Solar Energy: What we learned

On our trip to the Kogi Seywiaka community in the Sierra Nevada, we were lucky enough to be accompanied by two engineers from Hybrytec, a Colombian solar energy company. They taught us about solar energy. Here is how it works:

First, the energy from the sun is absorbed by the photovoltaic (pv) panels and converted into electrical energy. The electricity flows from the panels to a controller. This device, as it implies, controls the flow of energy through the system. It conditions the intensity and magnitude of the electric current and determines where to allocate it. During the day, when there is less demand for energy, the controller diverts the electricity to the battery bank so that it can be stored for later use. During the night or during periods of high demand, the controller transmits the electricity directly to the inverter. Whether it passes through the batteries or not, all electricity must be processed by the inverter. This technology converts the direct current (DC) electricity that is produced by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity. This latter form of energy is the one that most electric appliances require and, thus, the most useful. After being converted into AC, electricity is distributed to its desired destination and can be readily used.

Through this process, the radiant energy from the sun is converted into electrical energy, one of the most useful forms of energy, and an indispensable commodity in modern society.