Why We Love Solar Thermal

Unlike photovoltaic solar power, which is used to generate electricity, solar thermal systems are specifically designed to collect, absorb, and distribute heat. Solar thermal power is primarily used to heat water, heat swimming pools and heat the interior of buildings.

Have you ever felt warm water trickle out of a garden hose that’s been sitting in the sun? If so, then you’ve witnessed solar water heating in action.

It is used throughout the world for home and businesses of all types. Hawaii recently passed a law that said that all new builds needed to use solar hot water heaters. Israel is said to have upwards of 90% of hot water needs met by solar thermal.

China has over 39 million that heat water via solar thermal. Austria has over 20% of their homes using solar heated water.

Nursing homes, hospitals, car washes, food producers, hotels, breweries, schools and laundromats all use solar thermal for heating water, Entire districts are centrally heated in Europe using this technology.

Some of the advantages of solar thermal in a nutshell:

1. Efficiency- Thermal solar collectors capture up to 70% of the sun’s heat for use in the home. Solar PV panels convert, on average, only 12% of sunlight into electricity.
2. Size- Since thermal is better at collecting energy you need less space for the same amount of energy
3. Cost- Thermal collectors are less expensive than their PC counterparts.

With the higher efficiency and lower cost you have more energy per dollar spent with solar thermal.

The downside is that heating and plumbing aren’t as straightforward as electricity in our homes. If we can use sunlight to make electricity every device in your house can take advantage of it. Solar thermal systems tend to need more engineering to make sure that the system is sized properly and interacts with your heating and/or your plumbing systems.

Tipping Point Renewable Energy focuses on maximizing energy output for every dollar you spend so you can see why we are big fans of solar thermal.

p.s. Solar thermal is also used to generate electricity in large utility scale power plants but that is a topic for a different day.

Comments

[Richard Carter]

Right On!
I believe PV and thermal (and not exclude solar hot air) each have there own niche. Yet, until the costs of solar PV panels and inverters drop, as they are just now beginning to do, i.e. mini-inverters, thermal remains the more viable alternative assuming the correct application.

Keep up the good work Eric.

RC