Solar energy is a vast and inexhaustible resource.  Solar Energy supports all life on earth.  Solar Energy is the basis for almost every form of energy. Solar energy can be directly used to generate electricity, lighting and for other heating purposes. There are two approaches towards solar energy conversion into wind energy.  The two methods are solar thermal and photovoltaic. So how solar energy works?

Solar Thermal:

It is a direct method to generate heat; it uses the solar energy from the sun directly.  Under this method to collect the heat from the sun a solar panel is used.  Solar panel helps in increasing the absorption level of heat from the sun. Solar panel has thermal collector (tubing) which helps in circulation of water.

Photovoltaic:

This method converts sun’s energy into electricity. The following processes are involved in it.

  • Solar cells are silicon based pieces that absorb the sun’s light and is a device that converts solar energy into electricity.
  • Many of solar cells are combined in the solar panels.
  • Number of solar panels can be interlinked and attached for greater power.
  • Solar energy stimulates the electrons in solar cell and thus electricity is formed
  • This electricity will be in the form of Direct current
  • Direct current is not used for most ordinary purposes
  • Then the direct current power is transformed through inverter at 120 volt to alternating current.
  • A little quantity of solar energy is vanished in conversion of DC to AC.

Direct Solar Energy

Electromagnetic radiation is the only step involved in transforming direct solar power into useable energy.  Some of the examples of direct solar energy include:

  • Electricity will be immediately formed when sunlight strikes solar cell
  • Sunlight absorbed by dark surface  of solar thermal collector warms water
  • Fiber optic cable placed on the exterior of the building absorb sunlight and lights inside
  • A solar sail placed on the spacecraft helps the spacecraft to move through the direct force of sunlight.

Indirect Solar Energy

This process involves more than one step in transforming sunlight to usable energy.  The following are the few examples:

  • Through photosynthesis plants convert solar energy into chemical energy.  Finally they turn into fossil fuels.  Nowadays these fossil fuels are used abundantly
  • Ocean thermal energy is induced due to differences in temperature at various depths and wave movement by the wind
  • Wind turbines and hydroelectricity dams gain energy from rain, wind and other climatic interactions caused by solar
  • Active solar systems require direct sunlight without the help of any other energy.  And passive solar systems uses no pump to circulate its water.
  • To minimize sunlight absorption active solar system may have electronic tracking devices

Active and Passive Solar Systems

  • Active solar systems require direct sunlight without the help of any other energy.  And passive solar systems uses no pump to circulate its water.
  • To minimize sunlight absorption active solar system may have electronic tracking devices

We hope that now you have understanding how solar energy works and can use that valuable information!