2.2 Solar Energy Collectors (Renewable Energy Technology)

Solar energy can be captured and converted into two major useful forms: Heat & Electricity.
A solar collector is one way to capture sunlight and transform it into heat energy, or thermal energy.
The amount of solar energy an area receives depends on the time of day, the season of the year, the cloudiness of the sky, and how far one is from the Earth’s Equator
A closed car on a sunny day is a solar collector. As sunlight passes through the car’s windows, the seat covers, side panels, and floor of the car absorb it. The absorbed energy transforms into thermal energy that is trapped inside the car. A greenhouse also makes a great example of a solar collector.
The major component of any solar system is the solar collector. This is a device which absorbs the incoming solar radiation, converts it into heat, and transfers this heat to a fluid (usually air, water, or oil) flowing through the collector.
These collectors are generally mounted on the roof and must be very sturdy as they are exposed to a variety of different weather conditions
The use of these solar collectors provides an alternative for traditional domestic water heating using a water heater, potentially reducing energy costs over time.