What Is Solar Energy And How Does Solar Energy Work

What is solar energy? - energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

There are two types of solar energy being used today. They are Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic.

• Solar Thermal uses energy from the sun to generate heat. This method uses solar panels to store heat from the sun and transfers this heat to buildings for space heating or to water for domestic hot water use.
• The second type of solar energy in use is Photovoltaic which is the process used to turn energy from the sun into electricity.

These Photovoltaic electricity solar cells, convert solar radiation into DC voltage, which can be stored in batteries, used to operate DC powered equipment or inverted to AC (Alternating Current) voltage and used to supply power to our homes. When solar energy is stored in batteries (DC power)it can be used at night or during low solar radiation supply periods.

Photovoltaic cells (solar cells) are made from a silicon material. This material goes through a chemical process, which forms crystals and the end product is used in Photovoltaic cells.

Solar cells turn light energy from the sun into electricity, which we use in solar powered equipment such as calculators, some toys, radios, water fountains, battery chargers, solar lighting, solar attic fans, solar water pumps, solar powered generators and many other devices.

Although solar energy is a renewable energy source, is free to consume and causes no pollution, it provides only a small portion of the electricity that we use. Part of the reason solar energy is not used on a larger scale is the cost of capturing this abundant energy.

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