Renewables NB

The sun’s energy can be used in different ways.

Solar hot water heating diagram

Water heating

After space heating, the largest use of energy in most domestic and commercial settings is water heating.

Generating electricity

Visible light can be converted directly to electricity by a space-age technology called a photovoltaic cell, also called a solar cell. Most photovoltaic cells are made from a crystalline substance called silicon, one of the Earth’s most common materials.

Solar panels make electricity in all kinds of conditions, from cloudy skies to full sunlight, during all seasons of the year. They don’t work during the night. To make electricity available after sundown, the energy must be stored during the day for later use. The usual storage device is a rechargeable battery. Another option is Net Metering.

Active space heating

To capture heat from sunlight, three components are required: bright light, a surface or fluid that can absorb the light and change it into heat, and a way to store and use the heat once it has been produced. Most solar heating systems depend on at least two of these factors working together.