Solar energy Vocabulary

Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using various technologies such as solar power to generate electricity, thermal energy (including solar water heating), and solar architecture.

This vocabulary was created to organize all concepts related to solar energy within the category of renewable energies.

It is an essential source of renewable energy. Its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar, depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power.

Active solar techniques include using photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power, and solar water heating to harness the energy. Passive solar methods include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light-dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.