Collectors Thermal – Solar Energy

Solar thermal energy is a technology for harnessing sun’s rays to create thermal energy (heat). Thermal collectors are defined by the USA Energy Information Administration as low, medium and high temperature collectors. Low temperature collectors are flat plated generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium temperature collectors are also usually flat plated and they are used to heat water for residential and commercial use. High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using lenses and mirrors, which are later used to produce electric power.

Of the 21 million square feet of solar thermal collectors produced in the US, 16 million square feet were of the low temperature collectors. Generally speaking, they are installed to heat swimming pools, although they can be used for space heating. Collectors can use air or water as the medium to transfer the heat to their destination.

Medium temperature collectors are used to produce approximately 50% and more of the hot water needed for residential and commercial use in the USA. A typical system costs $4000-$6000 in the USA, and 30% of the system qualifies for a federal tax credit, as well as additional state credit which exists in about half of the states. With this in mind, the payback time for a typical household is four to nine years, depending on a state.