Aurinkoenergiajärjestelmät

Aurinkoenergia, or solar energy, is energy derived from sunlight and used to generate electricity or heat. It includes photovoltaic PV systems that convert light directly into electricity and solar thermal systems that capture heat for space heating, water heating, or industrial processes. In common usage, the term often refers to photovoltaic electricity generation. In Finnish, aurinkoenergia means solar energy.

Photovoltaic technology consists of solar panels made of semiconductor materials arranged in modules connected to inverters to produce usable electricity. Solar thermal technologies include flat-plate collectors, evacuated-tube collectors for domestic hot water, and concentrating solar power CSP systems in large-scale plants. Energy storage, especially batteries, and grid integration are important for managing intermittency.

Applications range from residential rooftop installations to commercial solar farms and district heating systems. In Nordic and European contexts, solar energy complements other energy sources and contributes to renewable energy targets, though its annual output is influenced by latitude and climate.

Environmental and economic aspects: solar energy produces electricity with minimal operating emissions and has experienced significant cost reductions. Life-cycle assessments consider manufacturing and end-of-life recycling. Challenges include variability, land use where large deployments occur, and the need for storage and transmission infrastructure. Public policies, subsidies, and financing mechanisms influence deployment pace.