what is the most efficient type of solar power?
by admin on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 | 3 Comments
a parabolic dish reflecting sunlight onto a stirling engine (or a similiar form of concentrating sunlight and using heat energy from that), a standard photovaltaic system, a solar updraft tower( the kind that places the turbines at the edge of the base, not directly in the tower, or the kind with both turbines, or even more throughout the system)
If you just look at it from a standpoint cost of capturing useful energy then a simple hot water heater is the most efficient. You get more BTUs per dollar than any other solar process.
If you are talking strictly making electricity from solar, then a concentrating solar power (CSP) solution is far more efficient than a silicon based solar panel. If you are talking bigger picture, solar water heating and solar air heating are far more efficient than any form of solar electricity.
It would depend on what you are using the energy for. For example, heating a pool, you would want to use the heat energy.