Solar energy is a lifesaver in today’s age, and the solar power plant is just the invention that makes use of it. Understanding the functioning of a solar power plant will make you realise it is very similar to photosynthesis, except, it is a non-living thing!
It is a power plant that uses photovoltaic (PV) panels or concentrated solar power (CSP) systems to convert sunlight into electricity. These plants are an important step toward a sustainable and green environment.
In this article, we will talk about the functioning mechanism, types, and benefits of solar power plants in detail.
As already mentioned, a solar power plant is a plant that uses photovoltaic panels or CSP systems to produce electricity from sunlight. They are capable of generating electricity at a large scale without compromising on energy security and the environment.
Solar power plants are fundamentally different from residential solar panels because the former produces electricity on a large scale for both commercial use and supply to the grids. On the other hand, residential solar panels are installed on the rooftops of houses for the self-consumption of solar electricity.
The scalability of a solar power plant is quite flexible, ranging from small solar power units to huge solar power plants spanning across acres of land, producing gigawatts of electricity. This factor gives them an undeniable industrial relevance, which sometimes might overshadow their importance in meeting sustainability goals.
There are three main types of solar power plants- photovoltaic panels, CSP plants, and hybrid systems.
As we have already discussed, the PV panels are made up of several silicon solar cells that can be compared to chlorophyll present in plants for better understanding. These cells convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photoelectric effect. PV panels are highly versatile because they can be a good fit for residential, commercial, and also large-scale applications.
CSP plants use the method of magnifying glasses. They focus the sunlight into small areas with the help of mirrors or curved lenses. The two main types of CSP plants are parabolic troughs and solar towers. They use curved mirrors to focus sunlight on a linear receiver and, on a central receiver on the top of a tall tower, respectively. These types of plants are perfect for regions with abundant sunlight and large-scale power generation.
These systems work based on the principle of combining two or more kinds of renewable sources of energy. A hybrid system gives higher plant load factors (PLFs) than a standalone solar power plant. In the case of the integration of solar and wind energy, the photovoltaic panels are combined with wind turbines to make electricity. This is an extremely efficient system because electricity can be produced in various weather and seasonal conditions without any hindrances.
Geography, climate, and energy demands are some of the obvious factors in deciding a type of solar power plant. Regions with abundant sunlight during most parts of the year are well suited for CSP plants. PV panels are a good choice for various different locations due to their versatile nature.
Since they use a renewable source of energy, solar power plants have many benefits.
In this article, we have read about what solar power plants are, their functioning, types, and benefits. Solar power plants are emerging facilities on the journey to adopt renewable sources of energy for a sustainable future.
KP Group is one of the leading commercial solar power plant manufacturers. To read more about its work, visit here KPI Green Energy Limited
We hope this article helped you to understand the meaning, functioning, types, and benefits of solar power plants.
Sustainable, reliable & affordable energy systems
Ans: It is a power production facility where solar panels produce electricity from sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. It is also a renewable power plant, which makes distribution more sustainable because it depends less on conventional resources.
Ans: In the simplest terms, a solar power plant includes photovoltaic (PV) panels used to collect sunlight and convert it into power. Electricity may be stored in batteries for later use or can be connected directly to the grid depending upon how the system is set up.
Ans: Installation varies according to system size, location, and energy requirements, but savings on long-term energy bills and government incentives can justify their cost considerably.
