How does a solar power plant work?

1. How does a solar power plant work? Summary: - Solar power is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources out there and can be harnessed best with a solar power plant. Here is how a solar power plant works. A solar power plant uses the energy of the sun, i.e. sunlight and converts it to produce electricity. To do this, they employ solar panels. But solar energy can also be produced on a small scale by using solar panels for office buildings. This is enough to power a private building and reduces a lot of dependency on the power grid. Solar panels are of many types that use different mechanisms to produce electricity. 1. Photovoltaics Photovoltaic power plants use vast areas of solar panels made of photovoltaic cells, also called PV or solar cells, to convert sunlight into electricity. These cells are ordinarily made from silicon and other elements and are the most common technology of solar panels, especially in commercial solar installation. They are also the ones used as a solar system for factories. A solar power plant usually has the following basic elements:- - Solar panels for converting sunlight into electricity. The panels generate DC current with voltages up to 1500V. - These plants need inverters to transform DC power into AC for transmission. - The power plants usually have a monitoring system to control and operate the plant. - They are connected to the common power grid. - If the plant generates more power than 500 kW, step-up transformers are also employed. How does a solar power plant work? Solar PhotoVoltaic power plants work in the same way as the ones on your solar-powered calculator. Most solar PV panels are manufactured from semiconductors, usually silicon, as basic material. When photons from sunlight strike the semiconductor surface, free electrons are released. This flow of free electrons produces a direct current inside the material. 2. Solar Thermal Power Plants Solar Thermal power plants are different in a few ways. These plants collect sunlight to heat water to generate steam. This steam is used to move a turbine and generate electricity. Solar thermal power plants can be further divided as follows: 3. Solar Power Towers

2. Solar power towers are an interesting design in which thousands of mirrors (called heliostats) reflect and focus sunlight onto a central tower. In this way, solar towers are able to concentrate 1,500 times the energy than normal direct sunlight into a small volume. This strong solar energy heats the air inside the tower to 700 degrees. This heat is stored and used to heat water to move the turbine and generate electricity. In place of water, there may be other liquid used, but water is the cheapest liquid that is freely available. This plant works even during cloudy weather or during the night as the heat is stored. 4. Solar Pond Solar pond solar power plants employ a pool of saltwater. This pool of saltwater stores heat from the sunlight. The technology is called salinity-gradient technology. This system acts as a thermal trap inside the pond that can be used for both storage and direct electricity generation. Now that you have a better understanding regarding the workings of a solar plant, you can make a better decision regarding its suitability for you. Resource Box: - Vivaan Solar is one of the most prominent names in the country when it comes to solar power systems. They have been catering to the needs of their customers since last many years and have special expertise in commercial solar systems and their installation.