Solar Thermal Power

Solar thermal power can be best described as using the heat of the sun to generate heat and electricity instead of using natural Biofuels like gas. The idea is to utilize reflectors as well as lenses to concentrate the energy of the sun in such a manner that this energy is used to generate electricity. Solar thermal power generates electricity during it’s operational time during the day, and can even be stored to certain extent by heating a substance..such as sand, and harnessing that energy during the night as it retains the heat for many hours after the sun goes down!

Large amounts of commercial solar thermal power are being generated by solar thermal plants in sunny climates around the world, where they have access to plenty of sunlight can provide enough of electricity to meet the needs of thousand of homes. The 4000 MW of solar thermal power being produced now can meet the needs of 7 million consumers. It saves on 45 million oil barrels of fuel.

Researchers have already proved the efficacy of parabolic troughs which are capable of focusing large percentages of solar energy on pipes. This heated solar energy is circulated through those pipes and used for driving conventional generators. Electricity is produced in this manner. Parabolic dishes are also used to collect solar energy and focus it on the collector. Heat engines utilize this energy to generate electricity. These are some ways and methods in which the sun’s bounty of solar thermal energy and power can be used constructively to produce power for the masses.