Category Archives: Solar Energy

Solar Energy

Where Draws Its Energy The Sun ?

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The Sun is an average star, its radius is about 700,000 km and its mass equivalent to that obtained joining around 300,000 planets same to Earth.

Just a century ago, it was unknown how the sun could produce so much amount of energy as it radiates into space.

All theories raised led to the same conclusion: the Sun could not have a higher age of about 20 million years. If the Sun was older, he should have cooled.

Resultado de imagen de energía del sol

Darwin raised his studies of rocks formation and erosion, and the very slow evolution of life. For his theories made sense, he needed a greater age of the Sun; at least hundreds of millions of years, or perhaps billions of years.

In order to provide a solution to the problem, it had to wait until radioactivity discovery and acceptance of the surprising notion that mass and energy are interchangeable in some way, according to Einstein’s equation E = mc2

Sir Arthur Eddington was the first to evaluate all the data and dared to speculate that nuclear fusion, the process that creates heavy elements from the fusion of lighter ones, could be responsible for the large energy production from the sun.

We now know that the sun actually burns hydrogen, the lightest gas in the universe and transforms it into helium.

A hydrogen nucleus (proton) from the Sun must wait an average of about 5,000 million years to dive into merging with another hydrogen nucleus to form deuterium. If it happen faster, the Sun would have spent all their fuel long ago and we would not be here.

The second step, in which helium-3 is produced from deuterium and hydrogen, happens on average every 1.4 seconds; and the last step, helium production, takes 240,000 years. The energy released during the melting process becomes photons, that is, into light.

Resultado de imagen de energía del sol

A photon starts its journey to Earth at the speed of light, but immediately after encounters an electron, which deflects the incident photon in a random direction. This happens again and again.

A photon takes on average more than 20,000 years to travel the 695,000 kilometers from the center of the sun to the solar surface, which represents a speed of 4 meters per hour.

After this long and erratic journey, the photon covers the remaining 149 million kilometers to Earth with the usual light speed, and 8 minutes later arrives at its final destination.

Currently, the Sun burns 600 million tons of hydrogen every second, making it 596 million helium tons.

The remaining 4 million tons is fully converted into energy.

If we apply the formula E = mc2 (where E is energy, m for mass, and c is the speed of light), we see that 4 million tons of matter equivalent to 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy.

Approximately a million times the total amount of energy the world uses in a year.

The Sun releases all that energy every second.

I think it would be smart to take it.

What do you think about that ?

This text is part of Introduction to Solar Energy ebook, sold exclusively at Amazon and solar e-learning of Sopelia.

Solar Energy

One Click From The Sun

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Without moving from his chair and just making a click, he had access to the solar e-learning training site with best market price – value.

Then he received his Username and Password for Virtual Classroom full access.

The Virtual Classroom is a fully interactive environment through which you can:

* Access course content

* Access to resources and supplementary materials related

* Communicate with the tutor or other participants through forums or private mode with messaging.

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Course setting is divided into 3 areas: Central Zone, Side Blocks and Header.

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The Central Zone is the core of the course and is where all the information necessary for its development is being structured as follows:

+ Information Zone: contains the documents to organize the study

+ Communication Zone: includes internal communication course fórums

+ Content Zone: contains information on which should work to overcome course.

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On the left, Side Blocks are arranged.

Side Blocks contain the following information:

– Tutoring: tutor access information with email address

– Persons: where you can view a list of people who are doing the course

– Online users: where people who at that time are connected to the platform appear. If a person is connected with his name and an icon, by clicking on it you may send a message

– Navigation: allows you to move within the course through a series of hyperlinks to each of the sections, as an alternative system to use screen navigation

– Administration: the participant can see the ratings of the different activities and scoring test scoring.

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At the top is the Header.

The following parameters are scattered and arranged in the Header:

* Profile: to edit basic user information, such as name, password, include our image, email and some additional parameters

* Ratings: access the same menu commented before on Side Blocks

* Posts: similar to menu messages commented before commented on Side Blocks

* Preferences: to change platform configuration to that most interested for our user.

Overall, during the course development shall:

1) Check the schedule to organize the study. Information provided indicates recommended dates

2) Study the content of each topic

3) Check the doubts of each of the topics in the consultation fórum

4) Do assessment tests for each of the topics.

Tests and practice exercises should be performed before course expected closing date (11/28/2016).

Campus will be available 24 hours a day and tutors will be available through forums, receiving response in no more than 48 hours.

The training begins next September 19th and registration ends on September 16th.

You can receive it fully from your PC, Tablet or Smartphone.

No more excuses, solar energy wherever you are with Sopelia.

Solar Energy

Sopelia Country Manager in Latin America Countries

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If you want to join the Sopelia Network in Latin America for 2017 period you can send your request.

The Sopelia Network allows:

– Being part of a solar energy experts powerful networking at regional level

– Access to a medium that provides an opportunity to promote projects, research, activities and personal initiatives

– Participate in sectoral researchs to increase Sopelia benefits and enrich personal background

– Expose your profile in Sopelia

– Represent Sopelia in solar industry events

– Have the wide Sopelia offer and support to market

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What are the requirements to be Sopelia Country Manager ?

* Have completed a Technical-Commercial Training (thermal or photovoltaic) in Sopelia

* Have less than 30 years

* Reside in a Latin American country

* Provide valuable content to Sopelia (between 300 and 500 words) relating to solar sector in your country (minimum 1 Quarterly article) in native language and English

* Maintain a proactive approach to promote Sopelia products and services in your country of residence

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Sopelia Country Manager Profile:

+ Technical, environmental, renewable energy, economy, science, architecture or engineering degree

+ Native language and English advanced level

+ Experience in developing editorial content

+ Develop activity in the field of renewable energies, environment or linked industry

If you meet the requirements and you are interested in joining the Sopelia network, send a message to www.sopelia.com Contact section indicating Ref .: Country Manager + country of residence in the subject of your message.

Professionally development in a sector with huge potential with Sopelia.

Solar Energy

Solar Energy Wherever You Are

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Many times the purpose of incorporating solar energy to our professional skills, scope of business or personal life has hovered in our head.

We have almost always run into the same barrier: time.

We are working or studying and we find it very difficult to have even a few hours a week.

It is rare to find training offerings that are not too short (few hours workshops) or too long (one or more years) and which in turn have an affordable price.

If we add the difficulty of having to move, because most are taught in presence way, finally we ended up postponing again and again this purpose.

In 2014 Sopelia gave, in collaboration with the Technology National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina), the Technical – Commercial Solar Energy Course in tele-learning (distance + presence) methodology.

In 2016 Sopelia updated and divided that training action in 2 specific courses:

* Technical – Commercial Solar Thermal Energy

* Technical – Commercial Photovoltaic Solar Energy

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Sopelia rode them on a Moodle 3.1 platform and the result is 2 courses in e-learning methodology.

This means you can receive Solar Energy training with the best market value wherever you are.

You only need a computer, smartphone or mobile device and Internet.

Being the 1st edition there is a 50% off list price.

These two courses provide technical and commercial training in solar energy domestic applications with the aim of spreading the technology and develop human resources for incorporation into work and business world.

You will identify the most relevant aspects of solar energy within the current energy landscape.

You will define, describe and analyze the most important features of solar energy.

You will know the composition, understand the operation, design and maintenance of facilities to implement thermal and photovoltaic solar energy projects.

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It is a training aimed at students and technical careers graduates, technical schools graduates, engineers, architects, professionals and installers of related sectors (air conditioning, electricity, rural), people with experience in renewable energies, environmental professionals and individuals interested in incorporating solar energy into their lives.

The 2016 edition starts on September 19th and ends on November 25th.

You can register until 16 September inclusive in www.energiasrenovables.lat

If you are under 30 years old and live in Latin America, with the course completed, you can apply to be Sopelia Country Manager in your country of residence.

And if you are under 25 and live in Latin America, you can get a 50% scholarship and finished the course, apply to become Sopelia Trainee.

If you speak Spanish you have no excuses, Solar Energy wherever you are with Sopelia.

Solar Energy

The Solar Energy Generates Employment

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IRENA 2016 annual report figures on employment and renewable energy reveal that the worldwide number of people employed in the renewable energy industry increased by 5% in 2015, reaching 8.1 million.

There was a slight decline compared to previous years, but the number of jobs in this sector continues to increase in the long-term projections.

The most important contractors in this sector are mainly related to solar energy, which accounted for 2.8 million jobs in the same year (increase of 11% compared to 2014).

Countries with the highest employment figures in renewable energy sector were China, Brazil and the United States.

In Brazil, current estimates indicate that for each photovoltaic MW installed, there are directly or indirectly 20 to 30 jobs create.

In this country it is expected that solar photovoltaic energy will be the industry with the fastest expansion due to facilities and plants planned, which are expected to reach 3.3 GW of solar energy generating by 2018.

They could create 60,000 to 90,000 jobs by comparison with what happened in Germany: 100,000 solar jobs were counted when this sector reached 7 GW in 2012.

Solar energy has great potential to generate long term employment in Brazil and Latam.

The reduction in solar related costs has helped the installation of small and large scale solar photovoltaic plants increase.

The solar photovoltaic energy plants increased by 20% in 2015 with China, Japan and the United States in the lead.

China is the largest employer with 1.7 million jobs in 2015.

As the photovoltaic solar industry is becoming increasingly decentralized, different parts of the value chain (such as assembly, distribution or after-sales service) are easy to relocate, thus creating more jobs.

The labor market and the planned expansion of solar photovoltaic energy will be one of the main topics to be discussed at the Job & Career Forum at Intersolar South America.

This event not only provides a platform for job seekers and other solar professionals to obtain more and better information on current labor trends, but also solar companies and human resources specialists will be present to promote their own job deals. This platform is being organized with the support of Sopelia.

Referring to the following code 16104DD609D43B you will get a 10% discount on your ticket to Intersolar South America by accessing the following link.

With events in 4 continents (Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, São Paulo, and from 2016 in Dubai), Intersolar is the largest trade fair in the world for the solar industry.

Intersolar South America will take place at the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, Brazil.

The fair and the congress will focus on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal energy technologies.

Politicians and leaders with ideas lacking, you can say higher but not clearer: solar energy creates jobs! And it is a huge boost for any country economy.

Students, professionals and entrepreneurs: solar energy is a sector with great potential where we can develop professional or corporately and at the same time contribute to improving our environment.

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If you want to train you (and in some cases access to job opportunities) from wherever you are, you just have to wait until next September (enrollment period begins in August) to access the best e-learning training of market with Sopelia.

And do not forget to visit Intersolar South America before.

Solar Energy

Where Is Solar Industry in Latam ?

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The solar market in South America is one of the most promising in the world.

As energy consumption soars, companies, governments and consumers are looking for ways to make power and heat generation more affordable. Decision makers at all levels are preparing to start work on future solutions to satisfy the new energy thirst in the region.

The solar market in Brazil shows enormous potential, being globally considered one of the most promising markets in the solar industry future.

Chile is a leader in the region and Uruguay is an example for other countries.

These days, Argentina stands as the land of opportunities for the solar sector in order to recover lost time and it seems that Colombia travels the same path.

Sopelia and Intersolar South America have reached a collaboration agreement to be Media Partners.

Intersolar South America became the fifth event of Intersolar, the solar industry world leading exhibition series.

The international exhibition and conference for the solar industry in South America will be held at the Expo Center Norte in Sao Paulo, Brazil between 23 and 25 August 2016.

It has focused on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage and solar thermal technologies.

Since its founding, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and members of the solar industry.

With 9,000 visitors from 34 countries and over 800 conference attendees, Intersolar South America 2015 attracted more than twice its expected attendance, becoming the largest exhibition and solar conference in South America.

115 exhibitors from 11 countries presented their products in 2015 (an increase of 60% compared to 2014) and gave very positive feedback on their testimonies.

The meeting is a combination of local and international experience.

Intersolar South America meets the photovoltaic sector to discuss the current status and trends in strategic photovoltaic markets in South America, as well as technology and new business opportunities innovations.

The event is an important meeting point for professionals throughout the entire photovoltaic value chain, and is much more relevant, given the recent strong growth of PV markets in South America.

2016 Intersolar South America will be developed alongside ENIE, the largest exhibition of Brazil for electrical installations, between 23 and 25 August, making the biggest event so far this year.

The signed agreement between Sopelia and Intersolar South America makes this event an engine in itself and a key exhibition platform for the solar industry in Sao Paulo in 2016.

More information www.intersolar.net.br

Solar Energy

Who makes business with solar energy ?

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The attempt to answer this question leads us to understand the development level achieved by this technology and exposes the dark side of the energy matrix in, except isolated cases, most countries.

We must take 2 points of view:

1) Distributed Solar Generation (Intelligent Network)

Distributed Solar generation is business for the consumer and for the country’s economy.

On the consumers’ side, it allows them to generate their own energy and to buy energy from distributors only if their demand exceeds their energy generation capacity.

For the country’s economy, because it increases their energy sovereignty and promotes job creation (professionals, installers, equipment suppliers and related sectors).

2) Centralized Solar Generation (Conventional Network)

Centralized Solar generation is business for energy generating and distributing companies and for political parties.

For generation and distribution companies, because they continue controlling the energy business.

For political parties, because they get funding and returns from generating companies and energy distributors and because it is much easier to “cut deals” with just a few than doing serious long-term work, creating a regulatory framework that truly encourages distributed generation and that benefits both citizens and the country’s economy.

Solar energy’s competitive advantage is that it can be generated in the place where it is consumed, making distribution unnecessary and eliminating all energy losses that its transport causes.

Efforts should focus on distributed systems installation and solar energy integration in urban environments, developing residential, secondary and tertiary markets.

The ups and downs suffered in European countries (the most representative case is the photovoltaic sector in Spain) that have given prominence to large-scale projects, indicate that that is not the right way and that it only benefits a few.

The future of a solid and consistent solar energy sector clearly entails:

1) A limited number of specific centralized generation projects on soil that has no other purpose and in areas with very high levels of solar radiation (e.g. semi-desert areas).

2) Encouraging installations on individuals’ and companies’ roofs.

3) Distributed generation’s development due to energetic efficiency and continuity in supply (catastrophes, terrorist attacks, warfare).

Political parties and energy generating and distribution companies have been throwing spanners in the works and the latest trick they have pulled out of their hat is charging very high “access fees” to those who have a solar generator connected to network.

This has caused surreal situations in which fines on those who generate their own power are applied or that make it more profitable to continue with the centralized generation and distribution’s “status quo” rather than investing in solar energy.

The real paradox is that most of the infrastructures exploited currently by energy generation and distribution companies were originally State assets.

Private or private with state participation companies that currently operate these infrastructures they received have well amortized them already.

They have done little to modernize them and are reluctant to invest in modern transmission networks and interconnected bidirectional measurement equipment.

What should be clear is that the future of the energy sector is the energetic efficiency, the distributed generation and the renewable energies incorporation.

These should be the 3 objectives to pursue.

While new players, technologies, situations and settings will appear; regulations or policy should encourage progress towards these 3 objectives or they will not be doing their job.

Regulation should be implemented “ex ante” and must be updated “ex post” according to the energy sector’s development, distributed generation growth and renewable energies incorporation degree.

For countries that want to seriously work for their citizens and their economy there are vast examples of regulatory frameworks that can be taken as a starting point and adapt to each country’s reality.

For example, the Spanish CTE (Technical Building Code) in case of solar thermal energy and several US states’ legislation in case of solar photovoltaic energy.

Solar Energy

Solar Energy in Latin America

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Before evaluating the solar potential of the region, we will expose some macro variables.

Latin America includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

It has 22.222.000 km2 (approximately 13.5% of the planet’s land surface) and more than 600 million inhabitants.

The region has a remarkable political and economic diversity and is unstable because of the continued monetary policy focus shift.

Currently, in Latin America 3 types of economic systems are recognized.

The capitalists, with open economies that rely on the free market and free trade agreements. Some of these countries are Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

Countries that, even though argue having an open structure to the world, are clearly protectionists, with a social market or mixed economy. Some of these countries are Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Finally there are a few countries that maintain closed economies with little regard for free market and with a clear tendency to Marxist models. This is the case of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

The largest economies by GDP are Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.

The most developed in terms of GDP per capita are Chile, Argentina and Uruguay’s economies.

Let us analyze the solar resource available in the region.

Solar energy is evenly distributed, since much of the region lies within the so called ‘Sun Belt’ region presenting the highest solar radiation; with the exception of specific sites, it is a predictable and reliable resource.

What is the main advantage of solar energy over other renewable energies?

Solar energy has a higher degree of integration into the urban environment.

Roof facilities take advantage of idle surfaces to generate clean energy. The country that manages to focus its efforts on such facilities’ development will have the key to its own, and its inhabitants’, energy sovereignty.

Another important factor is that solar installations can be performed by local workers, reducing dependency on technology developers and equipment suppliers (mostly manufactured outside the region). This eliminates the link between the equipment’s sale, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance; unlike it happens with other renewables.

With some of the best solar resources in the world, Latin America has great opportunities.

Some reasons to be optimistic:

1. Good levels of solar radiation in the region

2. Sustained downward trend in solar systems components’ prices

3. Technology with high potential for generating local employment

4. Increasing public environmental awareness

5. Convenience for many countries to reduce dependence on oil and its derivatives

6. Political will is evidenced by governments of some countries in the region

And some outstanding issues:

1- Investment in modern interconnected transmission networks infrastructure and bidirectional measurement equipment

2- A larger financial market to support solar technology long-term development with loans

3- Legal uncertainty and economic instability in some countries of the region

In upcoming deliveries we will analyze the thermal and photovoltaic solar energy domestic applications’ situation in the region.