Solar energy can be generated in two main ways, depending on the technology used. Firstly, we have 1. , made up of 2. that concentrate sunlight into 3. , which transform it into heat, thus producing 4. . Consequently, this activates a 5. , which produces electricity. Secondly, there is 6. , made up of layers of 7. that, when they are hit by 8. , release 9. , which in turn generate electric current.
17. Read the text and fill in the gaps with the words given below.
Going Solar Solar energy has become a hotly debated topic during the last decades, as it has become more and more popular as a solution to try to reduce the dangerous effects of 1. gases on our planet. Their release into the atmosphere, in fact, produces the so-called “greenhouse effect”, which is the main cause of global warming and consequently of climate change. However, capturing 2. and converting it into usable power is not as simple as we might think. The solar energy that our planet receives is spread out over a large area and how easy it is to harness depends on several factors: the time of the day, the season of the year, the cloudiness of the sky, and how close the energy production site is to the Earth’s equator. However, over the years, solar 3. has developed in such a way that installing solar 4. on our roofs has become easier and even more affordable. Due to falling costs, the use of this 5. source has become more frequent, also thanks to more substantial investments made by governments across the world. In the first decades of the new millennium, Italy, together with Germany and Spain, has seen an unprecedented boom in the 6. of solar panels, due to their Government measures aimed at supporting the use of renewable energy sources. Undoubtedly, if we want to protect our 7. and the species and habitats that global warming is endangering, we should continue to follow this positive trend: only by doing so will our ever-growing demand for 8. reduce the harm it is doing to our world.
to heat buildings and water and to produce electricity.from the Sun are two.convert sunlight into heat to produce steam.are connected to the grid.are grouped together to be more efficient.use collectors and receivers to collect energy from the Sun.