Solar thermal systems primarily focus on harnessing solar energy to heat water or air, rather than generating electricity.

Solar collectors, typically consisting of flat plates or evacuated tubes, are designed to absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat to a working fluid.

Water is the most commonly used heat transfer fluid due to its high specific heat capacity and availability.

Flat-plate collector systems are the most common type of solar thermal systems used for residential and commercial applications due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation.

Solar thermal systems generally have higher efficiency in converting solar energy to heat compared to photovoltaic systems, which convert solar energy to electricity.

Solar thermal systems, like other solar technologies, are subject to the intermittency of solar energy, meaning their output is dependent on the availability of sunlight.

Solar thermal systems are increasingly being used in industrial processes to provide heat for various applications, such as drying, curing, and manufacturing.

Central receiver systems are typically used for large-scale power generation, where a field of mirrors concentrates solar radiation onto a central receiver to generate high-temperature steam.

Parabolic trough systems generally have higher efficiency in converting solar energy to heat compared to flat-plate collector systems due to their ability to concentrate solar radiation.

Dish Stirling systems, unlike some other solar thermal technologies, cannot generate electricity during cloudy conditions due to the lack of concentrated sunlight.

Solar thermal systems are commonly used in residential and commercial buildings to heat water for domestic use, such as bathing, washing, and cooking.

Air-based solar thermal systems are commonly used for space heating applications, where solar energy is used to heat air, which is then distributed throughout the building to provide warmth.

Solar thermal systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by generating electricity or heat without burning fossil fuels, thereby reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

The intermittency of solar energy poses a challenge in integrating solar thermal systems into existing energy grids, as their output is dependent on the availability of sunlight.