Solar Thermal Energy Power Generation
Guide
Solar Thermal Energy For Your Home
By Genevieve Thomson
Solar thermal energy is a technology used for harnessing
solar power for practical applications, from solar heating
to electrical power generation. Solar power plants generate
electricity by converting solar energy to heat.
This is one of the most cost–effective renewable energy
systems and can significantly reduce your utility bill.
In this article, we’ll detail how solar thermal energy
works and how you can use it to save money.
Solar thermal energy is the heat that can be gathered
from solar power without the use of photoelectric cells.
It is a form of energy that can be transferred into
water and stored in insulated containers and kept heated
constantly by the sun, while retaining energy overnight.
They are also used to heat water and homes. Some thermal
energy is used to superheat water in massive solar power
plants that use steam based turbines to generate electric
power. This is very environmentally friendly because
no emissions are produced.
The collection of solar thermal energy is usually done
through a panel or a series of panels which pump water.
These panels are commonly seen in a home’s hot water
system and can cut consumption of energy used for heating
water by more than half.
Solar Hot Water
Various collectors, such as solar hot water panels,
are commonly used to generate solar hot water for domestic
and light industrial purposes. Solar thermal energy
is used in architecture and building design to control
heating and ventilation in both active solar and passive
solar designs.
There are a few different solar thermal systems available
to homeowners. All are cost efficient, so you have to
determine which one best suits your needs.
A Closed Loop System
A closed loop system supplements heat to your hot water
tank. This energy system will cost about $4,600 US,
but prices are coming down as the demand for the product
increases. A second popular closed loop solar thermal
system is called a drainback.
An Open Loop System
The solar pool heater, which is an open loop system,
is a very popular and practical product. It’s called
this because water circulates back into the pool, which
is an open system. A solar blanket, while not technically
a solar thermal system, is an economical way to retain
and increase the heat of your pool. While these systems
are an investment, many governments are offering rebates.
As consumers continue to search for more economic and
environmentally friendly solar energy systems, solar
thermal power is providing a viable alternative to coal,
oil and nuclear energy. Sunlight is a free and renewable
fuel for these systems.
Costs Continue To Decline
As solar technology advances and becomes mass produced,
the cost to the consumer continues to decline. It can
be used with other environmentally friendly energy sources
like wind power to provide electricity to entire cities.
This is just one way to conserve the world’s energy
resources for future generations.
About the Author:
Genevieve Thomson has written a number of articles on
solar power and renewable energy including
Solar Power System,
Wind And Solar Power,
Alternative Power Systems,
Alternative Power Sources,
Ethanol Fuel,
Hybrid Cars.
Look out for new articles as they become available on
this site.
Little Known Solar Facts.....
Who first used solar power?
It is believed that the ancient Greeks utilized
the sun when constructing their buildings. They realized that houses
and buildings facing the sun would receive more warmth and light.
Native Americans followed the same practice. The first
industrial use of solar power was brought about thanks
to Auguste Mouchoute in 1861 with his steam engine that
was powered by the sun. His invention may not have been
very popular with the coal industry but it was a start
in the right direction for the use of solar power.
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