How does solar energy work to power households day and night?
We’ll explain How Solar Power Works in different ways to produce power or to heat water or a space. It breaks down into the following categories. • Passive solar energy use is the simplest and least expensive method of using the sun for energy. Basically it’s about controlling the temperature of a home without the use of panels. Find out more… • Thermal solar collectors amplify the heat of the sun and transfer it to water, air or a solution. • Photovoltaic panels convert light from the sun into electricity. Most people asking the question “how does solar power work?” are referring to photovoltaic energy. How Solar Power Works – Thermal Collectors The simplest form of solar energy collection is the Flat Plate Collector a long flat rectangle that is mounted in a sunny area to heat water or air. What you’re seeing in the above photo is a glazed thermal collector – meaning that the panel is covered with a sheet of glass (glazing). Dark metal plates within the collector absorb and hold th
