Solar power
- Is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination.
- Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect.
What is Photovoltaic cell and how does it work?
A Solar Cell, or Photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.
A Solar Cell, or Photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.
Concentrated Solar Power
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies use mirrors to concentrate (focus) the sun’s light energy and convert it into heat to create steam to drive a turbine that generates electrical power. CSP technology utilizes focused sunlight. That heat is then channeled through a conventional generator.
Hybrid Solar Systems
- Battery Bank: In a hybrid system once solar power is used by the appliances, any excess power left will be sent to the battery bank. Once the battery bank is fully charged, it will stop receiving power from the solar system. The energy from the battery can then be discharged and used for power consumption, usually during the peak evening period when the cost of electricity is typically at its highest.
- Meter and Electricity Grid: Depending on how your hybrid system is set up and whether your utility allows it, once your batteries are fully charged, excess solar power not required by your appliances can be exported to the grid via your meter. When your solar system is not in use, and if you have drained the usable power in your batteries your appliances will then start drawing power from the grid.