16/10/2013
Solar Energy Technology
Solar energy technology is rapidly advancing. These advancements make it more affordable than ever to add new applications for solar energy use. And, the more you learn about solar energy, the more appealing the technology becomes.
What Are Solar Panels?
Photovoltaic cell is another term for solar cell. Photovoltaic systems convert the photons in light to voltage. Solar panels are made up of these cells and are often manufactured from silicon. Other manufacturing materials include cadmium telluride and conductive plastic. These active systems produce electricity that we can put to use.
Small solar panel systems can power exterior lighting at night by storing the energy generated during the daylight in rechargeable batteries. Continued advancements in battery technology has allowed for much larger storage capacities. This change in capacity makes today's systems more cost-efficient for providing full power for homes and business during both day and night hours.
How Can Solar Energy Be Used?
Solar hot water systems are the easiest technology to understand. Heat from the sun is collected and then transferred to the water. In passive systems, the heat is collected with a flat panel attached to copper pipes. Direct passive systems send the collected heat directly to a holding tank. Direct active systems add a controller and pump to the system. Indirect active systems use a pump and controller with a heat exchanger located inside the tank.
Solar energy technology is also used in other types of passive systems. Buildings can be designed to maximize south facing windows that collect the sun's heat during the day. This heat can be stored with the use of the correct building materials to provide warmth after the sun sets. When both passive solar energy for heating and solar panels for energy are combined, the benefits of solar power technology are maximized for unlimited new applications.