similar to radio waves, but in a different frequencyrnrange. Available solar energy is often expressed in units of energyrnper time per unit area, such as watts per square meter (W/m2). Thernamount of energy available from the sun outside the Earth’s atmosphere isrnapproximately 1367 W/m2; that’s nearly the same as a high power hairrndrier for every square meter of sunlight! Some of the solar energyrnis absorbed as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. As arnresult, on a clear day the amount of solar energy available at the Earth’srnsurface in the direction of the sun is typically 1000 W/m2. Atrnany particular time, the available solar energy is primarily dependent upon howrnhigh the sun is in the sky and current cloud conditions. On arnmonthly or annual basis, the amount of solar energy available also depends uponrnthe location. Furthermore, usable solar energy is depends uponrnavailable solar energy, other weather conditions, the technology used, and thernapplication.
rn
There are manyrnways that solar energy can be used effectively. Applications ofrnsolar energy use can be grouped into there are three primary categories:rnheating/cooling, electricity production, and chemical processes. Thernmost widely used applications are for water and spacernheating. Ventilation solar air heating is also growing inrnpopularity. Uptake of electricity producing solar technologies isrnincreasing for the applications photovoltaics (primarily) and concentratingrnsolar thermal-electric technologies. Due to recent advances in solarrndetoxification technologies for cleaning water and air, these applications holdrnpromise to be competitive with conventional technologies.
The advantages ofrnsolar energy
rn
Solar energy hasrnthe following advantages over conventional energy:
rn
- rn
- The energy from the sun is virtually free after the initial costrn has been recovered.
- Depending on the utilization of energy, paybacks can be very shortrn when compared to the cost of common energy sourcesrn used.
- Solar and other renewable energy systems can be stand-alone;rn thereby not requiring connection to a power or natural gasrn grid.
- The sun provides a virtually unlimited supply of solarrn energy.
- The use of solar energy displaces conventional energy; whichrn usually results in a proportional decrease in green house gas emissions.
- The use of solar energy is an untapped market.
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
Credit due to: www.canren.ga.ca