A number of different solar technologies can be referred to under the term solar collectors (Solaranlage) , including water heating solar thermal collectors and solar electricity generators. Thermal collectors are designed to heat water through transforming solar heat into a more usable form, while commercial solar collectors transform solar energy into electricity. The solar thermal collectors that are found in commercial use around the world collect solar heat and use it to product steam and produce electricity as a result. Some of the complex installations that are involved in the transformation of solar heat into usable electricity through steam include solar parabolic installations, solar troughs, and solar towers.
The thermal technique that is used to transform solar energy into electricity is surprisingly simple, and much easier to understand than the technology involved in photovoltaics and solar panels. Basically, solar heat is used to produce steam, which in turn drives a turbine and produces usable electricity. The thermal solar collector itself is the device which is used to take care of this conversion, while other technology is used in the distribution process. Solar collectors fall into two basic categories, concentrating collectors and non-concentrating collectors. In the more simple non-concentrating type, the collection area is the same as the absorption area, such as that seen in a number of domestic hot water solutions. Concentrated collectors are a little more complex, requiring the use of individual absorption and collection facilities. Installation may be available through dedicated solar companies, some of which also provide roofing and insulation (www.1aeinblasdaemmung.de) services.
The two most common designs for domestic water heating are flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors. While flat plate collectors are the most common and easy to maintain, evacuated tube collectors have a number of advantages to the end user and are more efficient in many situations. There are also numerous solar collector designs that are used especially for electricity generation, and while these are rare in domestic use they are becoming more common in commercial solar power generation stations. These facilities transform solar energy into electricity through steam and turbines, and require a lot of surface area to be successful. Solar power is likely to become more readily available all over the world, and solar collectors will hopefully work together with photovoltaic panels to provide sustainable energy solutions for us all.