What is solar energy?

Solar energy is the cleanest energy known. It is virtually inexhaustible, has no negative impact on natural environment and is easy to use. Solar radiation is the heat, light and other radiation that is emitted from the Sun. World’s energy demand is 939 MWh, 16 000 times less than all the energy that comes to the Earth with solar radiation. The sun radiates 174,423,000,000,000 kW of energy to the earth per hour. In other words, the earth receives 1.74 x 1014 kW of energy per hour.

Does it work in UK?

Please look at the graph prepared by European Commission.

Although it feels mostly grey and overcast, the UK receives slightly more than half of the solar energy received at the equator and around 65-70% of the sun that Spain gets.

The table below shows monthly radiation in Exmouth (Devon)

In London, the annual average is 2.61 kwh/m ²/day
In Edinburgh, the annual average is 2.26 kwh/m ²/day

Please note that solar radiations in central and north Europe is smaller than in UK. However solar PV capacity in operation per 1000 inhibitions is higher in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Holland than in UK. It is evident that we do have enough sun but we do not use it.