Energy from the sun is the single largest source of energy on Earth. The daily insolation of light from the sun on our globe is approximately 6,000 times the total amount of energy consumed daily on Earth. Solar energy is one of the fastest growing alternative energy sources.

Ramboll is active in the development of alternative small and large-scale renewable energy sources

Solar heating

Solar heating panels transform the sun's energy into heat or thermal energy by heating up water. Solar heating is one of the most well-known and environmentally most sustainable alternatives over traditional energy sources. Ramboll is one of the global leading consultants within solar heating and has been involved in the research and development of the newest technologies, including underground seasonal storage as well as the planning and design of some of the world’s largest plants. Since the cost of solar water heating from large plants is four to six times lower than that of heat from small plants, these large plants are now competitive with natural gas boilers.

The demand for large-scale solar heating plants is expected to grow in countries with warm climates, centralised heat supply and a progressive climate change policy.

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics is a long-term investment with an expected lifetime of 30-40 years. A solar cell is a semiconductor that generates electric power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity by exhibiting the so-called photovoltaic effect. Solar cells are produced without moving parts, and it is therefore a very robust and operationally reliable technology.

Solar heating is one of the environmentally most sustainable energy sources

Although photovoltaics is too expensive for commercial use, it is one of the options in low-energy houses of the future. For buildings in remote districts and for special appliances that are not connected to power grids, solar cells in combination with 12-volt distribution can be considered an optimal solution.

Big and small

Ramboll has provided consultancy services in connection with a number of solar heating plants. The plants range in size from 200 m2 to the largest solar heating plant of more than 18,000 m2.