Solar Hot Water Systems vs Solar PV: What’s the Difference?
Solar Hot Water Systems vs Solar PV: What’s the Difference?
Besides the fact that they both use the sun’s energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar hot water systems work in completely different ways. At a basic level, solar PV cells convert solar energy into electricity, while solar hot water uses the sun’s energy directly to heat liquid, with no electricity involved. Here’s a brief primer on how each works.
Heating things up: solar hot water
Solar hot water systems (a.k.a. solar water heating or solar heating systems) start by using a solar thermal collector. These are usually thin, flat boxes that are mounted on the roof facing the sun. A transparent cover lets sunlight into the box; tiny tubes inside carry water or another fluid (like antifreeze) into the box to be heated. An absorber plate, painted black, helps make things hotter.
The collector sends the hot water into a well-insulated storage tank. Most systems use pumps to do this, but others, called “passive systems,” just use gravity. If the system happens to use something other than water in the solar collector, that hot liquid heats the water through a coil of tubing.
How is solar hot water used?
Solar hot water systems are used in several different ways. Not surprisingly, they’re a good way generate hot water for your home, instead of using a gas-powered hot water heater. They’re also commonly used for heating swimming pools, underfloor heating (if you’ve never walked on a heated floor in the winter, we highly recommend trying it), and space heating and cooling. Why cooling? Complicated thermodynamic magic.
Solar PVso
Solar PV cells, on the other hand, convert sunlight into electricity (see How Solar Panels Work). The cells are combined into modules that make up solar panels. Material inside the panels creates electrons when it’s sunny, and an inverter turns the electrons into DC electricity to power the stuff inside your home. With a solar PV system, you’ll save on electricity, and when you produce more power than you need, you’ll see your electric meter actually spin backwards.
Our site is packed with more information about PV cells, since 1BOG’s mission is to help people get affordable access to solar PV systems. We’ve also got more details about the solar equipment that comes with solar panels, the economics of solar panels, and much more.
Read more at howsolarworks.1bog.org
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