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The sun’s energy can be your home’s energy
Solar energy can be extracted from the sun in one of two ways: either by using solar panels, which contain cells and convert photons into energy – this is known as photovoltaic solar energy, or from a solar hot water panel that uses the sun's energy to heat a fluid, which is used to transfer the heat to a heat storage vessel.
Photovoltaic solar energy
Sunlight can directly be transformed into electricity by photovoltaic panels, which have no mechanical moving parts. The electricity that is produced can either be stored in batteries, or converted by to be distributed across a home’s electricity network. Taking into account the modest outputs of this technology, this complementary energy will be enough to heat a hot-water tank of 300L.
Solar hot water panels
Solar energy is converted into heat via thermal solar collectors, consisting of closed hot water panels, which replicate a ‘greenhouse’ effect and heat the water. Flat-plate solar-thermal collectors are usually placed on the roof, and have an absorber plate to which fluid circulation tubes are attached. The absorber, usually coated with a dark selective surface, assures the conversion of the sun's radiation into heat, while fluid circulating through the tubes carries the heat away where it can be used or stored. Solar hot water panels can be used to heat homes, swimming pools, and help in the production of domestic hot water.
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