Change CountryBuilding Efficiency Solar Thermal
The amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the earth every hour contains enough energy to meet the world’s energy demand for an entire year. As a global leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, Johnson Controls wants to help you harness a portion of the sun’s energy to help you meet your energy needs using this most renewable of resources.
Solar energy can be converted indirectly (thermal solar) into heat through thermal collectors. The resulting heat can reduce, or possibly eliminate, the need for water heaters.
Solar thermal energy is created by absorbing the heat of the sun with collecting devices such as flat-plate solar-energy collectors. Air or a heat collecting fluid passes through tubes within the collecting devices where it is warmed and then distributed to the appropriate heating system. Solar thermal power plants take the heated fluid process one step forward through the use of a heat transfer system to produce steam. The steam can then be converted into mechanical energy in a turbine, and into electricity from a conventional generator coupled to the turbine.
Close proximity of collector panels to need location
A high load factor or consistent heat use year round
Solar energy can be converted indirectly (thermal solar) into heat through thermal collectors. The resulting heat can reduce, or possibly eliminate, the need for water heaters.
Solar thermal energy is created by absorbing the heat of the sun with collecting devices such as flat-plate solar-energy collectors. Air or a heat collecting fluid passes through tubes within the collecting devices where it is warmed and then distributed to the appropriate heating system. Solar thermal power plants take the heated fluid process one step forward through the use of a heat transfer system to produce steam. The steam can then be converted into mechanical energy in a turbine, and into electricity from a conventional generator coupled to the turbine.
Is this the right technology for my situation?
The following factors are important for solar thermal to be a viable option.Close proximity of collector panels to need location
A high load factor or consistent heat use year round
Solar Thermal Facts:
- U.S. solar water heating capacity increased by 2,400 thousand square feet (tsf) in 2010, which equals roughly 158 MW-thermal capacity.
- 29,500 solar pool heating systems and 35,500 solar water heating systems were installed in 2010 in the U.S.
- California maintained its position as the leading installer of solar water heating systems.
- The U.S. market for solar thermal systems grew by 5% between 2009 and 2010.
(Source: Solar Energy Industries Association)
To read a more in-depth review of the technologies, visit the NREL website.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Denver Federal Center (PDF)
Sharp increases in natural gas prices and rising electricity costs throughout the country, mean federal energy users are examining ways to reduce energy consumption without spending scarce agency funds.
Sharp increases in natural gas prices and rising electricity costs throughout the country, mean federal energy users are examining ways to reduce energy consumption without spending scarce agency funds.
More information on solar thermal energy or for a more in-depth resource map.
SOLAR ENERGY BROCHURE
Harnessing the sun’s energy (PDF)
As a global leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, Johnson Controls wants to help you harness a portion of the sun’s energy to help you meet your energy needs using this most renewable of resources.
As a global leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, Johnson Controls wants to help you harness a portion of the sun’s energy to help you meet your energy needs using this most renewable of resources.
