Solar Power PlantsGenerate Electricity

October 03, 2024By:KPI Green Energy Ltd.

How Solar Power Plants Generate Electricity?

Solar power plants are revolutionizing the energy industry and aspire to deliver, a renewable energy technology that can be dependent on to meet any demand. We live in a world where the sun's rays were once only a source of warmth and light and are now becoming a powerful energy source.

As mankind seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change, solar energy has emerged as a promising alternative.

The solar power system consists of vast arrays of solar panels, that capture the sun's energy and transform it into electrical energy. This renewable resource offers a clean alternative to traditional energy sources, with no or minimal environmental impact.

In this article, we will try to understand more about this energy form and also how solar power plants generate electricity.

How do solar power plants generate electricity?

A solar power plant is a complex system and its basic goal is to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. To understand how it converts sunlight into a form of electricity, you need to understand some of the basic components present in a solar power plant.

Basic Components in Solar Power Plant:

• Solar Panels: Solar panels are plate-shaped panels made up of numerous photovoltaic cells. These cells are the fundamental units that convert sunlight into electricity.


• Inverters: These are electronic devices that convert the direct current (DC) generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC). The generated form of current is compatible with the electrical grid.


• Transformers: Transformers are used to increase the voltage of the AC electricity. You need to raise the voltage to make AC electricity suitable for long-distance transmission.

Steps to generate solar electricity:

These are the steps involved in generating solar electricity in the power plant.

1. Solar Energy Capture:

When sunlight reaches the photovoltaic cells in a solar panel it excites the electrons within the cells. The movement of electrons causes the flow and creates an electrical current. The individual cells in a solar panel are in series connection to increase the voltage of the generated electricity.

2. Inverters:

The direct current (DC) that gets generated in the solar panels is not suitable for direct use. Inverters are used to convert this DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. Alternating Current (AC) is the standard form of electricity used in homes and businesses.

3. Energy Transmission:

The AC electricity generated by the solar power plant is then transmitted through transmission cables to a substation. At the substation, the voltage of the electricity is stepped up to a high voltage, making it more efficient to transmit. The stepping up of voltage helps in making the transmission with negligible resistance loss. The high-voltage electricity is then sent to the electrical grid for distribution to domestic and commercial consumers.

Types of Solar Power Plants

Solar power plants are broadly classified into three main categories:

1. Ground-Mounted Solar Power Plants

Ground-mounted solar power plants are large set arrays of solar panels installed on the ground. The panels are connected to inverters that convert the DC electricity into AC electricity.

Advantages:

• Large-scale power generation: Ground-mounted solar power plants generate significant amounts of electricity.
• Optimal sunlight exposure: They are located in areas where abundant sunlight is found maximizing power output.
• Land flexibility: They are installed on various types of land which can include agricultural land, industrial sites, and wastelands.

2. Floating Solar Power Plants

Floating solar power plants are solar power systems that are installed on water bodies. The panels are installed on floating platforms that are anchored to the waterbed.

Advantages:

• Land conservation: These are seen in water bodies, which serves the purpose of conservation of land resources.
• Reduced evaporation: Using such plants the water evaporation from reservoirs is reduced.

3. Rooftop Solar Power Plants

Rooftop solar power plants are systems that are installed on the roofs of buildings. They typically consist of solar panels, inverters, and a mounting system. Rooftop solar plants are generally small in capacity.

Advantages:

• Decentralized power generation: You don’t have to entirely rely on the grid always, use rooftop solar plants for decentralized power generation.
• Lower installation costs: They have lower installation costs compared to ground-mounted plants.
• Reduced energy bills: Rooftop solar plants can reduce electricity bills for residence owners and businesses.

Each type of solar power plant has its advantages and purpose of existence. The sole choice of the power plant depends on available space, land use regulations, and specific energy needs.

Conclusion

In short, solar energy has emerged as the promising solution to the energy challenges faced by the world. If you want to know more about electricity generation in solar plants, reach the industry leader, KPI Green Energy Limited. It is a leader in solar energy, which can help you with all your solar power plant-related requirements. Under their IPP (independent power plant) and CPP (captive power producer) programs they can build a flawless solar plant for you or also provide you with your energy demands.