It’s more about storage of energy than collection.Hi,
Has anyone got experience with comparing the energy from Thermal and Photo voltaic panels?
From what I've read thermal panels don't get enough heat to get the most energy from them.
My main quetion is: If instead of having 'say' a 1mtr panel, instead there is a 1mtr magnifiying lens, that concentrates the heat into a smaller panel, so it gets hotter.
I was also wondering if a liquid other than water could be used, with a lower boiling point, where boiling expansion could be converted to energy better?
Cheers, Camerart
Both thermal and PV are effective at collecting energy from the sun.
it’s less about the efficiency of those options and more about how you utilise the energy in your home.
solar thermal can only be used to heat your hot water, the good thing is you can fit a dual coil cylinder which you can use as a thermal store: heat the water during the day, then use it in the evening.
Solar electric can also utilise a hot water cylinder to heat water
most PV installs feed in to the grid as a way to use the unused energy - but a better way these days is to install battery storage.