Solar Technology

While the sun generates enough energy to meet the world's energy needs many times over, the challenge is to capture that power for our use at a reasonable cost. Today's solar energy technology converts the sun's light to electricity and absorbs its heat for heating and cooling systems.

Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)

Photovoltaic (PV) systems use semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity. PV produces direct current electricity that is converted via an inverter to produce alternating current or is stored in batteries... Read more (SEIA website)

• For more information on photovoltaics in Europe, visit www.epia.org
• To learn more about, and download, a study on how photovoltaics can become a mainstream energy supplier in Europe by 2020, visit www.setfor2020.org

Solar Thermal

Solar collectors absorb the sun's energy to provide low-temperature heat used directly for hot water or space heating and cooling systems for residential or commercial buildings. Collectors can be flat panel or evacuated tubes... Read More (SEIA website)

• For more information on solar thermal in Europe, visit www.estif.org/ 

Concentrating Solar Power

Using reflective materials, like mirrored troughs, utility-scale systems concentrate the sun's heat to warm a synthetic liquid to temperatures over 500 degrees Farenheit. This fluid heats water that in turn powers steam turbines to produce electricty... Read More  (SEIA website)

• For more information on CSP in Europe, visit www.estelasolar.eu