It’s been a tough year for the entire solar industry, and it’s made its way into every part of your life. From the products you use to the news you hear about, everything is related to solar in some way.
While the world stopped focusing on solar and moved on to other things, the industry kept chugging along, introducing new products and bringing old ones up to date with new technologies.
If you’re interested in finding out more about solar, then this briefing is for you. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about solar, including:
How Solar Works
You’ll learn the basics of solar electricity here, including how power is generated and how it’s transferred. You’ll also discover the advantages and disadvantages of using solar energy. Let’s get started.
Types Of Solar
You’ll learn about the different types of solar technologies here, including photovoltaic cells, solar thermal energy, and solar energy storage. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, let’s discuss them one by one.
Photovoltaic Cells (PV)
You’ll find many different kinds of photovoltaic cells, ranging from crystalline silicon to organic photovoltaic cells. While organic photovoltaic cells are more aesthetically pleasing than classic silicon cells, they also require more space and sunlight to generate the same amount of power. In addition to the space and sunlight requirements, the devices also generate a lot of heat, which can damage other parts of your plant.
Solar Thermal Energy (STE)
While photovoltaic cells generate electricity from sunlight, solar thermal energy utilizes other sources of energy, such as heat and even energy from the sun. Basically, solar thermal energy uses the sun to heat up various liquids, which in turn generate electricity through a process called the Rankine cycle. The advantage of solar thermal energy is that it requires less space than photovoltaic cells, and it can be applied to areas that don’t receive a lot of sunlight. The disadvantages of solar thermal energy are the materials used in the devices are very expensive, and they also require constant maintenance.
Solar Energy Storage (SES)
While none of the other types of solar energy mentioned so far have the advantage of storing energy, solar energy storage does. Just like lithium-ion batteries store energy used from photovoltaic cells, so too can solar energy storage devices. The difference is that the former is used to store energy generated by sunlight, while the latter is used to store energy generated by other sources, such as the sun or heat waves. So, if you’ve got some extra electricity at the end of the day, you can store it in a battery for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Disadvantages of solar energy storage are the materials used in the devices are relatively expensive, and they also need constant maintenance and proper ventilation.
Why Are Solar Technology And Energy Topics Always Topics Of Conversation?
It’s not hard to understand why these topics are always topical conversations. After all, the sun is always shining, so you’ll never run out of electricity. If you want to find out more, here are a few reasons why solar power and its various applications always remain a hot topic: