SOLAR ENERGY

Did you know that the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth in just 90 minutes is enough to meet the planet’s energy needs for an entire year?

Solar power converts sunlight into electricity or heat, offering a sustainable solution to meet our growing energy demands. Technologies like photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar mirrors that focus sunlight, and thermal collectors are already helping to generate a significant portion of the world’s energy, all while supporting environmentally friendly growth.

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) PANELS

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP)

THERMAL COLLECTORS

PHOTOVOLTAIC (pv) PANELS

Photovoltaic panels are a clean, renewable energy source with minimal environmental impact. They’re versatile, easy to install, and can provide power even in remote locations where electricity grids are unavailable. 

How It Works

Photovoltaic (PV) cells work based on the photoelectric effect, where semiconductor materials like silicon interact with photons from sunlight. When sunlight hits the PV cell, the energy from the photons excites electrons, freeing them from their atomic structure and generating electron-hole pairs. The cell has an electric field that drives the free electrons toward the n-type side (negatively charged) and the holes toward the p-type side (positively charged), creating a flow of electricity.

Multiple PV cells are connected in panels to increase voltage and current output. The electricity generated is direct current (DC), which flows out of the panels and is converted into alternating current (AC) through an inverter, the standard electricity form used for powering homes, businesses, and connecting to the electrical grid.

The Science Behind It

Photovoltaic (PV) cells work based on the photoelectric effect, where semiconductor materials like silicon interact with photons from sunlight. When sunlight hits the PV cell, the energy from the photons excites electrons, freeing them from their atomic structure and generating electron-hole pairs. The cell has an electric field that drives the free electrons toward the n-type side (negatively charged) and the holes toward the p-type side (positively charged), creating a flow of electricity.

Multiple PV cells are connected in panels to increase voltage and current output. The electricity generated is direct current (DC), which flows out of the panels and is converted into alternating current (AC) through an inverter, the standard electricity form used for powering homes, businesses, and connecting to the electrical grid.

Type of PV Panels

  • Monocrystalline Panels: Made from a single crystal structure (typically silicon). These panels are known for their high efficiency between 15-24%, with most commercial models exceeding 20%, and their sleek black appearance. The lifespan is 25 to 30 years with most warranties guaranteeing 80% efficiency over 25 years. These panels are a good choice for installations where space and production over square ft/meter is a priority.

  • Polycrystalline Panels: Made from several crystals (typically silicon) that are melted and poured into molds. These panels are less efficient than monocrystalline panels but are more affordable. These generally have an efficiency of 13-17% and a lifespan of 25-30 years. These panels are an excellent choice for larger installations where cost-effectiveness and a lower upfront investment are key considerations.

  • Thin-Film Panels: Made by placing photovoltaic material in a thin layer over a substrate like glass, plastic, or metal. Thin-film panels are lightweight and flexible, in counterpart are less efficient around 7-18%, and have a lifespan of about 10-20 years.  These panels are the best choice for applications where flexibility, lightweight design, and cost-effectiveness are priorities. These can also be integrated into various surfaces, like windows or building materials, and are the most inexpensive type of solar panels.

  • Mono PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) Panels: A type of monocrystalline panel with advanced technology that improves efficiency by using a passivated layer on the back of the cell. This design enhances sunlight absorption and reduces energy loss, making PERC panels more efficient than standard monocrystalline panels. PERC panels generally have an efficiency of 20-25% and a lifespan of 25-30 years. These panels are a good choice in low-light conditions because they perform better than the other types, and are ideal for high-performance installations.

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP)

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) is a clean, renewable energy solution that harnesses the sun’s heat to generate electricity with minimal environmental impact. It is highly efficient, scalable for large installations, and can provide reliable power through integrated energy storage systems using heat transfer fluids, eliminating the need for batteries.

How It Works

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) systems use mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight into a receiver, concentrating it to produce heat. This heat is transferred to a fluid, which can be used then to generate steam that drives a turbine to produce electricity. CSP systems are ideal for utility-scale projects, providing renewable, dispatchable power. They can also be used for industrial applications such as water desalination, chemical production, and food processing. With thermal energy storage, CSP systems can generate power even during cloudy periods or after sunset, making them a reliable renewable energy source.

The Science Behind It

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) works by using mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a receiver, which heats a fluid. The most common mirrors used are parabolic troughs, heliostats (in power towers), and Fresnel lenses. These mirrors concentrate sunlight into a receiver, which is usually a metal or ceramic tube that absorbs the heat.

The heat transfer fluid (HTF) used in CSP is typically molten salts, thermal oils, or synthetic fluids, which can absorb and carry a lot of heat. In this type of system,  the heated fluid can reach temperatures up to 600ºC (1.112°F). This fluid then moves to a heat exchanger, where it heats water to create steam, which drives a turbine to produce electricity.

One of the big advantages of CSP is its ability to store heat. Molten salts, for example, can store thermal energy for hours, even after the sun sets, allowing the system to produce electricity at night or when the weather is cloudy. This energy storage makes CSP a reliable and flexible source of renewable energy.

Type of CSP Systems

  • Parabolic Trough Systems (PTSC): These systems use parabolic-shaped mirrors to focus sunlight into a receiver pipe, where a heat transfer fluid flows. The concentrated sunlight heats the fluid, which is then used to generate electricity in a conventional steam generator. The thermal efficiency of PTSC systems ranges from 50% to 80%, depending on the design and operational conditions. These systems are widely used in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants due to their high operating temperature, reaching up to 600°C (1.112°F).

  • Recent advancements in nanofluids have addressed the limitations of conventional fluids such as water, molten salts, and Therminol oils, improving heat transfer efficiency and reducing costs.

  • Power Tower Systems: These systems use heliostats (flat, movable mirrors) to focus sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a central tower. The concentrated heat raises the temperature of a heat transfer fluid, which generates steam to power a turbine. This system is gaining popularity due to its ability to reach higher temperatures, improving efficiency, with recent research guaranteeing an annual net solar-to-electricity efficiency of around 45%.
  • Linear Fresnel Systems (LFC): These systems use flat mirrors arranged in rows to focus sunlight into a receiver tube above. The heat transfer fluid inside the tube is heated, generating steam for electricity production. These systems can incorporate thermal storage and are used for both electricity generation and industrial heat. Compared to Parabolic Trough Systems, Fresnel systems offer lower investment costs and better land coverage, though they typically have lower efficiency due to optical and geometric limitations.
  • Dish Stirling systems: These systems use a parabolic dish concentrator to focus sunlight into a receiver, which is connected to a Stirling engine. The engine converts the absorbed heat into mechanical energy to generate electricity. These systems can achieve peak efficiencies up to 30%, with average efficiencies between 15% and 27%. Typically, Dish Stirling systems are used for small-scale applications.

THERMAL COLLECTORS

Solar thermal collectors provide an efficient, renewable way to heat water and spaces with minimal environmental impact. They’re versatile, cost-effective, and ideal for both residential and commercial use.

How It Works

Solar thermal collectors capture sunlight to generate heat, which can be used for a variety of applications, such as heating water, air, or even generating electricity. Active systems use solar collectors to absorb the sun’s energy, which then heats a fluid (air or liquid) that circulates through pipes to a storage tank or directly into the building. Passive systems, on the other hand, rely on building designs that allow sunlight to naturally heat the interior, such as through south-facing windows, without any mechanical components like pumps or fans.

The Science Behind It

Solar thermal collectors work by absorbing solar radiation, which heats a surface, typically a metal plate or tubes in the collector. This heat is transferred to a fluid circulating through the system. In flat-plate collectors, sunlight passes through a transparent cover, which reduces heat loss and allows the energy to be absorbed by a dark-colored metal absorber plate. The fluid in the system absorbs the heat from the plate and is circulated to a storage tank or heat exchanger. Evacuated-tube collectors feature glass tubes that create a vacuum to minimize heat loss, improving efficiency. The fluid can reach temperatures ranging from 80°C to 200°C (200 to 392°F), depending on the system type and configuration.

Type of Thermal Collectors
  • Flat-Plate Collectors: These collectors type consist of a flat metal plate that absorbs solar energy, a transparent cover to reduce heat loss, and insulation behind the absorber. They are most commonly used for heating water and space in buildings, operating efficiently at temperatures below 93°C (200°F). Ideal for applications where lower temperatures are sufficient.
  • Integral Collector-Storage (ICS): These types of collectors feature black tanks or tubes in a glazed, insulated box. Cold water is heated as it passes through the collector before moving to the conventional water heater. Best suited for regions with consistent sunlight and mild winters.
  • Evacuated-Tube Collectors: These type of collectors consist of parallel glass tubes, each containing a metal absorber tube with a fin to capture solar energy and reduce heat loss. Commonly used for commercial applications and in colder climates due to their ability to maintain higher efficiency at lower temperatures.

contact us

Main Location
Linkedin Envelope Instagram

Being interested in our products is being interested in reliability, innovation, safety, quality, and efficiency. Get in touch with us to get more information about our top-notch products.

Send a Message
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.