So the big problem with Solar Power is what happens when the sun goes down or a cloud rolls by? The answer to this problem is simply storing the power generated during the day for use at night. But traditional storage solutions such as batteries are not efficient enough. Batteries can store the energy but it takes a huge amount of them to do it. Their huge expense and the fact that they degrade over time has led the industry to find a better form of storing excess energy.
Thermal Solar Power Storage is actually a very basic idea that works very well. It works by retaining the heat from the sun but not using it to generate power until needed. Just like a thermos keeps your coffee hot until you're ready to drink it. Large arrays of solar mirrors reflect sunlight against a huge tank of water. The super heated water generates steam which rises to spin a turbine which generates energy. This process is already in use but obviously does not work well at night.
New technologies include using advanced insulated storage tanks. These tanks keep the liquid inside super hot for long periods of time. The solution in the tank is also very important. Water alone is no longer the best method. A Molten Salt Solution has shown that it is much better at retaining heat for longer periods of time.
A Thermal Solar System isn't something for residential use but a single large scale Thermal Solar Generator could provide enough power for a small city. But anyone can take advantage of the suns heat by installing a solar water heater. Its basically a water tank inside a reflective insulated box mounted on the roof. These are great because they don't eliminate your existing water heater. The water from the tank on the roof is used until the temperature drops too low... then the regular water heater kicks in. If you shower during the day a system like this can save a bunch of money.
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