Solar energy is a type of renewable energy that is better for the environment, so what is there that we don't like about it? Of course, like any technology, solar energy has its pros and cons. Whether it's commercial or residential systems, different types of solar energy demonstrate the range of benefits we can expect from renewable energy. The history of photovoltaic solar energy dates back to around the 1830s, when the photovoltaic effect was discovered. Later, in 1954, Bell Laboratories in the United States built the first photovoltaic solar panel. This form of solar energy is best suited to countries that see extremely high levels of sunshine.
It is therefore not surprising that Spain has the largest capacity of 2,300 MW, while the United States and South Africa follow closely with 1,738 MW and 400 MW.
Solar energy
for water heating started with black paint painted on tanks and used to heat water. As the black paint absorbs heat from the sun, it heats the water inside. As primitive as it may seem, it shows that we understood the power of solar energy from the beginning. Therefore, consumer demand has seen solar pool heating increase.This works in the same way as water heating, solar energy. Photovoltaic panels or panels containing thermal conductors capture heat from sunlight and convert it into energy and, in turn, into water. Solar thermal energy, or solar thermal technology, uses heat from the sun to collect solar energy. To heat water or produce electricity, the liquid flows through the tubes and collects energy from the sun. Compared to solar photovoltaic energy, solar thermal energy is more space efficient.
Solar thermal energy can offer up to 70% more energy efficiency when it comes to collecting heat. Along with this, the technology is much less complex, which makes it ideal for heating water. The largest solar thermal power plant is located in Morocco and has a capacity of 510MW, while the United States and Spain have several large-scale projects. Because of the way solar thermal systems work, they can reach an extremely high temperature. For example, the solar oven in Odeillo, in the French Pyrenees, can reach temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees. In most cases, solar energy has an important history that may surprise.
Today, solar energy is evolving more rapidly and is becoming more pervasive as environmental concerns and efficiency increase. Especially since many of the technologies are more than 100 years old. The three different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film solar panels. Each of these types of solar cells is manufactured in a unique way and has a different aesthetic appearance. Here is a breakdown of each type of solar panel. Photovoltaic solar energy provides light that is converted into electricity by photovoltaic solar panels.
These photovoltaic solar panels are made up of groups of solar cells or cells that transform light (photons) into electrical energy (electrons).Solar thermal energy, also known as solar thermal energy, uses energy from the sun to produce heat, which is then used as an energy source at the domestic level (for heating the house, cooking or for personal hygiene), as well as at the industrial level, transforming this energy into mechanical energy and obtaining electrical energy. Photovoltaic solar energy and solar thermal energy use different technologies to capture and process energy from the sun. This is known as active solar energy. However, solar energy can also be used passively, that is, without the need for any kind of mechanism to collect and use it. This is the oldest method for harnessing solar radiation. An off-grid solar energy system, as the name implies, is a completely independent solar energy system with energy storage that is not connected to the main power grid.
Solar panels are the only source of energy in an off-grid solar system. This energy is supplied to appliances or stored in batteries for future use. Off-grid solar systems are ideal for remote rural areas or applications where other sources of power are unavailable or impractical. Off-grid systems can be AC-based systems which include an inverter that converts stored battery power into AC power which feeds AC appliances or DC-based systems which are cheaper since they don't need an inverter but can only feed DC appliances. A hybrid solar system is a system with storage similar to a grid-connected system but with a battery backup system usually in form of a battery backup. In recent years this type of system has become very popular even though it's more expensive. When production exceeds demand excess power is used to charge batteries stored for later use while when production is lower than demand stored battery power compensates for deficit.
A well designed hybrid system gives you double benefit reducing your electricity bills while giving you convenience having backup power during power outage. The hybrid system consists of a photovoltaic array charge controller battery bank inverter and sometimes tertiary source such as wind turbine or gas generator. These three types of systems have their own advantages and disadvantages so customers can choose type that meets their electricity demand. You may also consider finding heterojunction cell (HJT) technology for your system combining monocrystalline silicon wafers with amorphous silicon. This achieved thanks to installation photovoltaic panels composed silicon cells transforming light heat from sun into electrical power. What this means is that as temperature increases certain types will produce more than others. In addition to manufacturing appearance there are some differences performance each these types so customers should consider their needs before making decision.
