Old Solar Panels: What to Know About Solar Engineering

what to know about solar engery

Solar engery is the process of harnessing energy from sunlight. It can be done either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power.

To convert light into electricity, a solar cell needs to be made of a material that has properties that allow it to capture the energy in a light particle and transfer it into an electrical charge.

Photovoltaic (PV)

Photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the most promising and rapidly growing technologies available for the renewable energy sector. The technology has many advantages, including the fact that it uses the most abundant source of renewable energy on the planet-the sun.

PV technology uses semiconductor materials to convert sunlight into electrical energy. These materials are then used in photovoltaic cells.

Solar cells can be made from silicon, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), perovskites and some organic compounds.

The power output of a PV system depends on the efficiency of its solar cells and on environmental conditions such as latitude, temperature, and UV radiation. It also depends on the degradation index, which describes how much the power output decreases over time.

PV is a cost-effective alternative to traditional fossil fuels and has achieved grid parity in many markets worldwide. As a result, grid-connected PV systems have grown in popularity as they are now competitively priced at the retail level for most domestic and commercial customers.

Concentrating solar-thermal (CSP)

CSP technologies use mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a receiver and heat a high temperature fluid inside it. This fluid then spins a turbine or engine to produce electricity.

CSP can be used to power a variety of industries, including water desalination, oil recovery, chemical production, and mineral processing. It’s a more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, because it doesn’t emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

While PV and wind power can provide intermittent supplies of energy, CSP can store solar energy in molten salts so it can be used when it’s needed. It also avoids the need for “shadow plant capacity” that would otherwise be needed to secure generation during periods when sun or wind aren’t available.

A number of challenges remain for CSP technology. However, advances in research are expected to lower costs and make it an increasingly attractive choice for large-scale power generation.

Flat-plate collectors

Flat-plate collectors are a type of solar thermal technology that utilizes the 1st & 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics to transform sunlight into heat. These systems are typically made up of an absorbing plate and a grid of conduits through which a transport fluid circulates.

Normally, the absorbing plate is blackened with a heat black coating, which makes it more efficient in capturing solar energy than a clearer, whiter material. The absorbing plates are placed in a box with insulation at the back, and transparent covers (usually glass) at the top to allow sunlight in.

Some designs also include fluid channels in the absorber plate structure to maximize thermal conductance between the components. These are often soldered or cemented to the absorber plate.

Batteries

Battery technology is a vital component in the solar energy revolution, enabling solar power to be stored and used when the sun isn’t shining. It also eliminates the need for the energy to be fed into the grid, meaning you can use it for your own purposes when it’s needed most.

Batteries are essentially electrochemical cells that store electricity in the form of chemical energy. They can be used to power a variety of devices like lights, radios, and more.

They are a key part of the solar energy revolution because they can store large amounts of electricity in small spaces, giving you a reliable backup source of power when the sun isn’t out.

There are four main types of batteries that you can choose from for your solar panel system: lead-acid, lithium ion, flow batteries, and nickel cadmium. They all have their pros and cons, so here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting the best solar battery for your home: