But it wasn t until someone tried to separate the solar heat collector with the water tank that the first prototype for solar hot water heaters was created. Discovery Of Solar Energy Cells Solar energy cells, also known as PV cells, are actually created when three Americans discovered that building transistors with silicon. There are plenty of solar applications that a homeowner can use to get the many benefits of solar thermal energy, such as solar space heating, solar pool heating, solar water heating and solar thermal cooling. Photovoltaic solar power is described as the energy made by converting solar power into electricity via photovoltaic solar cells. Electrons are then released from the atoms to produce electricity. The photovoltaic effect is achieved when light is converted into electricity. You can then have direct current electricity. When the power enters an inverter, you can get 120 volt AC conversion, the same electricity required to power the house. Aside from that, solar energy power plants also require a place that is relatively very sunny at most times during the day, in order to get the most energy and sunlight. An area in the dessert would appear to be one of the most ideal places for such solar energy power plants to thrive in. Another problem that solar energy systems would encounter would be the integration and retro-fitting of these solar energy systems to the different houses and structures that are already constructed without any solar energy system incorporated in them. You have to know the different available features and inclusions first. Here are some more details on how you can get the best type. The Solar Vehicle A solar vehicle is defined as an electric vehicle that is powered mainly by solar energy. The energy is acquired from solar panels on the surface or the top of the vehicle. A number of solar collectors are categorized as either concentrating or non-concentrating. Concentrating and Non-Concentrating The concentrating gatherers use panels that are angled the right way to absorb the prime point of the direct rays of the sun. Non-concentrating gatherers are ideal for regions that have lower amounts of direct sunlight and absorb the energy rays of the sun from direct and various reflecting angles.