Electricity

Photovoltaics:-There are many ways by which the electricity can be generated from the sun. Photovoltaics (PV) has been mainly developed for small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to the PV power plant. For large-scale generation, concentrating solar thermal power plants have been more common but new multi-megawatt PV plants have been built recently. Other solar electrical generation technologies are still at the experimental stage. PV is a technology in which light is converted into electrical power. It is best known as a method for generating solar power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel more simply, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.

Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST):- Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. This is then used to generate electricity. Moreover, the high temperatures produced by CST systems can be used to provide process heat and steam for a variety of secondary commercial applications (cogeneration). However, CST technologies require direct insolation to function and are of limited use in locations with significant cloud cover. The main methods for producing a concentrated beam are the solar trough, solar power tower and parabolic dish; the solar bowl is more rarely used. Each concentration method is capable of producing high temperatures and high efficiencies, but they vary in the way they track the sun and focus light. Considering these processes, the technology and the number of people doing these jobs, should give you a good idea about the effort made to harness solar power.

Solar Trough:- A solar trough consists of a linear parabolic reflector that concentrates light onto a receiver positioned along the reflector's focal line. The reflector is made to follow the sun during the daylight hours by tracking along a single axis. A working fluid (oil, water) flows through the receiver and is heated to 500 °C before transferring its heat to a distillation or power generation system. Trough systems are the most developed CST technology.

Dish:- Dish system consists of a stand-alone parabolic reflector that concentrates light onto a receiver positioned at the reflector's focal point. The reflector tracks the sun along two axes. A working fluid (hydrogen, helium, air or water) flows through the receiver where it is heated to 1000 °C before transferring its heat to a for power generation engine. Parabolic dish systems display the highest solar-to-electric efficiency among CST technologies and their modular nature offers scalability.

Solar Tower:- A solar power tower consists of an array of flat reflectors (heliostats) that concentrate light on a central receiver atop a tower. Focusing is critical and the reflectors track the sun through the day and the year on two axes. A working fluid (air, water, molten salt) flows through the receiver where it is heated up to 1500 °C before transferring its heat to a power generation or energy storage system. Power towers are less advanced than trough systems but they offer higher efficiency and better energy storage capability.

Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV):- Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) systems convert concentrated light into electricity by PV rather than heat engines. They also use tracking systems, mirrors, and lenses to achieve high concentration ratios and are able to reach efficiencies above 40%.