Solar energy is the transformation of heat, the energy that comes from the sun. It has been used for thousands of years in many different ways by people all over the world. The oldest uses of solar energy is for heating, cooking, and drying.
The importance of solar energy is first that it is clean, it is renewable and with the latest technologies available, it could have the capacity to supply a much more significant proportion of our energy requirements. At the moment, solar energy production accounts for about 1% of the global electricity generation.
Uses of Solar Energy
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- Solar Electricity. This is one of the solar energy applications that has gained a lot of momentum in recent years.
- Solar Water Heating. Uses for solar energy extend to water heating systems.
- Solar Heating.
- Solar Ventilation.
- Solar Lighting.
- Portable Solar.
- Solar Transportation.
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List of solar-powered products
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- Solar charger.
- Solar cell phone charger. Strawberry Tree.
- Solar chimney.
- Solar-powered waste compacting bin.
- Solar cooker.
- Solar dryer.
- Solar-powered fan.
- Solar furnace.
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Most common applications for solar thermal energy used in industry are the SWHs, solar dryers, space heating and cooling systems and water desalination.
PV panels convert solar radiation into electricity, whereas solar thermal collectors convert the sun’s rays directly into usable heat. Once the collector converts the sun’s rays into heat, that heat can be used for a variety of purposes spanning all sectors of industry. Solar as an input power is widely used for heat engines in many industrial applications.
Water pumps run on solar energy in remote areas. Large scale desalination plant also use power generated from solar energy instead of electricity. Solar energy is also used for public transportation such as trolleys, buses and light-rails. Solar heating system can be used to heat up water in pool during cold seasons.
Turning to solar will save a manufacturer millions on electricity costs while being protected against energy price increase. Businesses in this industry use a significant amount of electricity during the production process.