Solar PV vs Solar Thermal - Efficiency Explained!

Does 1,500 W of solar photovoltaic (PV) panel really need 6x more space than 1,500 W of solar thermal (air) panel? In this video we explain the differences in efficiency of solar electricity (PV) and solar thermal.
Spoiler alert - Solar PV is very useful but lower efficiency than solar thermal. Solar thermal is more efficient and cheaper for point-of-use applications such as supplemental space heating. Any good "solar plan" should look how to use PV and other products - such as solar thermal - to accomplish energy goals.
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Arctica Solar Website: arcticasolar.com/

[@stebarg]

Thanks! Do you have a video in which you compare the overall efficiency of both systems? Do you have inside in practical data too? That's what counts in the end.

[@ArcticaSolar]

We are working on a "application" efficiency video looking at actual seasonal heater performance. Stay tuned!

[@stebarg]

@@ArcticaSolar I do!

[@johnzach2057]

The issue is that if you use a heat pump hot water tank you can easily get COP of 4-5 on hot days so PV and solar thermal are about equal.

[@ArcticaSolar]

I've heard of air source heat pump hot water heater COPs as high as 3x in cold areas, but not 4-5. Is 4-5 possible for water source heat pump hot water heaters? A unique idea we'd like to explore more is increasing COP with existing heat pump systems (hot water or HVAC) through solar thermal supplementation - basically a solar thermal pre-heating of source medium. However, if the homeowner already has a roof PV system, electrification of heating loads is a good choice. Many of our customers use air heating for supplementing existing HVAC systems, zonal fuel free heating or off-grid heating.

[@AlphaQHard]

I still don’t understand the difference between how these work.

[@pawpaw7646]

Good video, great information concisely presented. Thanks! One suggestion: lose the background music. Trying to listen to and absorb technical and cost information is more difficult with distracting music 😀

[@ArcticaSolar]

noted!

[@aaronvallejo8220]

Is there a reason your panels are 1.5 m x 1 m? I have found...bigger and more insulated is hotter than small units. What R value is your units? What temperature output? Does your unit produce heat in -20C outside? My 15 ft x 6 ft R11 unit beautifully heats 3 upstairs rooms on sunny days.

[@ArcticaSolar]

The units in the video are 1.5m x 1.0m, but we make much larger panels in our 2000 series and 4000 series systems. The panels are modular to allow for reasonable shipping cost and complexity. The temperature outputs are labeled on the product datasheets on our website.

[@aaronvallejo8220]

@Arctica Solar OK thanks and good luck.

[@Nikolas____]

I can place it horizontally solar air heater in my house ?

[@ArcticaSolar]

Yes, they can be mounted landscape or portrait.

[@MaximumEfficiency]

how about solar air vs solar water for heating?

[@ArcticaSolar]

Solar thermal hot water is great, the thermal capacity of water is far superior to air. However, these systems tend to be more complicated and expensive, and you have to be careful with freeze protection. But it does make time shifting the energy easier and more flexible. Thinking through a home solar thermal hot water heating system would be useful especially if the home already has radiant heating installed.