Utilization of solar energy in cold climate

Abstract

Solar radiation is a source of life on the Earth. The sun heats the atmosphere and the surface of our planet. Because of the sun winds are blowing, circulation of water is happened, seas and oceans are heated, and plants are growing. Nowadays people know how to transfer solar radiation straightly into energy. The subject of the project is to research the possibilities of utilization of solar energy in cold climate. At this project the model of calculation solar energy is shown. Following factors are taken into account: location, geographic latitude first of all; position of the Earth on the orbit because of the rotation around the Sun; time of the day depend on Earth spinning motion; solar energy absorption and solar radiation dispersion of clear atmosphere. Next group of factors which influence on solar radiation are climatic factors. It includes real weather conditions (clouds, rains, haziness), anthropogenic pollution (impacts of different factories, traffic). As an example of utilization of solar energy one family house in Tyumen (Russia, Siberia) is taken. Now only natural gas is used for heating for this kind of buildings in this region. Values of solar energy there are very low during winter period. That is why it is decided to use solar energy only for heating hot domestic water during summer period. Discount cash model is used for cost efficiency calculation. Project is cost efficient. Investment cost of equipment which transforms solar energy into heat looks too high in comparison with costs of natural gas or light oil. Sometimes it is not cost-beneficial to use solar systems. However fossil fuel usage has a great influence on the ecology of our planet.