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. Solar power is a renewable resource which means that you do not have to pay any bill or keep replacing parts to get the results that you need. The disadvantage in terms of availability is that you cannot access the energy if there is no sunlight. You cannot rely on solar power at night or in places that tend to be very cloudy for several months. The benefits of Stirling solar over PV cells are the higher conversion efficiency from sunlight into electricity, plus a longer lifetime. Power Tower A solar power tower includes a wide array of heliostats or tracking reflectors that focus light on a central receiver over a tower. Power towers are considered to be the most cost effective and provide better energy storage and higher efficiency compared to other CSP technologies. Passive Solar Heating Passive solar heating belongs to the category of solar space heating. The heating process can be done by orienting the home well so that most of the windows face to the south. The windows should be sized properly too, so that optimal heat gain will be attained. The home has to be insulated to reduce loss of heat. The transfer of heat is triggered by the difference in the temperature of the objects. The rate of heat transfer is proportional to the difference in temperature. The bigger the difference in temperature between the items, the heat movement will be faster. Heat Movement Assessment It is important that people know more about the movement of heat to full appreciate solar thermal energy. Inside the box, you will see black absorber plates that absorb solar energy and transform it into heat. The heat energy is moved to a fluid, air or water that will flow through the collector. This will ensure if the system is air-based or liquid-based. Solar energy storage can be done using thermal mass or water tanks for liquid based systems.