Solar energy refers to technologies that convert the sun's heat or light to another form of energy. There are two main categories: solar photovoltaics which convert sunlight directly to electricity, and solar thermal which uses sunlight for heating. Frank Shuman built the world's first solar thermal power station in Egypt in 1912-1913, which used parabolic troughs to power a water pump and irrigate cotton fields. While interest waned after World War I and the discovery of oil, Shuman advocated for solar energy as an unlimited future source of power.

1. Shweta sajjan
Roll No :75

2. Solar energy
Solar energy refers to technologies that convert the sun's heat or
light to another form of energy for use.
SOLAR
Definition
Solar energy is the most abundant, renewable energy source in the world.
Solar energy systems refer to technologies that convert the sun's heat or
light to another form of energy for use[1][2].
There are two categories of technologies that harness solar energy, Solar
Photovoltaic's and Solar Thermal.
Solar Photovoltaic (or PV) is a technology that converts sunlight into direct
current electricity by using semiconductors[3]. In contrast, Solar Thermal is a
technology that utilizes the heat energy from the sun for heating
or electricity production[4].

3. Solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's land surface, oceans – which cover
about 71% of the globe and atmosphere. Warm air containing evaporated water
from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the
air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses
into clouds, which rain onto the Earth's surface, completing the water cycle.
The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing
atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones. Sunlight
absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average
temperature of 14 °C.[ By photosynthesis, green plants convert solar energy into
chemically stored energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from
which fossil fuels are derive
Potential

5. Thermal energy
hermal technologies can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat
ation
commercial adaptation
8, at the Universal Exposition in Paris, Augustin Mooched successfully demonstrated a solar steam
e, but couldn't continue development because of cheap coal and other factors.
Patent drawing of Shuman's solar collector
7, Frank Shuman, a U.S. inventor, engineer and solar energy pioneer, built a small demonstration solar
e that worked by reflecting solar energy onto square boxes filled with ether, which has a lower boiling
han water, and were fitted internally with black pipes which in turn powered a steam engine. In 1908
an formed the Sun Power Company with the intent of building larger solar power plants. He, along with
hnical advisor A.S.E. Ackermann and British physicist Sir Charles Vernon Boys,[ developed an improve
m using mirrors to reflect solar energy upon collector boxes, increasing heating capacity to the extent th
could now be used instead of ether. Shuman then constructed a full-scale steam engine powered by lo
ure water, enabling him to patent the entire solar engine system by 1912.
an built the world's first solar thermal power station in Made, Egypt, between 1912 and 1913. His plant
parabolic troughs to power a 45–52 kilowatts (60–70 hp) engine that pumped more than 22,000 liters
imp gal; 5,800 US gal) of water per minute from the Nile River to adjacent cotton fields. Although the
ak of World War I and the discovery of cheap oil in the 1930s discouraged the advancement of solar
y, Shuman's vision and basic design were resurrected in the 1970s with a new wave of interest in solar
al energy. In 1916 Shuman was quoted in the media advocating solar energy's utilization, saying:
ve proved the commercial profit of sun power in the tropics and have more particularly proved that afte
ores of oil and coal are exhausted the human race can receive unlimited power from the rays of the sun

6. Thermal energy