Solar Energy Types
Solar energy is, simply, the energy that comes from the sun. With so many solar energy technologies today that focus on using solar power, it is essential to understand what the different types of solar energy are. Whether you are planning to install a solar panel at home or build your own, being well-informed takes you one step ahead.
Let’s explore these types with the two most popular ways to categorize solar energy. The first category is looking at solar power by how it is converted and utilized into a useful energy – passive and active solar energy.
Passive Solar Energy
Passive solar energy means that the power is generated from the sun without using any mechanical device. This particular type makes use of materials that have thermal properties and put them in a favorable position facing the sun. In turn, natural lighting is achieved and heating homes is made possible. Applications of passive solar energy includes daylighting, passive heating and passive cooling.
Active Solar Energy
Active solar energy is the exact opposite of passive solar energy. This type uses mechanical devices to convert the energy from the sun into solar power made useful to people. These mechanical devices such as solar panels, batteries and kits collect, store and distribute solar energy to functional outputs. Water heating systems, for instance, use pumps to circulate water. Popular applications of active solar energy includes pool, water and space heating.
The second category of solar energy is looking at it by what energy type it is then converted into – solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar power and concentrating solar power.
Solar Thermal Energy
Solar thermal energy is formed when solar energy is converted into heat. Three types of collectors help produce solar thermal energy namely, low, medium and high temperature. Low temperature collectors use flat plates to heat pools. Medium temperature collectors still use flat plates but are applied to water heating. Lastly, high temperature collectors use mirrors and lenses. Through this solar energy type, people take advantage of technologies such as solar heaters for pools, tap water and indoor space. Solar thermal energy is also used for drying food and clothes.
Photovoltaic Solar Energy
With the use of photovoltaic cells, solar energy is converted into electricity – this is how photovoltaic solar energy is created. It is a great alternative to conventional power resources as it depends on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels that only produce large amount of carbon emissions. Various technologies that people enjoy from photovoltaic solar energy are solar lighting systems and photovoltaic cooling systems.
Concentrating Solar Power
This type of solar energy is similar to photovoltaic solar energy in such a way that it converts the energy from the sun into electricity. The only difference is that concentrating solar power makes use of lenses and mirrors to create beams of sunlight and generate electricity. This solar energy type is used for large scale business applications.
These solar energy types result to diverse uses for people to enjoy. They are also the basis of technological developments in connection to the furtherance of solar energy applications to homes and businesses across the globe.
