Photovoltaic energy has become extremely popular as an alternative energy source due to its characteristics: clean, sustainable, without greenhouse gas emissions and renewable. However, solar panels have been found to have an unexpected effect in cities. Let’s see.
Solar panels: now they are causing controversy due to the unexpected consequences of their use
Installing solar panels on the roofs of houses has proven to be a solution to the energy crisis that concerns both availability and costs. These are the best options for your own consumption, but now a disadvantage has been discovered that they bring to the structures.
Which refers to that can cause the temperature to riseespecially in urban areas with high population density. This has been determined by a multidisciplinary group consisting of scientists from different countries, who have dedicated themselves to studying these components and their consequences for the climate.
How these elements can affect temperature levels
This research shows that solar panels absorb 90% of solar radiation, but only convert about 20% into electricity. The problem is that 70% don’t reflect thisbut rather they retain it so that they increase heat in the structure where it rests.
In this case on the roof of the house, which, because it is not insulated, allows the heat to flow inside. This situation causes a temperature increase that can vary from 1 to 2 °C. As shown by the tests carried out in several cities where this energy is widely used.
For example, Sydney saw an increase of 1.9°C, Austin 1.7°C and Calcutta 1.5°C. This was done during the day, then the same measurements were carried out at night to determine whether the solar panels were the cause of this phenomenon and the following was found.
There was a drop in average temperatures of 0.6 to 0.3°C in Sydney, Austin and Calcutta. These results show that the presence of solar panels is directly related to the increase in heat in urban areas. But… how does the heat effect work in cities?
This increase, caused by the solar panels, creates variations in the atmospheric conditions near the ground where the city’s atmosphere is located, affecting the sea breeze, which is a factor of the so-called “heat island” that increases the temperature so consistently .
To this must be added the vulnerability of the city due to heat retention caused by various sources such as car gas emissions, air conditioning equipment, hot asphalt, etc. and now the solar panels. It should be noted that the latter contribute to the drop in temperature at night.
This is because the heat that has accumulated during the day is dissipated more quickly. Paradoxically, this unexpected effect also works against the solar panels themselves and the accumulated heat reduces their efficiency. In fact this is so lower for every degree of temperature above 25 °C.
The form of analysis to arrive at this conclusion
The research group developed a model to evaluate the effects of solar panels on the roofs of houses. Himself consists of a climate prediction programthat analyzes the energy consumption of buildings by measuring its impact on the urban environment.
In short, although solar panels provide a solution for self-consumption of electricity, they also have negative effects on heat levels in cities, because they increase them. Therefore, before installing this system, this consequence should be studied and how serious it would be.