What are the applications of solar energy?

Some of the major application of solar energy are as follows: (a) Solar water heating (b) Solar heating of buildings (c) Solar distillation (d) Solar pumping (e) Solar drying of agricultural and animal products (f) Solar furnaces (g) Solar cooking (h) Solar electric power generation (i) Solar thermal power production (j) Solar green houses.

What is solar power?

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). The research has been underway since very beginning for the development of an affordable, in-exhaustive and clean solar energy technology for longer term benefits.

How is solar energy used?

Solar power is used in two main ways: generating electricity (like with rooftop solar panels) or generating thermal energy (like with concentrated solar power plants). For most homeowners, solar panels that convert solar energy to electricity are the best use of solar energy because it allows them to save on electric bills.

Why do we need a large installed capacity of solar energy applications?

Both technologies, applications of concentrated solar power or solar photovoltaics, are always under continuous development to fulfil our energy needs. Hence, a large installed capacity of solar energy applications worldwide, in the same context, supports the energy sector and meets the employment market to gain sufficient development.

What is solar energy?

solar energy, radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. The total amount of solar energy incident on Earth is vastly in excess of the world’s current and anticipated energy requirements.

When was solar energy invented?

In 1893, the photovoltaic (PV) effect was discovered; after many decades, scientists developed this technology for electricity generation . Based on that, after many years of research and development from scientists worldwide, solar energy technology is classified into two key applications: solar thermal and solar PV.