What Is Active Solar Energy

Active solar energy turns sunlight into usable energy sources such as electricity and heating. This is done using electrical and mechanical devices to collect, store, and convert the generated DC power to AC power, commonly used by electronic devices and household electrical equipment. Some common devices that use active solar energy to generate electricity include portable power stations, solar generators, solar panels, etc. This collected and stored energy is then delivered whenever required, such as during power cuts or when access to the main-grid electricity supply is limited or unavailable.

If you live in areas with frequent power cuts or are an avid traveler who likes keeping their electronics charged and ready to explore the great outdoors, Jackery Solar Generators are an ideal solution. They use active solar energy to deliver power even in the most remote locations across the globe, helping you stay connected to the world by powering all of your electronic gadgets on the go.

Key Takeaways

• Active solar energy is a technology that captures sunlight and converts it into usable energy sources such as heat and electricity.
• It's a renewable energy source with zero carbon emissions and greenhouse gas release.
• The earth is constantly being hit with 173,000 terawatts of solar power, and the world's total global energy consumption is between 15 and 20 terawatts.
• The energy delivered by the sun is 10,000 times more than the global energy requirement.

What Is Active Solar Energy   

Active solar energy is a technology that captures sunlight and turns it into usable energy sources such as heat and electricity using an array of electrical and mechanical devices such as solar panels, solar collectors, pumps and fans, controllers, sensors, etc. The technology works by collecting, storing, and converting DC energy generated by solar panels due to the photovoltaic effect into AC electricity commonly used by household appliances.

Active solar energy systems include:

• Solar panels directly convert the sun's rays into electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
• Solar collectors collect sunlight and turn it into heat.
• Pumps and fans circulate fluids and air through the system to transfer the generated heat or electricity.
• Controllers and sensors serve a critical role in regulating the system by controlling temperature and sunlight intensity to optimize its overall performance.

Active solar energy has various applications, such as electricity generation, water heating, space heating, and processing heat, such as drying crops and powering refrigeration systems in an industrial setting. It is considered the most versatile, efficient, and reliable way of reducing our dependence on traditional fossil fuel-based energy and switching towards renewable energy sources.

Benefits of Active Solar Energy   

This technology's primary and most obvious benefit is that it's a renewable energy source with zero carbon emissions and greenhouse gas release. Moreover, the easy accessibility of this energy resource makes it the top contender in the renewable energy category compared to its counterparts, such as wind and water.

But that's not all; active solar energy has many other benefits!

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Source

The sun is enormous and packs more energy than humanity can use. The earth constantly receives 173,000 terawatts of solar power, and the world's total global energy consumption is between 15 and 20 terawatts. Therefore, the sun delivers 10,000 times more energy on a constant basis, making it an inexhaustible energy source that is accessible to all, renewable, and sustainable.

Saves Energy

Depending on the grid is not great for anyone looking to reduce their energy bills. Sunlight being free and accessible to all means that anyone can harness this energy in conjunction with the main grid lines to power their home and appliances, which can significantly reduce energy bills. You can also go for a completely off-the-grid system in places with limited or no primary grid access.

Increases Property Value

Properties with active solar systems are considered to be more valuable because they are heavily reduced in dependence on the main grid, resulting in increased efficiency and lower operational costs.

Energy Independence

Installing active solar energy systems creates energy independence by reducing dependence on the main grid lines; this is especially true for homes that have a completely off-grid system to generate their own power.

Promotes Rural Electrification

Many places lack access to traditional electricity connections. Active solar energy is a viable option for areas where placing power lines is either impossible or incurs heavy costs. In such areas, this technology can serve as a catalyst for generating energy independence, creating jobs, and promoting the area's overall development.

How Does An Active Solar System Work

As mentioned, an active solar system converts sunlight into usable energy in the form of electricity and heat. However, a lot goes on behind the inner workings of this system. There are two active solar energy systems: photovoltaic systems for generating electricity and solar thermal systems for generating heat.

Photovoltaic System

In a photovoltaic system, sunlight hits the PV panels, i.e., the solar panels. Once the light hits, it excites the electrons present on the panel, which creates an electric current. The electricity generated then flows to the batteries or the inverter, where it's converted into AC current from the DC current generated by the solar panels. Any excess energy generated during the process can be stored in the batteries or returned to the primary grid.

Solar Thermal System

This is used to heat water and other fluids. The system works by heating water or any other fluid in the solar collector, where the heated fluid is sent to the heat exchanger via pumps built into the system. This heat from the fluid is transferred to the water in the hot water tanks in a household or an industrial setup.

Here's how both of these systems generally work:

1. Collection: This is the first stage, where sunlight is absorbed via solar panels or collectors.
2. Conversion: Depending on the purpose, this absorbed energy is either converted to electricity via the photovoltaic effect of solar panels or converted into heat in the case of solar thermal systems.
3. Storage: Excess energy generated during the process is stored in batteries for electricity, and heat is stored in thermal storage tanks.
4. Transfer: This stored energy is transferred via an intricate network of pumps, fans, and other mechanical devices that circulate heat and electricity.

Now that you understand how the system works let's examine the various components that make this possible.

• Solar panels/collectors: They are the primary components that absorb sunlight. Solar panels have photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity, whereas solar collectors convert sunlight into heat.
• Mounting system:The mounting system is the structure on which the solar panels/collectors are placed to provide support and ensure optimal positioning for maximum sunlight absorption.
• Inverters: These are used for PV systems to convert the DC electricity generated by the solar panels to AC electricity for use in household devices and appliances.
• Charge controller: This is used in PV systems for regulating the voltage and current flowing into the batteries from the solar panel to prevent battery overcharge and other forms of damage to the battery.
• Batteries: The batteries are essentially the system's warehouse to store the energy generated by the solar panels.
• Pumps/fans:These are used in solar thermal systems to circulate heated fluid to the point of use.
• Heat exchanger:This component helps transfer heat from solar-heated fluid to the water used in a household.
• Backup heating element: This component provides added heating when solar energy isn't sufficient.

How Efficient Is Active Solar Energy   

Active solar energy is highly efficient, given that most modern solar panels can convert 15-20% of the sunlight that hits them into electricity. Solar thermal heating systems can capture up to 70% of the sunlight that hits them. While passive solar energy is another technique through which heating and cooling can be achieved, it is less effective as it cannot directly control the temperature and is also less effective; moreover, when it comes to generating electricity, it cannot do so, giving active solar energy the clear edge in both the scenarios.

Types of Active Solar Energy    

There are mainly 3 types of active solar energy systems: Active solar space heating, active solar water heating, and active solar pool heating.

Active Solar Space Heating

This system utilizes solar energy to heat fluids and air. This hot air or fluid is distributed throughout a building to provide heating. In this system, the solar collectors capture sunlight and turn it into heat, which is then used to heat a fluid that is circulated through the entire system and then distributed to a building's interior via liquid-based systems such as radiators, radiant floor heating, or baseboard heaters. If the building has an air-based distribution system, then the heat is distributed through ducts.

Active Solar Water Heating

As the name suggests, an active solar water heating system heats water in a residential or commercial setup. This system relies on solar collectors for heat circulation and a circulation system for distribution. There are two types of active solar water heating systems: direct circulation systems and indirect circulation systems.

Direct Circulation Systems

In this system, water is directly transferred from the water storage tank to the solar collectors to be heated by the sun. Once heated, the same water is returned to the storage tank. It's a simple system best suited for areas where it's not freezing cold, as freezing tends to damage the system.

Indirect Circulation Systems

This system transfers non-freezing fluid to the solar collectors for heating. This heated fluid is then passed via the heat exchanger to transfer the heat to the water in the storage tank. Since the antifreeze element in the fluid is resistant to freezing, this is a better option for places where freezing is prevalent.

Active Solar Heating

An active solar heating system keeps swimming pools warm by circulating the pool water through the solar collector for heat absorption and returning it to the pool once the water is heated by the sun. This system significantly reduces operating costs and extends the swimming season, making it a cost-effective way to keep the pools open almost throughout the year, maximizing profitability.

Jackery Solar Generators Explained

Jackery solar generators work on active solar energy and have carved a niche for themselves in creating portable power solutions that can power appliances and devices even in the remotest of locations. The state-of-the-art solar generators are capable of powering the most demanding applications in the toughest terrains.

The Jackery Solar Generator works in tandem with the iconic Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels for a completely off-grid experience during camping, hiking, or road trips where traditional charging options aren't available. The completely eco-friendly lineup of products emits zero toxic fumes and functions silently so that you and your loved ones can enjoy the serenity of nature without getting distracted.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro packs enough punch to power 99% of your outdoor appliances. The system is designed to be compact and portable and comes with a pull rod and double wheels, allowing for easy mobility. The upgraded battery management system and smart app with the solar generator let you run things longer and operate the entire system via your smartphone. So, be it your electric grill, drone, electric bike, or smartphone, you can keep them running all day without sweat.

Appliances Running Time:

• Drone (300W): 8.1H
• Electric bike (300W): 8.1H
• Smartphone (5W): 483.8H
• Electric grill (850W): 2.8H

Customer review

"I have a Jackery Explorer 1500 and 3000 Pro. Both are great generators, and the 3000 Pro is a beast. They are both well-made and work great. I now have 6 panels that I can use at the same time to quickly charge the 3000 Pro. They have good warranties. Buy with confidence."—Dustin M.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus can power devices up to 6000W, making it a hot favorite among outdoor enthusiasts who love carrying their electric bikes and drones to offbeat locations. It also features ChargeShield technology, which can boost battery life by 50%, making it a cost-effective portable solar generator you can rely on.

Appliances Running Time:

• Drone (300W): 5.4H
• Electric bike (300W): 5.4H
• Smartphone (5W): 326.7H
• Electric grill (850W): 1.9H

Customer review

"Really love how quickly these charge up in the sun! My only concern is that when I connect the battery pack to the generator, it doesn't charge or discharge equally from both." – Katherine Aguilar-Langella.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is equipped with a bifacial high-efficiency solar panel. It also features the next-gen ChargeShield 2.0, which offers 62 forms of all-around protection to the system. It also has an emergency supercharging capability to charge from 0 to 100% in an hour. So, if you have been looking for a solar generator that could power up your devices simultaneously, look no further!

Appliances Running Time:

• Drone (300W): 3.3H
• Electric bike (300W): 3.3H
• Smartphone (5W): 182.0H
• Electric grill (850W): 1.0H