Naked Energy, a UK-based solar energy startup, has a different way of tapping into the renewable source. Its approach can be classified as a solar thermal energy system which utilizes the heat from the Sun and uses it directly for heating applications instead of trying to store it in a battery.
The rapid rise of solar as a source of energy has been fueled by the declining pricing of photovoltaic (PV) cells. This approach is easy to scale and has helped set up massive solar energy farms in different parts of the world. However, the solution needs large investments in energy storage.
Considering that 50 percent of the global energy consumption is used for heating or cooling purposes, it makes logical sense to trap the Sun's heat directly instead of converting it into electrical energy and then using a heat pump to generate heat again. The adoption has been slow since solar thermal systems have not enjoyed the same cost-reduction advantages as photovoltaics.
How does solar thermal work?
From a distance, a solar thermal system can easily be mistaken for a photovoltaic setup. However, the differences are too large to miss as one approaches it. Under the large glass panels, one comes across rows of vacuum-sealed glass tubes. The tubes absorb the heat from the Sun and use it to increase the temperature of a liquid.
The liquid is then circulated in a closed loop between the system and a water storage tank, where the heat is transferred to the water that can be used in sinks and showers. The water can also be used in radiators for heating spaces. This approach is extensively used in countries such as China, India, and Turkey but has been a non-starter in the US.
In absolute number terms, there are slightly over 373,000 solar thermal installations in the US but this is less than one-tenth the number of PV installations. Naked Energy is hopeful that it can change this.
Startup's first US installation
Naked Energy's foray into the US market has begun with an installation at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. The system went online this summer and is currently used to heat water for about 400 freshmen.
The system is looking to dislodge natural gas heating as the primary heating source for the building and has so far helped reduce 40 metric tons of carbon emissions. This may not sound like a major feat, but the technology offers a modular and decentralized heating solution. The exact cost of the system and installation expenses have not been revealed, making it difficult to gauge if the solution is financially viable.
The fact that its system isn't tapping into the light of the Sun isn't lost on Naked Energy. The company's website has also showcased its hybrid solar collector that combines solar thermal with photovoltaics to generate heat and electricity from the same footprint.
By combining solar thermal with photovoltaics, Naked Energy is bringing innovation into the renewable energy market that does not need capital-intensive research and development. This is definitely a sign that the era of solar has truly arrived.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article