Solar energy is a form of renewable or `green` power that uses the Sun`s light and heat to generate electricity. It can be harnessed in many ways, including photovoltaic cells and concentrated solar power systems.
The Sun emits radiant energy consisting of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation. The Earth absorbs about half of this energy, and the atmosphere reflects half back into space.
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Solar Panels
Solar panels can be used to produce electricity from the sun`s energy. They consist of several individual solar cells which are made of silicon semiconductors that absorb sunlight during daylight hours and produce an electrical current.
There are two primary technologies that can harness the sun`s energy and convert it into electricity: Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). PV is most commonly used in residential solar systems.
Panel technology that is most commonly used relies on monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells. These cells absorb sunlight and convert it to electric currents. The higher the efficiency of these cells, the more electricity they can produce per watt.
Sunny weather can cause cell temperatures to rise above 25 degrees Celsius, which can result in a reduction of 8-15% in power output. This has led to a number of manufacturers releasing more efficient panels based on high-performance N-type HJT, TOPcon and IBC cells. SunPower Maxeon is currently the industry`s most popular panel technology. However, other manufacturers are also creating more efficient panels.
Solar Water Heaters
Solar water heaters use clean energy to heat your home`s water, avoiding the need to burn fossil fuels or coal. These systems are also less expensive than traditional electric and gas water heaters and can be used to generate electricity for other appliances like lights, TVs or appliances.
Solar systems are an excellent way to reduce your utility bills by up to 70%. You can also get tax credits, rebates, and incentives for installing solar systems.
You can choose from direct or indirect solar water heating systems depending on where you live. The direct systems use the sun to warm a fluid that then flows through a heat exchanger to hot water in a storage tank.
Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water systems heat household hot water using the sun`s energy. There are several components to these systems, including solar collectors, which absorb heat from the sun, a storage tank, heat exchanger and a controller.
Solar water heating systems can be used to reduce the home`s dependence on costly grid-powered electricity, and the carbon emissions. You can also reduce your hot water bills by up to two-thirds.
The most common type of solar hot water heater in the United States is an indirect system, which combines a cold-water line with a heated transfer fluid that does not mix with your tap water. The fluid moves through a series of pipes that connect to the solar storage tank.
Direct systems are the best option for homeowners in the U.S. because they are more resilient to cold and retain heat better during winter. They are however more expensive than direct systems.
Solar Electricity
Solar electricity is generated using a technology called photovoltaics. In a photovoltaic cell, a thin semiconductor wafer (a semiconductor is a material made from two layers of silicon) is doped with positive or negative substances that create an electric field at the junction between the two layers.
The electrical field pushes loose electrons into motion, which causes them to flow out of the junction in a direction that generates an electric current. These electrons are then transferred to wires and connected to a solar inverter, which converts the electricity into usable form for your home.
Solar power systems can be linked to the utility grid for maximum efficiency, or they can operate in stand-alone mode. Grid-tied systems can have excess energy from the panels fed back into the grid to offset the cost for buying it from the utility. Net metering is a term used to describe this practice.