Viewpoints
Viewpoints is a blog in which different writers express their views and opinions on current topics. A new blog post is published about once every four weeks.
You can propose texts by e-mail to viestinta@kesko.fi. The maximum text length is 2,000 characters.
Energy from the sun
The sun is the origin of the world's energy sources. In one day, the sun transmits more energy to the earth's surface than people all over the globe use in a whole year. The only problem for us people is to find the most efficient way to use this energy. Ground heat and wind power are ways in which the solar energy stored in the ground can be used in a clean manner - although indirectly. The most efficient solar energy could be derived directly from solar radiation.
Solar photovoltaic systems are based on the use of the world's most widely available element, silicon, or SI02, to directly convert sunlight into electricity in our homes. Photovoltaic energy as such is not a new invention. As early as the 1980s, solar panels were sold also to Finland, but the most radical development has taken place in their efficiency and price. Not more than five years ago, a solar panel with a 100 W power output cost more than the panels now producing 250 W. Installation and other electronics have also become cheaper and better.
Photovoltaic energy prices have come down as a result of the use of pure mono-crystalline silicon and massive serial production by major manufacturers. In consequence, photovoltaic energy subsidies have been cut everywhere in the world, as the systems have been widely and rapidly adopted. The development has been the same as in all electronics, let's say, telephones or computers, which also leverage the electrical conductivity of silicon.
Cost-effective solar photovoltaic systems in Finnish households
The development of solar photovoltaic systems has been very rapid indeed all over Europe, Asia and America. In Germany, for example, photovoltaics produced more than half of all electricity consumed in May. In Finland, the circumstances for modern photovoltaics are suitable from February to September. Because the devices are covered by warranties of as many as 25 years, new systems can easily produce electricity for households in the summer, which is even cheaper than electricity from the grid, and thereby reduce electricity consumption.
In fact, solar photovoltaic systems are the latest and the cheapest solutions suitable to everybody in Finland for producing electricity in the summer. Modern systems operate even on cloudy days and on the best summer days for as long as 20 hours a day; 24 hours in Northern Finland. In addition to one-family houses and summer homes, solar photovoltaic systems are nowadays installed in shopping centres, farms and business premises.
The writer, Kimmo Kaila, (third from left) at the Hyundai solar panel factory in Korea.
NWE Sales Oy imports solar panels manufactured by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The writer, Kimmo Kaila, is the Board Chair of NWE Sales Oy.
