Solar Energy Capture

The earth receives more energy from the Sun in just one hour than the world’s population uses in a whole year!

Solar energy can be captured in two forms; either as heat or as electrical energy:

Thermal Systems

Thermal systems capture the Sun’s heat energy (infrared radiation) in some form of solar collector and use it to mostly to provide hot water or for space heating.

Photovoltaic Systems

Photovoltaic systems capture the sun’s higher frequency radiation (visible and ultraviolet) in an array of semiconductor, photovoltaic cells which convert the radiant energy directly into electricity.

Solar energy, in abundance in Spain, can be captured and used for electricity generation or for water heating using thermal systems (otherwise heated by electricity).

New laws (sun tax) applied in Spain in October 2015 apply higher taxes to households using solar energy generation (for surplus sold back to grid). Until such laws are repealed Blueleaf Design will focus on solar water heating.

The Compact Solar Hot Water System

As water is heated by the solar panel it can be stored in a cylinder above the collector in what is known as a compact system. Alternatively, the tank may be located elsewhere in your property, such as in the utility room or garage. This allows greater capacity, while placing the tank out of the sight. This method is known as a pumped system. As the name suggests a small thermostatically controlled pump exchanges fluid between tank and collector. Both compact and pumped systems provide mains pressure hot water.