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UNIT-2, SOLAR ENERGY

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PRINCIPLES OF SOLAR ENERGY

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SOLAR ENERGY, • Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range, of ever-evolving technologies(electro magnetic radiation)., • It is an important source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly, characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on how they capture, and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power., • Energy used for cooling/heating/drying/distillation/power generation „etc.,, • The Earth receives 174,000 terawatts (TW) of incoming solar radiation, (insolation) at the upper atmosphere., • Most of the world's population live in areas with insolation levels of 150-300, watts/m², or 3.5-7.0 kWh/m² per day.

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The energy radiated from the sun is electromagnetic, waves reaching the planet earth in three spectral regions;, (1) Ultraviolet 6.4 % (A S 0.38 µm),, (i) Visible 48.0 % (0.38 µm < Å < 0.78 µm), and, (ii) Infrared 45.6 % (A 2 0.78 µm) of total energy., Due to the large distance between the sun and the earth, (1.495 × 10° km) the beam radiation received from the, sun on the earth is almost parallel.