Solar Energy

Akuo Energy is involved in all stages of the life cycle of power plants: studies, design, financing, construction and operation.

Solar energy is generated from the capture and conversion of solar radiation on the surface of the earth. This energy may be captured by means of two physical effects: the photovoltaic effect and the thermal effect. The "photovoltaic effect" is the basic physical process through which a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons, or "packets" of energy. When these photons are absorbed by a solar cell, the “photonic bombardment” cause an excitation in the semiconductor materials which comprise photovoltaic cells induce the movement of electrons which result in the creation of an electric current.

The thermal effect entails the conversion of solar energy directly into heat energy. This heat energy can then be used in its simple form (for sanitary or industrial purposes, for example) or converted into electrical energy. Each year the Earth receives, from the sun, 8,380 times the amount of energy which is actually used annually by humanity.