Solar energetics and its environmental impact

Abstract

The article summarizes possibilities of utilization of solar energy in energetics. The article describes solar thermal power stations (inclusive of concentrating solar power stations), storage of solar energy by means of chemical energy (hydrogen) and its successive utilization in fuel cell, indirect conversion (thermo-electric conversion based on the so-called Seebeck´s phenomenon), and eventually direct (photovoltaic) conversion. The final part of the paper deals with questions of necessity of the environmental impact assessment process in the field of solar photovoltaic plants in the Czech Republic.