The principle behind both types of solar panel – solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal – is

the same. They absorb raw energy from the sun and use it to create usable energy.

In solar PV systems this is through the creation of electricity, whereas thermal systems are used
directly for heating water or air. For many households there is no need to decide which of the
two technologies is better as they can be used in tandem. For businesses and landowners the
debate is slightly different, as the main goal is to get a return on investment or generate a
sustainable second income.

In this article we look at the advantages of both of these solar panels in isolation, before looking
at how they can be used together.

Advantages of Solar PV
Lightsource uses Solar PV for its rooftop installations. Though solar PV has a higher capital cost
than solar thermal, the government has offset this with initiatives such as the Feed-In-Tariffs,
which has made them an attractive long-term investment. With the cost of solar panels
decreasing, as well the rising cost of energy on the grid, many people are seeing solar PV as a
sound investment which can also add value to their home, as a means of safeguarding their future
energy costs and as a way of significantly lowering their carbon footprint.
Solar PV has a big advantage over solar thermal in that it generates electricity, whereas solar
thermal is dedicated to heating water or air. This allows solar PV owners to sell excess electricity
back to the grid and generate a sustainable second income. When solar PV panels are installed
on commercial rooftops or onfarmland — a service that Lightsource offers — huge savings can
be made on electricity, due to the scale of the installation and the amount of electricity that can
be generated.
Recent controversy linking solar thermal farms to bird deaths is potentially another reason to
favour solar PV technology over solar thermal for large solar farms. However, it’s best not to
make any conclusions until further research has been carried out.
Advantages of Solar Thermal
Traditionally solar thermal had an advantage over solar PV as it was cheaper, but the Feed-In-
Tariffs changed this (even when taking into consideration the Domestic RenewabIe Heat
Incentive) to make the two systems comparative. In the current climate the two systems are
relatively priced, which means that the main reason to opt for solar thermal is for the space that it
saves.
As a comparison, a solar PV system could take up to 10m2 of roof space as opposed to just 3m2-
4m2 for a solar thermal system. This is due to its high efficiency. Solar thermal can turn around
90% of radiation into heat, whereas solar PV has an efficiency of between 15% and 20%, though
improvements in panel technology is seeing this number consistently increase.
Advantages of Solar PV and Thermal Systems Together
As many households want their solar panels to provide them with hot water, and seeing as solar
thermal systems are dedicated to doing this, many people are installing both types of solar
panels. An example on the Energy Savings Trust website saw one homeowner install 12 solar PV
panels to generate electricity and two solar thermal panels for hot water, allowing them to make
the most of the efficiency of solar thermal for their hot water needs, while utilising the solar PV
for other uses and allowing for the possibility of selling any excess electricity — especially the
case during the summer — back to the grid. New hybrid panels which use both solar PV and
solar thermal within the same unit will see these hybrid systems become more common in
households.
If you have a commercial rooftop or piece of land that you would like to use for generating solar
energy and would like to know what is your best option, please get in touch with Lightsource.
Our solar projects could help you make a guaranteed saving on your energy costs or even
generate a second income.

The Two Types of Solar

Energy, Photovoltaic
and Thermal
Photovoltaic technology directly converts sunlight into electricity. Solar
thermal technology harnesses its heat. These different technologies both
tap the Sun’s energy, locally and in large-scale solar farms.
 Two major technologies have been developed to harness it:

 Photovoltaic solar technology, which directly converts sunlight

into electricity using panels made of semiconductor cells.
 Solar thermal technology, which captures the sun’s heat. This heat is used
directly or converted into mechanical energy and in turn electricity, known as
concentrated solar power. This heat is used directly (low-temperature solar thermal)
or converted into mechanical energy and in turn electricity (concentrated solar power –
CSP).

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Two different types of installations are used:

 Individual systems for homes or small communities. Photovoltaic panels

can power electrical devices, while solar thermal collectors can heat homes or hot
water (See Close-Up: "Solar, a Boundless, Universally Accessible Energy Source").
 Photovoltaic or concentrated solar power plants that cover hundreds of acres
produce electricity on a large scale, which can be fed into power grids.

Solar energy is one of the most attractive renewable energies because of its flexibility –

its capacity to power cities and industry using large solar plants while at the same time
offering a stand-alone capability in the most isolated rural regions.

Photovoltaic Solar Power

The photovoltaic effect (or photoelectric effect) converts light into electricity.
It was discovered by French physicist Edmond Becquerel in 1839 and was first used
in industrial applications in 1954. The principle: an electric current occurs
when electrons are displaced. For this to happen, photons (light particles) excite
the outermost electrons of the atoms of certain semiconductor elements.

In practice, light hitting a photovoltaic cell is converted into electricity

by a semiconductor, generally silicon. A photovoltaic panel is made up of several cells
producing direct current, which is then converted into alternating current by an inverter.

Panels can be used in small systems or large plants.