Solar energy is the most democratic of renewable energy resources. It is available everywhere on the earth in quantities that vary only modestly. Solar energy systems can be divided into two major categories: photovoltaic and thermal. Photovoltaic cells produce electricity directly, while solar thermal systems produce heat for buildings, industrial processes or domestic hot water. Solar energy has existed for five billion years, since the sun was born. And humans have been using solar energy for thousands of years.

Solar energy can be stored at high temperatures using molten salts. Salts are an effective storage medium because they are low-cost, have a high specific heat capacity and can deliver heat at temperatures compatible with conventional power systems. Solar energy technologies offer a clean, renewable and domestic energy source. Solar Energy provides year round energy savings, protects against rising energy costs from oil and natural gas, and history is showing an increase in property values.

Let’s look at ways in which we can use the solar energy. We can also use solar energy to make electricity. The process is called photovoltaics. Our office building houses a 30 kW solar energy system. We go out of our way to recycle as much waste from our installations and operation as possible and we purchase from Green vendors whenever we are able.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are devices that convert sunlight to electricity, bypassing thermodynamic cycles and mechanical generators. PV stands for photo (light) and voltaic (electricity), whereby sunlight photons free electrons from common silicon. Photovoltaic cells (or solar cells, as they are known colloquially) convert sunlight directly into electricity. But that is not the only way to use the sun to make electrical power.