The Difference Between Passive and Active Solar EnergySolar energy is electricity that is produced from the sun’s radiation. It can be divided into direct and indirect categories, and is harnessed through the use of photovoltaic cells, which generate electricity with no moving parts, no noise, and with no production of pollution or waste. There are a few different types of solar energy, two being passive and active solar energy. There are both similarities and differences between passive and active solar energy and the biggest difference between the two lies in the applications that they are used for. ApplicationsActive solar energy technologies convert sunlight into other forms of energy by using a particular energy transfer fluid. This is most often water or air but can also be a variety of other substances as well. These technologies are used to convert solar energy into useable heat and cause air movement for ventilation or cooling. Solar hot water systems, except for those which are based on the thermosiphon, typically use pumps or fans to circulate the water. Furthermore, these technologies use electrical or mechanical equipment to increase the usable heat in a system. ComparisonWhen compared to passive solar energy, active solar energy is obviously very different. Passive solar systems require no additional energy to operate, whereas active solar systems do. Because of this, passive systems have zero operating costs and emit no greenhouse gasses in operation. |
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