theoretical framework - research

 Renewable energy

Renewable energy, also known as green energy, comes from natural resources that are continually replenished on a human time scale. The most widely used types of renewable energy are solar energy, wind energy, and hydroelectric energy. Bioenergy and geothermal energy are also significant.

Types of Renewable Energy

Solar Energy: Uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity.

Wind Energy: Harnesses the power of the wind using wind turbines.

Hydroelectric Energy: Generates electricity from the flow of water in rivers and reservoirs.

Bioenergy: Produces energy from organic materials such as agricultural and forestry waste.

Geothermal Energy: Uses heat from the Earth's interior to generate electricity and heating.

Benefits of Renewable Energy

Emissions Reduction: Renewable sources emit much less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels.

Sustainability: They are practically inexhaustible resources compared to fossil fuels.

 Improved Public Health: Less air pollution means fewer health problems related to air quality.

Job Creation: The renewable energy industry generates numerous jobs in the installation, maintenance and operation of power plants.

Challenges

Despite its benefits, the implementation of renewable energy faces challenges such as fossil fuel subsidies, local opposition to installations and the environmental impacts of extracting minerals needed for renewable technologies.

Solar panel

A solar panel is a device that captures the energy of solar radiation and converts it into usable energy, either thermal or electrical. There are two main types of solar panels:

Thermal solar panels: These use the sun's energy to heat a liquid, which then transfers the heat to an accumulator tank. These panels are common for heating water in homes and industries1.

Photovoltaic solar panels: These convert sunlight directly into electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells. These cells are made of semiconductor materials, such as silicon, which generate an electric current when exposed to sunlight1.

Solar panels are a popular choice for generating renewable energy due to their environmental and economic benefits.

Photovoltaic cells

Photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Here's how this process works:

Semiconductor Material: Photovoltaic cells are made of semiconductor materials, such as silicon. These materials have properties that allow them to absorb sunlight and release electrons.

Photon Absorption: When sunlight hits the photovoltaic cell, photons (particles of light) are absorbed by the semiconductor material.

Generation of Electron-Hole Pairs: The energy of the photons excites electrons in the semiconductor material, freeing them from their atoms and creating electron-hole pairs (a hole is the absence of an electron).

Internal Electric Field: Photovoltaic cells have an internal electric field due to the union of two types of semiconductors (p-type and n-type). This electric field separates free electrons and holes, directing electrons to one side of the cell and holes to the other.

Electric Current: The separation of charges creates a potential difference (voltage) between the two sides of the cell. When an external circuit is connected, electrons flow through the circuit, generating an electric current.

Energy Conversion: This electric current can be used directly or stored in batteries for later use.

This process allows photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into electricity efficiently and sustainably.