HOW IS SOLAR POWER STORED? IN WHAT WAY CAN SOLAR ENERGY BE TRANSFORMED INTO ELECTRICITY?

A flat plate collector is used for heating water and air inside
buildings. It consists of an insulated box that is covered by layers of
clear flat glass or plastic. The plate absorbs sunlight and converts it
into heat, which is trapped underneath the glass layers. The plates have
tubes welded into it, which helps air, water and other fluids to
circulate and absorb heat from the plate. The heated fluid flows into a
heat exchanger, where the heat is converted into water. This hot water
is stored in a tank and is pumped from the tank to the house taps.

Direct solar energy can be used to create electricity. With the use of
photovoltaic cells and high temperature collectors. Photovoltaic cells
are solar cells with semi-conductor materials. When sunlight is incident
on the solar the cell changes some solar energy that falls on it into
electrical energy. These cells have the ability to power electronic
equipment.

High temperature collectors-solar furnaces generate a lot of
electricity in one type of high temperature collector, many flat or
slightly curved mirrors focus the sun's rays on a target i. e. a piece
of metal. A fluid is pumped inside the target where it is heated. Then
the steam or gas that is produced carries heat energy to turbines that
generate electricity

http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za