Question

What is the difference between solar photovoltaic cells and solar thermal collectors? How do they work? Which one is better in terms of cost and effciency and which one will we become more used in the future?

Answer 1

In todays time when whole world is inclined towards sustainable energy solution, solar PV and Solar thermal collector are the two famous alternatives.

The main difference between solar PV and and Solar thermal collector

through Solar PV we will produce electricity from the sunlight and in solar thermal cell we will produce heat through sunlight.

In solar PV we use sunlight for producing electricity using the concept of photovoltaic effect where sunlight(photon) is made to fall in a specially made surface and electron is released and with the motion of electron, electricity is generated.Then the electricity is transferred to the grid for further transmission

In Solar thermal collector we use sunlight for heating the liquid then the heat will converted through different devices in the form required. for example,we can use the thermal energy for moving turbine which will generate electricity.

Both them has its pros and cons,

Solar PV is simple but thermal cell is complicated.In terms of investment solar thermal cell is cheap and less efiicient over solar PV but if we calculate the overall tariff then both of them can be said to be comparative.

But In thermal cell we can save the energy but in Solar PV is entirely dependent on Sun ray pattern.

So Solar thermal cell is much better option over Solar PV in large scale but in small scale Solar PV is good for households.

In near future both the system will see rapid growth