How do you harness solar energy

So, a number of them are put together to form a larger unit known as a solar module. A solar panel consists of many modules. Solar panels have become popular for generating solar energy for residential and commercials purposes. Other technologies for harnessing solar energy include the following:.

Solar Thermal Collectors: A black material is used to cover the surface that receives direct sunlight. A series of tubes run through the body of the collector. These absorb radiation and use it to heat water in the tubes.

SHC Technology: SHC stands for solar heating and cooling and is used for maintaining comfortable temperature conditions in larger commercial buildings. Solar air heating units are mounted on the walls, but with a gap for air to pass through. View More Reviews. Get Started. All rights reserved. Read the winning articles. Special Issues. Jitisha Aggarwal 1 and M. Academic Editor: R. Received 19 Dec Accepted 19 Feb Published 10 Apr Abstract Most of the present day resources of energy are limited and irreplaceable.

Introduction Scarcity and cost of fossil fuels combined with their greenhouse gas emissions make the development of nonfossil fuel based methods of transportation a high-priority task. Materials and Method The system comprises solar panel, rechargeable battery, LED, glass, switch, resistance, and diode Figure 1.

Table 1. Figure 1. Figure 2. Solar night lamp for commercial applications. References G. Danese, F. Leporati, R. Lombardi, M. Nucita, G. Pedrazzini, and G. View at: Google Scholar M. Gonzalez, F. Ferrero, J. Anton, and M. Gonzalez, M. These items are powered by photovoltaic cells. A photovoltaic cell absorbs light and converts it directly into electricity. A group of photovoltaic cells is known as a solar panel.

You may have seen solar panels on houses, on electronic road signs, or in parking lots to power lights. People who have solar panels on their homes buy less electricity from their utility companies because they're producing some electricity on their own.

If you have enough solar panels, you might even be able to generate more power than you need. In some states, this means you can run your electric meter backwards and give your extra electricity to the rest of the community.

The electric company ends up paying you! Watch a video to learn more about how photovoltaic cells work. Another way to tap solar energy is by collecting the sun's heat. Solar thermal power plants use heat from the sun to create steam, which can then be used to make electricity. On a smaller scale, solar panels that harness thermal energy can be used for heating water in homes, other buildings, and swimming pools.

Watch a video to learn more about how these systems work. Have you ever noticed how sunlight streaming through a window can make your home feel warmer, even on a cold day?