- Definition and Types of Energy
- Myths And Misconceptions About Energy
- The Relationship Between Energy and Environment
- Climate Change and Carbon Footprint
- Greenhouse Gas Effect
- The Role of Human-Induced Greenhouse Gases and Energy Consumption
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Renewable Energy Sources and Future Perspectives
- Play and Learn
- Solar Energy Conversions
- Solar Energy Worldwide
- Solar Energy in Partner Countries
- Positive and Negative Impacts
- Technologies for Harnessing Solar Energy
- Solar thermal energy technologies and applications
- Electricity Generation Methods
- Passive Heating and Cooling of Residences with the Sun
- Concentrator solar power (CSP) systems and electricity generation
- Systems and applications that generate electricity directly from solar rays
- Photovoltaic cells and panels
- Domestic PV Systems
- Off-Grid PV Systems
- Hybrid Connected Systems
- Materials Used in PV Cells
- Play and Learn
Solar Thermal Energy Technologies and Applications
Solar thermal energy technologies collect sunlight to produce hot water, provide heating, and even generate electricity. The most common application is the production of hot water using solar collectors, which are widely used in homes, industry, and agriculture. Thermal conversion systems are divided into three main groups according to the temperature used:
Low-Temperature Thermal Applications (≤ 100°C)
These applications are used for processes that require low temperatures:
- Hot water production using flat-plate solar collectors (homes, hotels, sports facilities)
- Heat generation and storage with solar pools
- Water purification and desalination systems
- Heating and cooling of buildings
- Drying of agricultural products (fruit, vegetables, grain drying)
- Greenhouse heating systems
- Cooking with solar ovens
Medium-Temperature Thermal Applications (100-350°C)
These applications are used for processes that require higher temperatures:
- Hot water and heat production using vacuum tube solar collectors
- Industrial process heating systems
- Solar-powered cooling systems (cooling machines, air conditioners)
High-Temperature Thermal Applications (≥ 350°C)
These applications are used for electricity generation and heavy industrial processes:
- Solar towers: Concentrate sunlight at a single point using large mirrors to generate electricity through steam turbines.
- Solar furnaces: Enable the processing of materials such as metals and ceramics at high temperatures.
- Ore smelting processes: Used in metal production.