Precast Concrete Components for the Energy Transition – Part II: Solar energy

By the year 2015 up to 45 % of the gross power consumption in Germany should be covered by renewable resources, for example by solar energy. Part 2 of our series shows how facades, road surfaces and UHPC parabolic troughs utilize solar energy.

In Germany, the key phrase “solar energy” conjures up images of solar cells or photovoltaic panels, made up of silicon solar cells. The bluish-silver glossy energy generators are ordinarily found on roofs or in the open countryside.

There is also a second type of system in use for providing solar energy, the solar collector. Solar collectors collect the energy contained in the sunlight and use it for heating or cooling. For example, in accordance with the principle of thermal lift the solar collector, with the help of the transfer medium, heats hot water.

As a rule, both photovoltaic panels and...

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