Solar PV vs Solar Thermal—Understand the Differences and Choose Right

Published: 17 Nov 2025

Many people are familiar with solar PV and solar thermal, but they often do not understand the differences between them. Both systems use sunlight, but they do it in two different ways. Solar PV makes electricity through small cells in the panel. Solar thermal heats water or air through collectors. People often compare them because both can lower energy bills and help a home use clean power.

This article will show how they work, where they fit best, how they perform, and how their costs and uses differ in simple words. It will also share the pros and cons of each system so you can make a clear choice.

Let’s see which one suits you better.

Table of Content

What are Solar PV and solar thermal?

Solar PV and solar thermal are two ways to use sunlight for energy. Solar PV turns sunlight into electricity, while solar thermal uses sunlight to heat water or air. In this section, I will explain how each system works and what it is used for.

Solar PV

Solar PV uses panels that turn sunlight into electricity through small cells. The size and layout of these panels matter for efficiency. When choosing between Solar PV and Solar Thermal systems, the size and dimensions of the solar panels play a key role in planning your installation. Different panels have different measurements, which affect roof space and energy output. For a complete guide on standard sizes and how to select the right panels, visit our article on Solar Panel Dimensions and Sizes. It runs home lights, fans, and other appliances without fuel. It suits people who want clean power for daily electrical use in homes, shops, or small offices.

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal uses collectors that absorb sunlight to heat water or air. It works well for homes, hotels, and places that need steady hot water. It suits users who want a simple system for water heating and basic heating needs.

Comparison Table between Solar PV and Solar thermal

Here is a simple and clear comparison table:

Key Aspect	Solar PV	Solar Thermal
Main Purpose	Makes electricity	Heats water or air
How It Works	Uses small cells to change sunlight into power	Uses collectors to capture heat from sunlight
Main Output	Electrical energy	Hot water or heat
Ideal Users	Homes, shops, and offices that need power	Homes, hotels, hospitals, and pools that need hot water
Installation Needs	Panels, inverter, wiring	Collectors, tank, pipes
Maintenance	Light cleaning and checks	Cleaning plus checks on the tank and pipes
Flexibility	Runs many devices	Limited to heating tasks
Cost Range	Higher upfront in many cases	Lower upfront for most setups

Difference between solar PV and solar thermal

The difference between solar PV vs solar thermal is based on the following key aspects:

Here is the list of key aspects:

Main purpose
How it works
Main output
Ideal users
Installation needs
Maintenance
Flexibility
Cost range

Main Purpose

When comparing their main purpose, both systems serve different energy needs.

Solar PV

Makes electricity from sunlight.
Runs lights, fans, chargers, and small machines.

Solar Thermal

Heats water or air using sunlight.
Supports daily hot water use and basic heating tasks.

How It Works

When we look at how each system works, their methods are very different.

Solar PV

Uses small cells that change sunlight into electricity.
Needs an inverter to turn the power into a usable form.

Solar Thermal

Uses collectors that absorb heat from sunlight.
Sends the heat to water or air through pipes.

Main Output

When we compare outputs, the type of energy each system gives is not the same.

Solar PV

Gives electrical energy for many devices.
Can power daily home or shop use.

Solar Thermal

Gives hot water or heat.
Stores heat in a tank for later use.

Ideal Users

When we see who uses these systems, each one supports different groups.

Solar PV

Good for homes and shops that need steady power.
Fits people who want to reduce grid use.

Solar Thermal

Good for homes, hotels, hospitals, and pools.
Fits places that need a lot of hot water every day.

Installation Needs

When we compare installation, both systems have their own setup needs.

Solar PV

Needs panels, mounting gear, wiring, and an inverter.
Works best on a clear and sunny roof.

Solar Thermal

Needs collectors, a tank, pipes, and sometimes a small pump.
Works best where water lines and tanks are easy to place.

Maintenance

When we look at care and upkeep, both systems are easy to handle.

Solar PV

Needs simple cleaning and a quick check of wires.
The inverter may need care after some years.

Solar Thermal

Needs cleaning of collectors and checks on tank and pipes.
Pump may need care in some systems.

Flexibility

When we compare flexibility, one system supports more tasks than the other.

Solar PV

Works for many devices.
Can run small and large loads with the right system size.

Solar Thermal

Only heats water or air.
Cannot run appliances.

Cost Range

When we look at cost, both systems have different starting points.

Solar PV

Higher upfront cost because of panels and the inverter.
Savings grow over time as you use more power from the system.

Solar Thermal

Lower upfront cost for simple heating setups.
Strong heating output for the cost.

Pros and Cons of Solar PV and Solar Thermal

Here is a simple and clear look at the user experience, value, and unique strengths of each system. These points help readers understand what daily use feels like and what benefits they may gain.

Solar PV: Pros

Gives steady power for many daily tasks.
Works well with battery storage.
Needs very little care after setup.
Runs quietly with no moving parts.
Fits different roof sizes with ease.
Offers long-term value as power rates rise.

Solar PV: Cons

Needs more space for high power output.
Inverter may need replacement after some years.
Output drops on cloudy days.
Setup cost can be high for small homes.

Solar Thermal: Pros

Heats water fast on sunny days.
Works well for homes that use hot water often.
Simple system with direct heat transfer.
Needs fewer parts than many PV systems.
Gives strong value for heating tasks.
Reduces load on electric or gas water heaters.

Solar Thermal: Cons

Needs a storage tank that takes up space.
Heat use is limited to water or air.
Performance drops in cold or cloudy weather.
Pipes and tanks may need checks more often.

Final Verdict

As someone who works with both systems, I see that solar PV and solar thermal serve very different users. Solar PV suits beginners who want clean power without much effort. It works well for small homes, shops, and people who want simple use with low care. It also fits small businesses that need steady power for lights, fans, and basic tools.

Solar thermal suits users who need hot water every day. It works well for homes with large families, hotels, and places with heavy water use. It also fits users who understand basic system checks and can manage a tank and pipes.

Solar PV gives wide use and long-term value. Solar thermal delivers strong heating output at a lower initial cost. Both systems work well when matched to the right need.

Choose the one that fits your daily use, your space, and your budget with confidence.

Conclusion

In short, solar PV and solar thermal use sunlight in different ways. Solar PV converts sunlight into electricity for daily appliances. Solar thermal captures heat to provide hot water or space heating. They differ in purpose, installation, flexibility, and cost. Solar PV works well for power needs, while solar thermal focuses on heating.

Now that you know the key differences between solar PV and solar thermal, choose the one that best fits your goals.