Surprising Applications of Solar Energy [2023 Edition]
Solar energy is quite popular these days most people still think that it can only be used to generate electricity. However, it is not completely true.
There are numerous applications of solar energy. It can be used for heating water, cooking food, in many other ways.
In this guide, I am here with a list of 5 surprising applications of solar energy that you may not have heard before.
So, without any further delay, let’s dive right in!
What is Solar Energy?
In simple words, the energy that we receive is in the form of heat light radiations that we get from the sun is known as solar energy.
The radiation from the sun reaches the earth in the form of photon packets’.
These solar radiations can be converted into usable forms of energy (like electricity, heat fossil-fuels) with the help of various methods.
The applications of solar energy that I will be covering in this post is composed of such methods.
Applications of Solar Energy
Solar energy can be used for various purposes where either heat or electrical energy is required. However, in this post, I have only covered 5 major applications.
Electricity Production
The production of electricity is one of the major applications of solar energy.
PV (Photovoltaic) panels are commonly used across the world for the conversion of solar energy into electricity. Here’s how a solar power system work:
#1: When a photon comes in the form of sunlight strikes the surface of the photovoltaics, it either passes, reflects, or is absorbed by the panels.
#2: The solar cells use the absorbed photon convert it into electricity the process is known as the photovoltaic effect.
#3: The electricity thus produced in the form of direct current is then converted into AC (Alternating current) with the help of an inverter.
We need to do so because the electrical appliances that we use at our home are AC compatible.
This is how the conversion of solar energy into electricity takes place.
Water Heating
Solar water heaters work on somewhat similar concepts as the PV panels. Instead of making electricity, it uses sunlight for heating water.
A solar water heater is composed of a solar collector, tank pump. Here’s the complete working process of a solar water heater:
#1: The collector absorbs the sunlight converts it into heat.
#2: The heat is then transferred to the tank (where cold water is initially present) with the help of the pump.
The complete setup is connected with two types of tubes, one for carrying hot water another for cold water.
In this way, a solar water heater is used to heat cold water.
Saline Water Distillation
The technique that is used to remove salt from the saline water make it pure is known as solar desalination.
In this process, solar still is used where saline water or brine is stored. The below image can clearly depict how solar still works.
A glass sheet is placed in an inclined position on the top of the solar still. The freshwater brine tanks are attached to the still as shown in the above figure.
- When sunlight enters the still, the brine water gets evaporated due to the heat energy of the sun.
- In the process of evaporation, water molecules get evaporated while the brine is extracted at the bottom of the still.
- The water vapor thus produced strikes the wall of the still (glass layer at the top) gets condensed. The condensation of vapor produces freshwater which is collected by the freshwater tank as shown in the above figure.
This is how the process of desalination is carried out.
Cooking Food
Another amazing application of solar energy is a solar cooker. These cookers use solar energy to cook food or drinks.
As shown in the below image, a solar cooker is composed of a concave reflector a cooker containing food at its foci.
An important property of the concave mirror is that parallel rays coming from infinity converge at its foci. Therefore, the cooker is placed at the FOCUS.
The solar radiation coming from the sun strikes at the mirror points at its FOCUS where the food is present in the cooker.
The convergence of a large number of radiations at its FOCUS produces an enormous amount of heat which in turn cooks the food.
In the case of solar cookers, the higher the intensity of heat, the lesser will be the time taken by it in the cooking of food.
Heating Air/Buildings
During the winter season or in colder regions, solar energy is used to heat the air or space inside the buildings.
There are two types of solar space heating systems: Active system Passive System.
In the passive system, the building is so made that it can itself collect store solar energy in the form of heat.
Large south-facing Windows are used in the building for maximum absorption of heat during the day.
Final Words
Solar energy is widely used across the world due to its modular nature various applications in real life.
I have tried my best to cover top-five applications. Some more applications include:
Solar Water Pumps,7. Drying agricultural products using solar energy,8. High-temperature furnaces 9. Thermal power production.
This is how solar power is used in real life. Did you know of any other application of solar energy?
Leave a comment – let everyone know!
Points of Interest Regarding Solar Application Development
According to Statista forecast, the world market for solar energy will be about 422 billion USD by 2022. No harmful emissions, unpretentiousness in service, and longevity of photovoltaic cells are considered the main advantages of solar energy. The last two points make solar power the conquering area for investments.
To occupy this market niche, you need to consider some issues. We’ve prepared the checklist that will help you to develop a successful solar panel app and avoid possible pitfalls.
Target Countries
To choose the right target market, analyze the following:
- Basic characteristics of your target audience—gender, age, income, social status in society, etc.
- Location plays the crucial role in this business. You should consider that the sun doesn’t shine everywhere. When choosing a country where the app will be released, take into account the climatic situation in the region and its landscape.
- The main requirements for your product—quality, cost, availability, ease of use, etc.
- The problems your product can solve—space heating, water heating, ventilation systems, lighting systems, cookstoves, electrical supply of electrical appliances, earning extra money, etc.
- How does the target consumer prefer to make purchases? What influences their choice?
Possible Pitfalls and Legal Issues
Every business has specific risks. Solar energy apps are no exception and have possible pitfalls. Solar charger apps development faces all the same legal issues as other business areas. Make sure that your product complies with all local laws, regulations, GDPR standards, the app stores requirements, etc.
We have an article on the top crucial legal issues that will protect your business. Follow this link to find out all the essential points.
Competitor Analysis
Mature markets are characterized by low growth rates. As a rule, there is a high level of competition between companies—for example, in many countries of the European Union and the United States.
On such growing markets as South America, Asia, and Africa higher growth rates are usually combined with a low level of competition. These circumstances create more opportunities for running business and investing in new markets and for providing new services. At the same time, keep in mind that this niche is quite new for developing countries. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that people can treat your business with some apprehension and skepticism.
Explore the market carefully. Analyze value propositions of your competitors, the pros and cons, strong and weak points, their customers, financial performance and cash flows.
Pay attention not only to the success stories, but also the failures. The careful analysis allows you to bypass the pitfalls, save time and money, improve the product.
To stand out competitors, you should offer your users unique solutions, features, bugs-free and high-performance app, user-friendly design, etc. Provide the user-centric solutions that help to meet people’s needs and solve their pain points.
How You Will Operate Your Business
Business management depends on what type of solar panel company you choose—manufacturer, installer, financer, or wholesaler.
If you are a manufacturer of solar panels, then plan the process of the equipment production taking into account the characteristics of the region and the existing legislation.
Hire the responsible staff—engineers, sales representatives, accountant, installers, drivers network, etc.
Choose transport considering the equipment size, forecasted quantity of solar panels, climate, and road conditions. Evaluate what will be more profitable for you—to purchase your own vehicle fleet or cooperate with the delivery service.
If you are a distributor, then conclude a contract with a reliable stuff supplier.
You Name the Idea, We Bring It to Life!
Contact us right away to know how our pros can transform your business with custom software development services.
Features
A solar panel monitoring app must contain functional that meet your end-users’ needs and solve their pain points. The choice of tech solutions also depends on your company type.
Here are the most common features for solar-related apps:
- in-app messaging—posts, live chats, notifications
- solar energy estimation in real time considering seasonal variation in energy production
- payback period estimation
- sunlight intensity and shade measuring
- weather data
- integration with geolocation APIs and other required third-party services
- calculation of solar energy production and how many panels a user needs to produce a certain amount of energy
- calculation of saved electrical energy and avoided CO2 emissions calculation
- payment system, payment invoicing, and payment processing
- database of rates, reviews, and feedbacks
- charts and diagrams
- reports on daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis
- offline access
- convenient admin panel
- multilingual support
How We Helped Myanmar People to Get Solar Energy
We bet you know that Elon Musk built a 100 MW battery storage farm within 100 days for the Australian government on a dare. If Musk couldn’t keep the promise, he would provide the system free of charge. The state of South Australia often experienced massive blackouts because of the Rapid development of renewable energy sources—windmills and solar cells. In result, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla fulfilled the promise.
The Story Behind
Elon Musk inspired us. OpenGeeksLab accepted the challenge to build a platform for the Myanmar state order to automate our client’s business processes and simplify equipment rent for the locals. Our customer came to us with the idea to make electrical power accessible to their low-income customers.
The point is that most of people in Southeast Asia live below the poverty line. According to the Department of Rural Development data, only 16% of Myanmar households in rural areas have access to the electrical grid. The off-grid locals often use kerosene for daily needs. Unfortunately, most of them can’t afford to buy solar panels. Renting the equipment is their chance for a better life, work, health, and education.
Development Process and Tech Solutions
Of course, we didn’t develop the app within 100 days, as Mr. Mask did. We spent two weeks just planning. The development process took five months.
SolarHome is the specialized application designed for the needs of a particular company.
Our tasks were not only to build the cross-platform mobile app and the web-based platform but also to implement such a significant functional as the platform operation without an Internet connection.
Backend
We developed backend with Node.js that is most suitable for performing asynchronous operations. The technology allows getting the maximum server performance with the minimum CPU load. We used the MongoDB database for data storage because it provides speed and processing of complex structured data. We used Command Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS) to speed up the work speed with data. It involves organizing the data necessary to work before these data are needed.
In the absence of Internet connection, we’ve implemented communication through SMS.
Frontend
We used React.js to build the admin panel and React Native to develop the cross-platform mobile app. With React Native, it’s possible to create an app both for iOS and Android devices at once. The framework allowed shortening the development process 1.8 and saved the client’s budget.
Looking for vetted app developers who can build a software product that makes a difference?
Implemented Features
As we’ve already mentioned, SolarHome is the specific solar panel app designed for the needs of a particular company. The design part was on the client side. We developed backend and frontend, implemented the particular features so that our client could control all the solar distributors and the support staff. The functional can be expanded and changed depending on business needs.
In this case, we provided the following solutions:
- Management of transactions and operations via the app.
- Payment system.
- Track of the payment activities and control of cash flow.
- Encashment.
- Offline support.
- Multilingual interface.
- The app includes technical safety requirements.
Results
The SolarHome project was launched 1.5 years ago and has reached 15.000 households in Myanmar. Besides Myanmar, our client is going to release the application to more Southeast Asia— Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Conclusions
As you see, entering the solar energy market is quite a complex task and requires a lot of efforts. To run your business successfully, you need to consider specific issues.
As our company’s experience in solar energy area shows, it takes approximately six months to develop and design a solar-related app. To achieve such a result, make a useful and high-quality application with thoughtful functionality, it’s necessary for the development company to make a list of all points, plan the workflow, do all the technical part and design.
Solar PV Applications in Systems Connected to the Electricity Grid
This solar PV application consists of the use of solar panels and a power inverter. Photovoltaic solar panels provide electricity in the form of direct current. The function of the inverter is to transform direct current into alternating current and inject it into the electrical grid and also for net metering.
These installations are applicable for both small investors and extensive facilities.
Users with photovoltaic panels connected to the electricity grid can sell the surplus generated to the electricity company and buy it when needed. In this way, batteries are saved, and the production of the installation is optimized.
The cost per kilowatt-hour generated is typically higher than power generated by other power generation systems. For this reason, the country must have legal regulations and lines of economic aid for the higher energy cost.
Within the solar energy systems connected to the grid, we include the large solar installations. These are large tracts of land with many PV panels to generate large amounts of electrical energy.
What Is an Autonomous Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant For?
Off-grid solar systems are not connected to the electrical grid.
The number of uses and applications of solar photovoltaic systems is almost endless. Here are some examples:
Use of Photovoltaic Energy for Public Lighting
Public lighting, using solar panels, is one of the cheapest options to illuminate the entrances in towns, road crossings, rest areas, etc.
This type of photovoltaic application can also be found in billboards, bus stops, street lighting, and tunnel lighting, among other examples.
Signal Elements
Photovoltaic solar energy allows the automation of lighthouses and buoys for maritime use.
For aerial use, panels are being used to power beacons and signaling signs on the runways.
Another great use of solar cells is signaling roundabouts, curves, traffic signs, obstacles, etc., using high brightness LEDs. The low consumption of the LEDs allows a small PV panels to be carried out in these systems.
In this sense, we also find examples in time and temperature indicators on public roads, at railway level crossings, or on oil platforms.
Communications, Antenas and Radars
PV solar energy is used in mobile telephony, radio, and television repeaters. On the road, the SOS posts are powered by this type of renewable energy since it saves the work of supplying them with main power cables.
Radars, radio telephony in general and for military or forest surveillance posts, and rural telephony via satellite are other examples in which solar energy is used to function.
Remote Areas
One of the essential applications of photovoltaic cells today is the power supply of small rural areas with a centralized system.
Power in remote areas currently has all the comforts that can be had in a conventional electrical system. In addition, this system allows any appliance to replace fossil fuel dependency.
Agricultural and Livestock Farms
PV cells are also used on farms. Farms are often far from power distribution lines. Photovoltaic panels allow in these cases to electrify the farms (lighting, motors, shearing machines, etc.).
In livestock applications, solar photovoltaics are used to power pumps to provide water for livestock troughs.
On specific farms, photovoltaic energy is used to power milking systems and milk cooling. In addition, even these systems are practical for electric fences.
Another use is to supply power for irrigation controls and solenoid valves. This technique has allowed a better distribution and saving of water, particularly in systems based on drip irrigation or low pressure.
Published: June 9, 2017 Last review: July 4, 2022
Solar Panels Usage: The 9 Most Common Uses of Solar Power
Dec 12th 2022
Are you considering investing in solar panels?
With rampant inflation underpinned by surging energy costs, grim predictions forecasting energy to double over the next two years, and a genuine concern for the future of our planet, solar energy has never seemed so appealing to Americans.
In fact, over 2.7 million American households now have rooftop solar panels enjoying the benefits of solar energy to power their home in a more sustainable and affordable way.
But what are solar panels used for exactly? And why should you consider switching?
These are the questions we’re about to tackle in this blog post!
Before that, we’ve also prepared other articles you might be interested in: What Are Solar Panels Made Out Of And How They Are Made?
What Are The Main Benefits Of Solar Power?
While there are many benefits to using solar panels, here are six of the main ones.
Solar Power Is Renewable
Did you know that enough solar energy hits Earth every hour to power the entire planet for a year?
Solar power is abundant and can be replenished quickly as soon as the sun rises. After decades of mining the planet, we have quickly depleted our natural resources, making solar power one of the best alternatives to fossil fuel, which is available in limited quantities and replenishes very slowly.
Low-Impact Process
Capturing solar energy is a low-impact process compared to mining fossil fuels. That’s because drilling for oil or natural gas affects the soil and impacts the surrounding environment. On the other hand, setting up a new solar panel on a home or RV has a much lower environmental impact.
Clean Source of Power
Generating energy using fossil fuels leads to releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And this, in turn, contributes to global climate change. Fossil fuel combustion also releases other air and water pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and mercury!
On the other hand, solar energy doesn’t emit any harmful gas. Installing solar panels on your home or RV means you won’t have to depend on fossil fuel to heat your home or power your appliances anymore, thus reducing your carbon footprint.
Cheaper Energy Source
Using solar panels will help significantly lower your energy bill. In fact, surveys show that people who install solar panels on their rooftops could save up to 75,000 in 25 years on their energy bills!
Boost Your Property Value
Not only will investing in solar panels save you money on your energy bills, but it will also improve the resale value of your home. According to research, installing solar panels on your home could boost your property price by up to 5,911 per kW of solar energy! For more information, check another article: Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?
Allow You To Earn Money
When the sun shines bright for days, you will be able to sell back any excess energy to the grid. In other words, any surplus energy created through your solar panels can be directly fed back into the grid, and you can be paid for it. Depending on your state and how much power your solar panels are able to produce and you might be able to earn between 50 and 700 a month.
Main Solar Panel Usage
Now, many of our clients come to us asking, “what can I power with solar panels?”. And that’s a legitimate question. Can you power anything? Will you experience any limitations?
We will answer these questions in this section by tackling the best ways to use solar panels in your daily life.
Generating Electricity
One of the most important uses of solar panels is providing electricity to power a home. When the sun hits photovoltaic (PV) panels, it is absorbed by solar cells on the solar panels.
The energy created (direct current of electricity) passes through an inverter to be converted into alternating current. This current will then either be used by the homeowner or fed into the National Grid. You can find more related information in How Does A Solar Panel Work On A House?
Heating a Home
Installing photovoltaic solar panels and a heat pump in your home will allow you to capture the sun’s energy and heat your home during the cold winter months. Also, to ensure you get a consistent power supply, you might want to invest in a 12V battery system to store energy for rainy or cloudy days.
Heating Water
In the same way solar panels allow homeowners to heat their homes, they can also heat water. To make it simple, when the sun gets absorbed by solar cells on solar panels, the heat gets transferred into the home water tank. This enables homeowners to enjoy warm and hot water that will then be used for their swimming pool when doing their laundry, having a shower, or cooking.
Lighting a Home
Along with heating a home and generating electricity, one of the main uses of solar panels in daily life is to light a home. You can install solar lights everywhere, including your garden and even your garage. Also, if you’re looking for ways to reduce your energy bill, pairing LED lights with solar panels will allow you to power the lights of your entire home inexpensively.
Portable Chargers
Have you ever found yourself out of battery in the middle of nowhere? From your phone and tablets to a laptop or smartwatch, solar-powered chargers can help you charge your electronic devices from anywhere. Their convenience and low-environmental impact explain their success over the last few years. For example, the Phoenix 500 Portable Power Station from Renogy can store electricity generated by solar panels and discharge power anywhere as backup power.
Looking For The Best Solar Panels In the U.S.?
At Renogy, we’re passionate about solar energy. So much so that we provide our customers with the latest solar technology, including highly efficient portable monocrystalline solar panels to mount on your RV. Our home and RV solar panels are all manufactured using the highest quality materials. And we also follow the strictest manufacturing standards to ensure high efficiency and durability.
Our goal is to help make the world a greener place, and we’re here to support you in this exciting journey too.
Solar energy truly is the future, with experts predicting it will become the number one energy source by 2050.
If you have any questions about our solar panels or any other accessories, don’t hesitate to visit our Renogy online store and contact us. We’d love to discuss your solar power needs and help you make an informed decision.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for more information about solar power and solar panels, don’t hesitate to check our Blog Page. With Renogy Solar Calculator or our newly developed Super Solar Calculator. you can easily work out how many solar panels you need. We know the world of solar energy is relatively new, and it can be difficult to navigate unless you’re an expert. That’s why we regularly publish articles covering everything you need to know before purchasing your first solar power system.
Related articles:
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Solar energy pros and cons are a hot topic today. As the earth’s most plentiful source of energy, the sun holds enormous promise as a clean and dependable way to power our world.
When the radiant energy of the sun is converted to heat and electricity, it can provide energy to residences and businesses, and even power vehicles.
Now might be a good time to learn about solar energy advantages and explore adding a solar energy system to your home. Then you can decide: Is solar energy worth it?
When considering home energy options, it is important to understand how solar energy works. When sunlight hits a solar panel, a photovoltaic cell turns that light into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts it to alternating current (AC), which is what most devices in your home use.
Advantages of Solar Energy
The more we can capture the benefits of solar energy, the less we will rely on fossil fuels. Adding a solar energy system to your home allows you to tap into these solar energy advantages:
Solar energy is a renewable energy source and reduces carbon emissions
Solar energy is a renewable energy source, meaning you don’t ever use it up. Solar energy is clean. It creates no carbon emissions or other heat-trapping “greenhouse” gases. It avoids the environmental damage associated with mining or drilling for fossil fuels. Furthermore, solar energy also uses little to no water, unlike power plants that generate electricity using steam turbines.
Solar energy can reduce your home’s electricity bill
A solar energy system for your home can reduce your reliance on the grid and help you save on your electricity bill. Some owners of residential solar energy systems may even have excess power that they can sell to the utility. Instead of paying a utility for electricity, homeowners get paid by the utility. You may not have to buy an entire solar energy system to cut your home’s electricity bill. Simply choose solar lights, lights that are powered by the sun instead of your home’s electrical system, to help save money.
Solar power can get you money back through Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)
Some states offer solar renewable energy certificates (SREC). Each one represents a megawatt-hour of electricity generated through solar energy. Electricity suppliers buy these certificates to satisfy their state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, a requirement that a certain amount of their renewable energy come from solar. You can sell SRECs for your system’s output, which is another way to earn money from your investment.
Homes with solar panels installed may improve home value
Home buyers will likely pay more for a house with solar panels installed. Considering solar energy pros and cons, the savings on electricity bills and the money earned selling power back to the utility, all count in the plus column. Residential solar energy systems are highly valued and can increase a home’s resale value. The property value of a home with solar panels can be worth up to 15,000 more than its neighbors.
Solar systems are fairly easy to install and require very little maintenance. Both are handled by your solar provider, if you opt for a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA). Consider this as you ask yourself is solar energy worth it.
Solar panels have low maintenance costs
Solar panels are easy to maintain, as they have no moving parts that wear out over time. Just keep them clean and in good physical condition to keep them working properly. Between their low maintenance costs and average lifespan of 25 years, it can be easy to get your money’s worth when investing in solar panels.
Solar energy can generate electricity in any climate
Solar energy systems can generate electricity in any climate. One of the disadvantages of solar energy is that it’s subject to temporary weather disruption. Cloudy days reduce the amount of electricity you produce. Cold, however, doesn’t affect productivity. Snowfall can actually help your solar system, as the snow cleans the panels as it melts and sun reflected off the snow increases the amount of light hitting your panels. The result is more electricity production.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
The disadvantages of solar energy are becoming fewer as the industry advances and grows, creating economies of scale. Technological advances are helping solar go mainstream. Here are how the disadvantages of solar energy and the pros and cons stack up.
The high initial costs of installing panels
The most commonly cited solar energy disadvantage, cost, is declining as the industry expands. The initial cost to buy and install the equipment is not cheap. Still, if cost is an issue, leasing options may reduce the amount of your initial outlay. If you do choose to buy, you will need to live in your home for a number of years before the system pays for itself. It’s a long-term investment better suited to property owners than renters.
Solar energy storage is expensive
Of the disadvantages of solar energy, the temporary decline in energy production during bad weather has been a major issue. Days with low solar energy, however, are having less of an effect due to advances in battery technology. Old technology for storing solar energy, like lead acid batteries are being replaced by alternatives. Lithium ion batteries offer greater power at a lower cost. Nickel-based batteries have an extremely long life. New technologies, like flow batteries, promise scale and durable power storage.
Solar doesn’t work for every roof type
Not every room will work well with solar panels. Orientation matters. If your roof doesn’t face the sun, you won’t be able to capture enough solar energy. Roofs that angle into the sun tend to work better than flat roofs.
Roofing materials like asphalt shingles, metal and tiles make installing solar panels easier. If your room is made with other materials, installation may be more expensive. Part of what makes energy-efficient roofs is their ability to support solar panels.
Solar panels are dependent on sunlight
It’s obvious that solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. They won’t produce electricity at night when you need it for light and they can be inefficient during storms and gloomy days. Your solar energy system needs batteries if you plan to fully depend on solar energy to power your home.
Batteries are one of the more expensive components of your system. Unlike solar panels, they do wear out and need careful maintenance to lengthen their lives. Comparing wind power vs. solar power, wind will keep generating electricity at night and during storms, as long as there is enough wind. Many people use both in residential systems.
Constellation Energy and Solar Energy
When weighing the pros and cons of solar energy for your home, there are additional options worth considering. Community solar projects are a great way to get the advantages of solar energy without buying and maintaining a system yourself.
If your home and roof won’t support solar panels or if you don’t have enough money to invest in one, community solar might be your answer. With this option, you agree to participating in a program that allows you receive credits for every kWh generated by the solar facility. You get a credit on your electricity bill proportional to your percentage of ownership in the project’s energy.