South Africa has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world. The solar radiation of South Africa ranges from around 1450kWh/m2 to about 1950 kWh/m2 per year, compared to Europe which is 10kwh/m2 per year.

The term solar power is used to describe a method of harnessing energy from the sun.

Solar thermal energy is where the sun's energy is used to heat water. Solar thermal energy is relatively simple process where water is pumped into solar panels, heated and stored in a tank ready for use.

Pros

• Solar panels give of no pollution; the only pollution produced as a result of solar panels is manufacturing these devices in factories, transportation of the goods and installation.
• The production of energy from fossil and some renewable fuels (e.g. wind turbines) can be noisy, yet solar energy produces the energy very quietly.
• One of the great pros of solar energy is the ability to harness energy in remote locations. A prime example of this is in space, where satellites are powered by high efficiency solar cells.
• The installation of solar panels in remote locations is usually much more cost effective than laying the required high voltage wires.
• Solar energy can be very efficient in a large area of the globe, and new technologies allow for a more efficient energy production on overcast days.
• Solar panels can be installed on top of many rooftops, which eliminate the problem of finding the required space for solar panel placement.
• Another great pro is the cost. Although the initial investment of solar cells may be high, once installed, they provide a free source of energy, which will pay off over coming years.
• The use of solar energy to produce energy allows the user to become less dependent on the worlds fossil fuel supplies and the electrical grid.
• Solar Energy is virtually maintenance free and could last for decades.

Cons

• The major con of solar energy is initial cost of solar cells and collectors. The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming more price-competitive.
• Solar energy is only able to generate energy during daylight hours. This means for around half of each day, solar panels are not producing energy for your home.
• The weather can affect the efficiency of solar cells and collectors.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although their problem can be overcome with correct installation of certain components.

Harnessing the energy from the sun to heat water is nothing new. Solar water heaters have been commercially available since the 1800s.

What's new is how heaters look these days. Most modern solar water heaters mount flush with a home's roof and resemble skylights. Solar water heaters are environmentally sound way to reduce energy bills.

Solar energy can meet part or all of a home’s domestic hot water needs. Geographic location, system design, collector orientation and collector size will determine how much energy can be provided for domestic hot water heating.

Solar water heaters come in a variety of configurations. Each differs in design, cost, performance and level of complexity. Most systems have back-up water heating such as gas or electricity. A solar water heating system usually consists of a hot water storage tank, a solar collector that absorbs solar energy, pump and controls.