| In this article I will briefly explain all the main | | | | - Indirect Energy - this involves multiple steps to |
| aspect of solar power, including: The Solar | | | | turn the sunlight into useable energy. A very |
| Thermal Method, The Photovoltaic Process, Direct | | | | extreme example of this is photosynthesis in |
| & Indirect Energy, Active & Passive | | | | plants, which over billions of years eventually turns |
| Systems, and lastly, Focus Types. | | | | into coal which we can use to fuel coal power |
| The Solar Thermal Method | | | | generators. |
| With this method, solar panels collect heat from | | | | Active & Passive Systems |
| the sun and use this directly to generate heat. | | | | - Passive - this uses no active process to use the |
| This is commonly used for things like swimming | | | | power of the sun. For example, sunlight through |
| pools or heating buildings. The typical way this | | | | the glass of a greenhouse to keep it warm for |
| works is by having tubing circulating water which | | | | plants to grow. |
| gets warmed up by the sun rays on the solar | | | | - Active - this involves using other energy to |
| panels. | | | | make use of the sun's energy. For example, the |
| The Photovoltaic Process | | | | use of electric pumps when using solar energy to |
| This process involves creating electricity from the | | | | heat water. |
| sun's power. Solar cells contain silicon-based | | | | Focus Types |
| material to absorb the light from the sun (as | | | | - Point Focus - using a dish to concentrate the |
| opposed to absorbing the warmth, which the solar | | | | sunlight into one point, where there is a dense |
| thermal method does). The solar energy excites | | | | cluster of solar cells. |
| the solar cell's electrons, producing electricity. | | | | - Line Focus - similar to point focus, but using a |
| Direct & Indirect Energy | | | | line of mirrors or a trough shaped dish to focus |
| - Direct Energy - this involves using only one step | | | | the light. |
| to generate the useable energy. For example, | | | | - Non-focus - the use of diffuse sunlight. For |
| sunlight strikes a solar cell and electricity is | | | | example, solar thermal panels. |
| generated immediately. | | | | |