Solar Thermal - A Versatile Technology

Solar energy is classified as Solar Photo Voltaic and Solar Thermal Energy. While Solar photo voltaic (PV) has the primary function of generation of electricity, solar thermal has wide application in water heating, cooking, water purification, desalination and generation of electricity by creating high temperature directly through parabolic mirrors which becomes heat source for production of superheated steam required for running a turbine generator. An overview has been made in this paper to discuss mainly on three emerging technologies of solar thermal in the areas of solar water heater, concentrated solar power, and solar desalination, briefly highlighting the technical features of the same. Also a comparative statement of salient features of solar thermal and solar PV power has been included in the paper.