Useful radiation
Only a part of the huge energy flows that gets from the Sun to the Earth can be transformed into useful energy. The quantity of solar energy that arrives to the earth’s surface and that can be usefully “collected” depends on irradiation on the area. Irradiation is the quantity of solar energy that arrives at a surface within a determined time interval, typically one day (it is measured in kWh by square metre by day). Instead, the value of solar radiation that arrives on the surface unit (at a determined moment) is called radiance (it is measured in kW/m2). Irradiation is influenced by local climatic conditions (clouds, mist, etc) and depends on the latitude: as it is well known, it increases when it gets closer to the equator. In Italy mean annual solar radiation ranges from 3.6 kWh per square metre per day in the Po river plain area, to 4.7 kWh per square metre per day in Central-Southern Italy, to 5.4 kWh per square metre per day in Sicily. In some favourable spots it is possible to collect every year around 2,000 kilowatts for each square metre, which corresponds to 1.5 barrels of oil for a square metre.
Special reports
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13 May 2018
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30 April 2022
Solar energy in Italy: where do we stand?
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5 September 2021
Faraday, an electrifying biography
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18 February 2021
Is lithium the new petroleum?
Today petroleum vies for the title of “contemporary gold” with several competitors, one of those is certainly lithium...
17 March 2020
Energy and renewable sources: what is the current status?
The unstoppable growth of renewable sources continues…
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13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
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30 April 2022
Solar energy in Italy: where do we stand?
The Sun is the main source of energy on our planet, from which we derive almost all the forms of…
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5 September 2021
Faraday, an electrifying biography
"The important thing is to know how to take all things quietly". Michael Faraday...
14 July 2021
Italy’s renewable sources
Renewable energy sources in Italy The Energy Services Operator (GSE) periodically publishes data and statistics on the renewable energy sources…
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13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
The photovoltaic train
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In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...
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Italian offshore wind farm
The first Italian wind farm will be installed in the waters of the Strait of Otranto...
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An artificial geyser
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16 May 2011
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
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The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...
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Italian offshore wind farm
The first Italian wind farm will be installed in the waters of the Strait of Otranto...
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16 May 2011
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Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
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The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
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The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...