If a technology can improve your daily life, reduce your energy bills, or just be fun, why not try it? Unfortunately, not all innovations prove to be the panacea people initially thought they were. Sometimes, an invention turns out to be more trouble than it’s worth. Even when it works as intended, you may find it too expensive or complicated to use.
The Rise Of Solar Energy
Although fossil fuels have existed since the 19th century, solar energy has only recently begun to emerge as an alternative. In fact, solar power only became a real alternative when fossil fuels became very cheap and abundant.
The main reason solar power took so long to emerge as a real alternative is that it’s quite difficult to collect and convert solar energy into usable electricity. This is where traditional technology, such as photovoltaics and solar cells, came in. Traditional photovoltaics use solar cells to convert solar energy into direct current (DC) electricity. This type of technology has been around since the 1930s and has greatly reduced the effort and cost required to collect solar energy. Traditional solar cells are quite efficient at converting solar energy into electricity, but they’re also rather complicated and costly to produce.
In the last few years, traditional solar energy has taken a backseat to something more modern and sophisticated. This new form of solar energy, which is more efficient and less expensive to produce, has made it very appealing to new generations of consumers. This form of solar energy, called solar thermal energy, uses heat rather than light to collect solar energy. It has also become much simpler to use than traditional photovoltaic technology, which makes it easier to understand and less complicated to install. Furthermore, solar thermal energy allows for greater efficiency as it tends to collect more solar energy than traditional photovoltaics. This increased efficiency reduces the amount of energy required to perform the same task. As a result, solar thermal energy has rapidly become the preferred method for collecting solar energy worldwide.
Photovoltaics Versus Solar Thermal Energy
Before we dive into comparing the pros and cons of each type of solar energy, it’s important to understand the basic difference between the two. Traditional photovoltaics use solar cells to convert light energy into electricity. This type of solar energy is what’s often referred to as “traditional solar energy.” In contrast, solar thermal energy uses heat, rather than light, to collect solar energy. Therefore, it’s often described as “solar heat energy.”
Traditional photovoltaics are quite efficient and have the advantage of being simple to use. However, they’re also quite limited in the amount of energy they can collect. This is because traditional photovoltaics only use the light energy that hits the solar cell, which is quite limited considering that not all light is created equal. This is where solar thermal energy comes in. The amount of heat that can be collected by solar thermal energy is only limited by the temperature of the environment. This makes it much easier to provide an unlimited amount of energy because no restrictions are placed on the amount of light that can be collected by the device.
Overall, traditional photovoltaics have a number of advantages over solar thermal energy. First, traditional photovoltaics are quite simple and can be easily understood and installed by anyone. In addition, they are quite portable and can be carried around wherever you go. This makes traditional photovoltaics ideal for camping and travel. In fact, many people choose camping tents that are equipped with photovoltaic systems so they can generate their own electricity even when away from home. Finally, traditional photovoltaics are quite affordable and can be found relatively cheaply. However, one major disadvantage of traditional photovoltaics is that they are quite inefficient. This means that a lot of the energy that is collected is lost due to inefficiencies in the system. In contrast, solar thermal energy is very efficient and has a much higher conversion rate. This means more energy is collected for the same effort put in.
Solar Power Systems
Now that we have an understanding of the difference between photovoltaics and solar thermal energy, we can examine both sides of the equation. When it comes to selecting the best solar power system, you should look at what you need for the task at hand. For instance, if you need something that’s portable and easily transportable, you should opt for traditional photovoltaics. In contrast, if your needs are for something larger that can produce more electricity, you should opt for solar thermal energy. In general, whenever you can, go for solar thermal energy over traditional photovoltaics. This is because solar thermal energy allows for greater efficiency and less effort. In addition, solar thermal energy is a safer and more reliable option than traditional photovoltaics.
Installation
If you’re installing a traditional photovoltaic, you’ll need to cut out a small hole in the roof for the sun to shine through. This is where the sun will heat up the solar cells, which in turn will generate electricity. The major disadvantage of this type of setup is that the roof needs to be relatively flat for the solar cells to work properly. In addition, you’ll need to either drill some holes in the side of the house or cover up the whole area with a translucent roof. This is usually not a feasible option for people who are trying to keep their homes structurally sound.
In contrast, a solar thermal energy system is quite a bit larger and will need to be positioned on a larger surface area. This is usually in the form of a steel pipe that’s buried in the ground or mounted on a metal roof. The disadvantage of this type of setup is that it’s quite difficult to transport and setup once you’ve arrived at your final destination. This is because many cities have building codes that require the installation to be set up in a specific way and with certain restrictions. In some instances, you may need a permit from the city to even install it lawfully.
Efficiency
When it comes to comparing the efficiency of traditional photovoltaics to that of solar thermal energy, the figure that truly matters is the energy conversion rate. The efficiency rating of traditional photovoltaics ranges from 2.3 to 11.7%; in comparison, the efficiency of solar thermal energy ranges from 15% to 24.9%. This means that on average, solar thermal energy is more than twice as efficient as traditional photovoltaics. However, this does not mean that solar thermal energy is always better. It depends on your needs and what you’re trying to accomplish. If you need something portable and easy to use, traditional photovoltaics are your best option.
Portability
One of the important factors that you need to consider when looking at portable solar energy is how easily it can be transported and set up at your desired location. The weight and size of traditional photovoltaics make them quite portable, which is why they were initially developed for use in vehicles. However, even then, they’re still quite heavy and large. This is why most people choose to use them in stationary applications, such as homes and businesses. In contrast, solar thermal energy is quite light and can be easily transported and setup in a matter of hours or days. In some instances, you may need a truck or other large vehicles to even move the system.
Overall, traditional photovoltaics have a number of advantages over solar thermal energy. First, traditional photovoltaics are quite efficient and highly reliable. This makes them the preferred option for many high-powered companies and governmental institutions. In addition, they’re quite portable and can be easily set up anywhere. Finally, traditional photovoltaics are quite affordable. Solar thermal energy is more expensive but has the advantage of being highly efficient. This makes it easier for people to justify the cost if they’re aware of how little energy it requires to perform certain tasks.
As much as possible, you want to avoid using fossil fuels for anything whatsoever. These are things that we literally cannot live without but also cause great harm to this world. If you’re fortunate enough to live in a country where the sun shines brightly and consistently, you have an abundant amount of energy that comes without the need for fossil fuels. As much as possible, you want to use the energy from the sun to do your bidding. The energy that we get from the sun is free, so there’s no reason not to try and take advantage of it. If you’re interested in trying out solar power, learn as much as you can about it and determine whether or not it’s the right fit for your needs. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your family, so use the information and tools available to make the right choice for your situation.