How does a solar power plant work?

DeanD In the future, fossil fuel power plants - namely coal plants in the United States - will be replaced with clean, renewable sources of energy. Solar energy will play a major role in that future. Presently, solar power plants are gaining a foothold in utility-scale power generation. Solar power plants can produce energy in two ways: Solar thermal power plants - In this set-up, solar energy heats a transfer fluid, which is used to heat water. That water creates steam to spin a turbine that can then produce electricity. Solar photovoltaic (PV) plants - PV plants utilize solar power panels to convert solar radiation directly into electricity. Solar Thermal Power Plants Solar thermal power plants also work in a few different ways. The most common type uses a parabolic trough design. In these plants, commonly known as concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, several rows of trough-shaped, parabolic mirrors are strategically designed to capture and concentrate the sun's rays onto a focal point, much like a child might use a magnifying glass to burn ants. That point is a black pipe running the length of the row of mirrors. Inside this pipe is a transfer fluid, which heats up to very hot temperatures, often upwards of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated fluid is piped to a power generator, where its heat is used to boil water, creating steam and electricity. Another version of a solar thermal power plant is a "power tower." Power towers take CSP technology in a new direction. Mirrors are situated to focus solar radiation onto a single focal point: a tall tower which houses a receiver that boils water to create steam. Mirrors are usually connected to a tracking system that allows them to follow the sun across the sky. Power towers have some key advantages, such as smaller footprints and relatively fast construction time. Solar Photovoltaic Plants Photovoltaic plants are very straightforward. Several solar power panels are installed to form an array. Typically, a handful of panels will be "strung" together in series on a single mounting system. Each set of panels collects solar energy, converts it directly into electricity, and sends that electricity through wiring to the electric grid. PV power plants are relatively rare because solar thermal power is currently much more efficient at producing electricity on a large scale CalFinder Guide to Home Solar Panels Welcome to the CalFinder Guide to Home Solar Panels. Here, you'll find exactly what you need to know about every major solar panel product, broken down by brand, country of manufacturing, certification, warranty, and energy output. The only one of its kind, the CalFinder Guide allows you to compare solar panels by manufacturer to get the best deal. Find the panel you want, and then get free estimates for installation in a matter of minutes. We'll set you up with certified contractors and a solar power system you can depend on. Start spinning your meter backwards today! What are Solar Panels and How Do They Work? Photovoltaic (PV) technology generates electricity from sunlight. In a solar-powered home, PV cells are configured together into a series of modules, or solar panels, which absorb fractions of the sun's energy from their position on your rooftop. The solar panel is connected to a grid-tied inverter in order to power to the home's electrical grid. Solar water panels are different in that they use the suns energy to heat fluid, usually water. In the home, this is done with flat-plate thermal collectors mounted to the roof with attached circulation tubes to heat your water.

Popular Solar Panel Manufacturers BP Solar Panels Canadian Solar Panels Evergreen Solar Solar Panels First Solar Solar Panels GE Solar Panels Kaneka Solar Panels Kyocera Solar Panels Mitsubishi Solar Panels Sanyo Solar Panels Schott Solar Panels Sharp Solar Panels Solyndra Solar Panels SunPower Solar Panels Suntech Power Solar Panels Top Solar Panels Photovoltaic Cells Broken down, the two root words photo and voltaic mean light and electricity. So its no wonder that photovoltaic (PV) cells are essentially solar-electric energy systems, devices built to convert sunlight into an electrical current. This article will summarize the way photovoltaic cells accomplish their magic and will outline their general stages of development. A PV cell consists of a diode, which conducts electric currents in a single direction using its semiconductor material. Semiconductors have the ability to transfer heat or electricity between metal and an insulator. This capacity increases along with increases in temperature. When sunlight hits the solar panel of a PV cell, a portion of that light is absorbed and transferred to the semiconductor. Once the semiconductor receives this solar heat, atoms release electrons, which flow through the semiconductor to create an electrical charge. This electrical charge, or current, is drawn to metal plates located on the top and bottom of the PV cell. From there, it enters an inverter, where it can be transferred to a homes utility panel for useable energy. Silicon is still the most commonly found semiconductor in an average PV cell. Silicon has a crystalline structure. Each silicon atom consists of three layers filled with electrons that increase in number toward the center of the atom. As electrons in the outer shell are released, the inner electrons move to take their place, resulting in a locked structure. This is why most silicon solar cells are either N-type or P-type silicon cells. Through a doping process, N-type cells include phosporous, enabling more electrons to escape the outer shell of the atomic structure to become electricity. P-type silicon cells are doped with boron, which allows electrons to leave the atomic structure by creating positively charged holes in their place. The most common semiconductor in PV cells is still the silicon wafer. As technology advances, PV semiconductors are becoming more flexible and diverse. Advancements from the silicon wafer include foil-based solar cells, polymer solar cells, nanocrystal solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, and most recently, multispectrum solar cells. Costs of Solar Photovoltaic | Home Solar Power There are several different factors that go into figuring the cost of a solar PV system. There are also up front costs, rebates and rate of payback to be considered. Typically, solar PV systems cost around $10 per watt installe Read more