Solar Panels Pv And Thermal

Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic.

Solar panels pv and thermal.

Solar panels on the other hand utilise pv technology to capture sun rays and directly convert the sunlight into electricity. As the name may suggest to you solar thermals technology is used to create heat for your home. In terms of pure efficiency at harvesting energy from the sun solar thermal is more efficient at around 70 while pv is around 15 20. They absorb raw energy from the sun and use it to create usable energy.

By means of photovoltaic panels you can produce electricity during the day store it and to consume it later. As the name suggests solar thermal technology is used to collect sunlight and transform it into heat that is stored and later on transformed into electricity. The california energy commission licenses solar thermal plants above 50 megawatts and promotes solar photovoltaic installation through the renewables portfolio standard with building efficiency standards and as a partner in the california solar initiative. In solar pv systems this is through the creation of electricity whereas thermal systems are used directly for heating water or air.

Solar thermal technology and solar pv are two very different forms of solar technology. Photovoltaic thermal pv t hybrid solar systems offer increased electricity production by cooling the pv panel and using the removed thermal energy to heat water all in the same footprint as a standard pv system. But this is somewhat misleading. Solar thermal systems have a pump circulating solar fluid water saline or other fluids through the collectors and deliver heat to a water storage tank.

Solar thermal can have an efficiency level of up to 70 in the collection of heat from the sun more than a solar pv. Photovoltaic thermal collectors typically abbreviated as pvt collectors and also known as hybrid solar collectors photovoltaic thermal solar collectors pv t collectors or solar cogeneration systems are power generation technologies that convert solar radiation into usable thermal and electrical energy. The solar thermal is highly efficient and can turn approximately 90 of radiation into heat as opposed to solar pv which has an efficiency of between 15 and 20. Firstly it s important to understand that solar thermal and solar pv are two very different technologies.

The photovoltaic solar energy is the electrical energy that is obtained directly from the sun. Similar to a pv solar system solar thermal systems requires collectors or panels on the rooftop. They absorb solar energy just as pv systems but differ in what happens from there. So in theory thermal panels will require less roof space than pv.

Solar energy in california falls into two categories.