Which technology uses sunlight to heat water?

Solar thermal systems utilize sunlight to directly heat water. They achieve this by collecting solar energy through solar collectors, which absorb sunlight and convert it into heat. This heat is then transferred to water, which can be used for various applications such as residential hot water supply, space heating, or even swimming pool heating.

Photovoltaic systems, on the other hand, are designed to convert sunlight into electricity, not heat. Ground source heat pumps leverage geothermal energy from the ground to provide heating and cooling but do not directly use sunlight. Wind turbines generate electricity from wind energy rather than solar energy. In contrast to these technologies, solar thermal systems specifically target the absorption of solar energy to produce heat, making them the appropriate choice for heating water.