01 Oct What Are the Two Main Types of Energy?

What many people do not realize is that there are different types of solar power. We know solar power can be confusing to understand. However, by knowing the different types, you can see why your home is powered by photovoltaic energy and not solar thermal energy.

Photovoltaic Energy

1. What Are Photovoltaic Cells? :  Solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, are the most important components of your panels. PV cells are made with several types of materials, such as monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and thin film. They are manufactured with a positive and negative layer to mimic the electric field of a battery. This allows PV cells to serve as semiconductors that capture the photons from sunlight and transform them into direct current (DC) electricity. In short, the more solar panels in a system, the more power it generates.
2. What is Photovoltaic Energy? : Photovoltaic energy is a clean, renewable source of energy. This particular type of energy uses solar radiation to produce electricity. The way that photovoltaic energy is created and absorbed is through the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect allows for certain materials to absorb photons and release electrons, which in return creates an electric current.

Solar Thermal Power

Solar thermal power is created through concentrated solar thermal power systems (CSP). This type of solar power is best for large areas of high energy usage. For example, large power plants make up most of the users of this type of solar. Solar thermal power uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat, which can then be used to produce electricity. One of the best benefits of this is that the energy can also be stored for later. For large power plants, this helps to save money by not producing electricity that is later wasted.

Powering Your Home With Solar

The money that you save with solar power can make a huge difference in your every day life. By adding solar power to your home, you can save upwards of 20% on your monthly electricity bill. This extra money gives you the freedom to have more time and money to spend with your loved ones. In such a difficult time, this is so important. We want our customers to know that we are always here to answer questions when they need us. Contact us today to get started.