{"id":19401,"key":"Solar_energy_conversion_system","title":"Solar energy conversion system","latest":{"id":1274439,"timestamp":"2026-09-16T16:51:04Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Solar footer}}\n\n[[File:ThermodynamicVSPhotovoltaicpanels.jpg|thumb|A house fitted with both thermal and photovoltaic panels]]\n\nA '''solar energy conversion system''' (SECS),<ref>[http://www.routledge.com/books/Energy-Harvesting-isbn9781439815083 Solar energy conversion system term 1]</ref><ref>[http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4085731.html Solar energy conversion system term 2]</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110220204745/http://www.powerfromthesun.net:80/chapter1/Chapter1.htm Solar energy conversion system ]</ref> or '''solar energy harvester''' are general terms that could be used for any machine that, powered by [[solar energy]], either generates energy that can be used to directly heat a fluid or gas (passive solar) or generate electricity (PV, CPV, PETE,...). The term can thus refer to:\n\n* [[Thermal solar energy conversion system]]s (generally passive solar systems without mirrors or lenses),\n* [[Photovoltaic solar systems]] (PV),\n* Biohybrid solar cells,\n* [[Dye-sensitized solar cell]]s,\n* Luminescent solar concentrators (a type of concentrated photovoltaics or CPV technology),\n* [[Concentrating solar power|Concentrating solar power systems]],\n* Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission systems,...<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20130520091739/http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-research/stanford-pete-tech/ Stanford PETE]</ref>\n\n== Operation ==\n\nThe conversion of the energy of the power of the sun into more useful forms is done using a variety of ways, each depending on the type of system employed. See [[photovoltaics]].\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Solar energy|Optimum orientation of solar energy harvesters]]\n* energy harvesting\n* [[Wind energy conversion system]]\n* [[Thermal energy conversion system]]\n* [[Hydro energy conversion system]]\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n== External links ==\n\n* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_photovoltaics\n* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energy\n* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biohybrid_solar_cell\n* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye-sensitized_solar_cell\n* [https://www.earthava.com/energy-harvesting-trends-2018/ Energy Harvesting Trends for 2018]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| keywords = Solar, solar energy, photovoltaics, Sustainable technologies, Electrical engineering, Renewable energy, Energy conversion, Energy conservation, Energy production, Energy efficiency\n| sdg = SDG07 Affordable and clean energy\n| description = Appropedia explains how solar energy systems convert sunlight into usable power using PV panels, collectors, and hybrid designs.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Solar energy]]\n[[Category:Photovoltaics]]\n[[Category:Sustainable technologies]]\n[[Category:Electrical engineering]]\n[[Category:Renewable energy]]\n[[Category:Energy production]]\n[[Category:Energy efficiency]]"}