Harnessing the sun’s power: Solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies offer distinct paths to clean energy. While both capture solar radiation, their approaches and applications differ significantly. Solar thermal systems concentrate sunlight to generate heat for water heating, space heating, or powering turbines, making them ideal for large-scale industrial processes and district heating in Europe. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, on the other hand, directly convert sunlight into electricity, providing a versatile and scalable solution for homes, businesses, and grid-connected power plants. As Europe strives for energy independence and …