One may have heard quite a lot about photovoltaics and solar thermal systems, yet they may not know that much about the differences between the two. Truth is, if one is thinking of contacting a solar company in Louisville, CO or a solar company in Lafayette, CO, they should first start by figuring out the differences between these two.

Technology

The main difference between these two systems lies in their working mechanisms. A company in Louisville, CO using photovoltaics, or PV creates products that use the effect with the same name, where a photon touching a certain surface releases an electron. This effect is only seen in a few materials, which are known as semiconductors. A company in Lafayette, CO using solar thermal technologies, uses the sun to heat a fluid, whether water or otherwise.

Sun cells are brought into mechanisms known as panels, which can bring about the needed current and voltage. If the system is connected to the grid, an inverter is used. Thermal systems, on the other hand, are much easier in terms of their workings. The conversion of the energy depends on the device used, and it also depends on the temperatures the fluid needs to reach. Collectors for low and medium temperature are usually flat or evacuated tubes. Collectors for high temperatures can be parabolic trough or towers.

Usage for Homes

As previously mentioned, these systems can be used at large scales, or at smaller ones, such as for homes. Residential photovoltaic systems that can be installed by companies in Louisville, CO can either be connected to the grid, which is usually encouraged, because they can thus feed it with the extra current that’s unused, or stand alone, which require battery banks. Residential thermal systems, such as the ones that can be installed by companies in Lafayette, CO usually work with heating systems such as those on fuel, the latter of which start working when the temperature falls below a certain value.

Advantages of Photovoltaics

When used for homes, PV are much more versatile because they can make more appliances work. In addition, they also come with a bigger lifespan, which means that users don’t have to worry about replacing them too soon.

Advantages of Thermal

They are more efficient when it comes to space usage. In addition, they are far less complicated, which means that owners can learn to use them fairly quickly. They are also quite uniform and reliable in terms of the energy they create.