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Options of Renewable Solar Energy
This form is the only one with
active moving parts, which drastically reduces its expected lifetime, without
expensive maintenance. Hence this is the most costly of any of the
alternatives. It only operates as a result of the wind, which fluctuates, as does
sunlight, but generally to a much greater degree, adding to the wear and tear
on the system.
Solar Heating, as does Solar Power, utilizes the sunlight directly, in converting the sunlight to heat. In some more complex installations, electricity is required to supplement the heating effect in cooler periods of the year, such as winter, when there is less sunlight falling on the panels. Hence it might not be a totally independent source to maintain the heating. When water is hot it is less dense than cold water, resulting in the need for a pump which requires electricity.
Many of the appliances one has in the household require electricity, so it is limited in its application.
With heating water, it must be taken into account of the level of transfer of hot water from Solar Heating in further heating hot water. This involves what is called the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which restricts the full utilization of heat from Solar Heating in adding further heat to a hot water system.
Solar Power, like Wind Power, is totally independent of all other means to generate electricity which can be used for any electrical appliance including heating water. The efficiency of Solar Power or Solar Heating in heating water are closely comparable. The cost of Solar Power is reducing considerably from year to year at the moment. (This must be viewed in terms of the fact that world production of Solar Panels for Solar Power are increasing in production rate at about 20% per year, which is bound to have an affect on their cost. Solar Power is a newer technology, which is rapidly finding its place as an alternative to the more traditional forms of renewable energy.)