contents

  • How is solar energy created?
  • How much solar energy is available to the world?
  • Potential of solar energy

How is solar energy created?

Solar energy or solar energy is created by nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in and on the sun. The resulting electromagnetic radiation hits the earth and can be perceived as heat and light.

Basic natural processes necessary for life, such as the  photosynthesis  of plants – production of chemical energy – or the water cycle are not possible without solar energy. The development of appropriate technical processes for the direct use of solar energy for humans therefore falls  back on one of the most original and sustainable forms of  primary energy .

How much solar energy is available to the world?

The average radiation that hits the earth per day is approx.  165 watts per square meter (W / m² ) – with fluctuations depending on the weather conditions, altitude and latitude. In Central Europe, the value of this so-called global radiation reaches  about 900 W / m² on a summer day with a clear sky. If the radiated energy is summed over a certain period of time, for example an hour or a year, the energy yield is measured in kWh / m². In Austria, the annual total of global radiation (or solar energy) on a horizontal surface is around 1000 kWh / m².

If one subsequently calculates the potential amount of solar energy striking the earth’s surface, one quickly realizes that it is many times larger than the current energy requirement of mankind. The statements range from: in an hour as much as humanity consumes in a year or 13,000 times the world’s energy needs. The exact number depends on many factors that can be included in the calculation or not. It also strongly depends on which reference year is used for the calculations. In any case, it should be clear that the sun sends significantly more solar energy than we can ever consume. Even if only a fraction of it can be used, it is an important source of energy.

Potential of solar energy

Dachgold therefore does not stand for a full supply of solar energy in the narrow sense but for a combination of all variations of solar energy: sun, wind, water and biomass. In the final stage of development, pure solar energy can probably account for 20% of world energy consumption, since direct consumption is desirable and the sun shines out of the 8760 hours of a year, around 2000 hours.

The switch and orientation towards the sun, as an almost inexhaustible source of energy for electricity and heat supply, is the basis for the work of Dachgold. The company specializes in the following processes and technologies related to solar energy that are already established on the market:

  • Photovoltaic
  • Solar thermal
  • Solar cooling
  • Solar district heating