Solar heating
6 Do you know the difference between the solar photovoltaic system and the solar thermal system?
Label the pictures.7 () 7 Complete the text with the words from the box. Then listen and check.
( tank roof common pollutio n sunlight storingSolar energy is the electricity produced from the sun's rays and captured by means of solar panels, which are becoming
increasingly (1) _ nowadays. The two types of solar panel systems are solar photovoltaic systems and solar
thermal system.
In the solar photovoltaic systems the solar thermal panels contain cells whose semiconductors react with (2) ___ _
Electricity is produced when sunlight hits them. This kind of technology is still quite expensive and its disadvantage nowadays
is the problem of (3) energy.
In the solar.thermal system solar energy is used for water heating. The panels are positioned eitner on ms -.:
or a wall facing the sun and contain flowing water. When the thermal collectors in the panel are exposea lO 0s Su~ :ns} ~sa:
the water (stored in a hot water cylinder) that is either pumped or driven by natural convection througn : -~s s::::-2.gs
(5) is mounted immediately above or below the solar collectors on the roof. This systel:" .S :-::: • ::~_
expensive and offers a number of advantages, including being renewable, creating less environmental (6)
reducing costs and maintenance and saving resources. Hot water can be produced for most of the year.
A conventional boiler can be used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is not available.8 Read the text again and then match the two parts of the sentences.
1 Solar energy a D we can produce energy using solar panels.
2 Thanks to solar thermal systems and b D are contained whose semiconductors are able to react
solar photovoltaic systems with sunlight.
3 The solar thermal panels are usually c D when solar energy is not available or to make water
installed hotter.
4 In thermal panels special cells d D next to the solar collectors on the roof, either above or
5 Water is heated by below.
6 The storage tank is mounted e D hot water for most of the year.
7 Thanks to these panels you can f D means producing electricity from the sun's rays.
produce g D exposing the thermal collectors in the panel to the sun.
8 Sometimes a conventional boiler is used h D on house roofs.9 Now answer these questions.
1 How can electricity be produced using the
sun's energy?
2 What do solar thermal panels contain?
3 How is electri city created?
4 What are the two main disadvantages of
this energy?5 What is solar energy also used for?
6 What happens when the thermal collectors are
exposed to the sun?
7 Can you name some of the advantages of this
system?
8 What can a conventional boiler be used for?31