Advantages the evacuated tubes solar collectors
Thermal energy can be used to passively heat
buildings through the use of certain building materials and
architectural design, or used directly to heat water for household
use. In many regions, solar water heaters are now a viable
supplement or alternative to electric or gas hot water
production.
Thermal energy obtained from the sun can be used for a number of
applications including producing hot water, space heating and even
cooling via use of absorption chilling technology.
Using solar and other forms of renewable energy reduces reliance on
fossil fuels for energy production, thus directly reducing CO2
emissions. CO2 emissions contribute to global warming, an
environmental issue which is now of great concern. The average
household can reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 20% by
installing.
Flat plate thermal solar collectors have been in use for several
decades, but only in relatively small numbers, particularly in
Western countries. Evacuated tubes have also been in use for more
than 20 years, but have been much more expensive than flat plate,
and therefore only chosen for high temperature applications or by
those with money.
In recent years the production volume of evacuated tubes has
exploded, resulting in greatly lower manufacturing and material
costs. The result is that evacuated tubes are now similar in price
to flat plate, but with the insulating benefits of the evacuated
tube, they are set to become the default choice for thermal solar
applications worldwide.