PV Gap

Agnes Said:

Is it possible to transfer solar power that can heated surfaces?

We Answered:

There already is a type of solar panels that uses the sun to heat up metal surfaces. The thing is the heat cannot be converted directly to electricity. It can be used to convert water to steam that in turn will power up some turbines that will generate electricity. The thing with this method is that it has a very low efficiency (conversion rate). You need a lot (and i mean a lot) of panels to get a decent amount of electricity.

The silica panels on the other hand converts light directly to electricity at a much greater rate. Even so you need a large surface to get enough energy. One of my friends has a self powered house with silica panels. To have enough for his needs almost a quarter of the house roof is covered with panels. And they're not cheap at all. Even tho it uses sand, the production process is much more sophisticated. And then you need something that will store electricity during the day in order to use it at nigh and this is not cheap also. Plus these these accumulators are really big an heavy. It can be used for a house but never for a whole town.