SOLAR ENERGY IN CYPRUS What is solar energy

SOLAR ENERGY IN CYPRUS • What is solar energy? • How do solar panels work? • Concentrated solar power • Uses of solar energy • Cyprus and solar energy • Solar energy& art in Cyprus

Solar energy is, simply, energy provided by the sun. Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packets of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8. 5 minutes. WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?

Electricity can be produced directly from photovoltaic, PV, cells. (Photovoltaic literally means “light” and “electric. ”). These are made of silicon, like semiconductors. They are constructed with a positive layer and a negative layer, which together create an electric field, just like in a battery. When photons hit a solar cell, they knock electrons loose from their atoms. If conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides of a cell, it forms an electrical circuit. When electrons flow through such a circuit, they generate electricity. HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK?

HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK? CONTINUED Initially a DC (direct current) electricity is generated. The inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC, which you can then use to power your home. AC electricity is less expensive to transmit over long distances. Multiple cells make up a solar panel, and multiple panels (modules) can be wired together to form a solar array. The more panels you can deploy, the more energy you can expect to generate.

Each module consists of a 24 -metre high tower with a solar receiver containing a quantity of graphite, and is surrounded with a number of heliostats. System generates solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area. This system in Cyprus is designed to make the most of the sun, since it uses custom designed software to enable heliostats to follow the path of the sun and direct its rays onto the solar receiver. Heat is stored and when electricity is required, water is turned into superheated steam after it is introduced into heat exchangers embedded within the graphite. After it is directed to a common manifold and attuned to the required temperature and pressure, steam is passed to a turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity. CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER CAN ALSO OBTAIN ENERGY FROM THE SUN Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in Cyprus

Solar panels can be used to generate a portion of your home’s power provide the power to your home heating system provide electricity just for appliances or lighting Connect your water heater to the solar panel array you have installed USES OF ENERGY GENERATED FROM SOLAR PANELS

CYPRUS AND SOLAR ENERGY Solar potential of Cyprus Solar power in Cyprus is more available than in almost all of the rest of the Europe. The Cypriot target of solar power including both photovoltaics and concentrated solar power is a combined 7% of electricity by 2020, which will be one of the top ones in the European Union markets.

Currently, there are five solar plants found in the Famagusta and Nicosia districts of Cyprus. When all five solar plants are on stream they will account for 12 per cent of the country’s solar energy production, bringing the total of renewables in the country’s energy mix to about 9 per cent. The five plants will produce more than 21. 420 megawatthours per year of clean energy, saving over 15. 470 tonnes of CO 2 emissions every year SOLAR PLANTS IN CYPRUS

Here are the Tombs of the Kings, found in Paphos , which were burried under the soil and with the light energy it is now possible for us to discover the history and old architecture of previous generations. Light/Solar energy makes photosynthesis in plants possible thus allowing them to grow and create original patterns decorating the Paphos Old Town. The hightech street lightning in Paphos city centre uses solar panels to generate light energy needed for the evening. SOLAR ENERGY& ART IN CYPRUS

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