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 should be no corrosion whatsoever on the copper for the process. Wash the copper sheeting using water, soap and either a sponge or a towel. You should allow oil from your hands to get on the copper. Tower the copper until dry. Make sure that you do not touch it directly. Use tongs to position the copper on the hot plate. Unfortunatley, among the solar energy systems that are in the market, photovoltaic panels are considered to be one of the more expensive ones, if not the most expensive in the solar energy market today. Solar Thermal Systems Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, simply generate heat, and are well-suited for boilers, furnaces and water heaters, as this type of system allows you to make heat using direct solar energy at a much lower cost as compared to using conventional energy and electricity. You can order and have the materials delivered right to your doorstep in just a few days. You can even finish the entire project in just a matter of hours. Here are some things to learn first. Seeking Resources You need to look for the right resources first. You can actually build your own solar cell panel for only $100 or less by finding the best and most affordable sources. The fluid is heated in solar collectors, then pumped to a storage tank. This is also known as a closed-loop system. The Third Type Active solar pool heating involves the use of pumps to properly circulate the water in the pool via solar collectors to heat and then return to the pool. The pool becomes a storage medium for heated water so you do not need any more water storage tanks. However, those who experience very long winter months may not get the best effects. Things to Power Nowadays, solar energy can power a variety of objects such as homes, offices, cars, small light fixtures, toys and calculators. You can now rely on the sun to help you minimize utility and electric bills.