| So do you want to know about solar thermal energy? | | | | Medium temperature collectors are also usually flat |
| I understand how a lot of people are interested in | | | | plates but are used to create hot water for residential |
| alternative energy. In fact, renewable energy will most | | | | and commercial use. |
| probably be one of the main power resources in this | | | | High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using |
| century. Solar energy is one of the most effective | | | | mirrors or lenses and are generally used to generate |
| energy resources; it is already used by a lot of people | | | | electric power. |
| as an alternative power source. And by the way, I am | | | | S.T.E and solar panels |
| one of these people myself. | | | | It is important to know that solar thermal energy is |
| Did you know that the sun produces | | | | different from solar panels and photovoltaic |
| 400,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 watts of energy | | | | technology. As these last two convert solar energy |
| every second? A lot of people get shocked when | | | | directly into electricity, S.T.E concentrates the light from |
| they see this number. And get what? It is believed that | | | | the sun to create heat, after that, this heat is used to |
| the sun will produce this same amount of energy for | | | | run a heat engine, which turns a generator to produce |
| another 5 billion years. | | | | electricity. |
| Solar thermal energy | | | | Solar and photovoltaic panels are only effective during |
| Solar thermal energy also called S.T.E; is a technology | | | | daylight hours because storing electricity is not a |
| for harnessing solar energy, by using solar thermal | | | | particularly efficient process. On the other hand, heat |
| collectors also called batch systems, to produce heat. | | | | storage is a very easy and efficient method, and that |
| There are mainly three types of collectors; low, | | | | what makes S.T.E very attractive. |
| medium, and high temperature collectors. | | | | Warning: Heat can be easily stored during the day and |
| Low temperature collectors are flat plates generally | | | | then converted into electricity at night. |
| used to heat swimming pools. | | | | |