What is the difference between solar hot water and renewable power generation from solar panels?
Sometimes referred to as solar thermal, solar hot water technology circulates water through panels on a roof which use the heat from the sun, magnified by black plastic, to heat the water and deposit it, preheated, in a hot water tank. Distributed power generation through photovolaics is sometimes called solar cell or PV. It involves photovoltaic cells using a chemical combined with the suns energy to create electricity that can be used to power lights, computers or anything else that uses electricity in our homes. Net metering redirects excess electricity produced by these cells back into the grid, further reducing the overall power bill for homeowners who have installed photovoltaics and are supporting British Columbia’s electricity self-sufficiency.
