Different types of Solar Power Plants

Solar power plants are the new topic in vogue these days, all countries, are talking about this non exhaustible source of energy and devising ways to take advantage out of it. There are different types of solar power plant, yet each type varies from the other. Before getting into the details of different types of solar power plants, it is better to know about the active and passive techniques of using solar power plants.

Active usage is directly linked with getting immediate output. The use of solar panels, batteries and all other equipments, which are used to convert energy from the sun in a form useable by all, comes under this heading. On the other hand passive approach is more towards non technical side. During passive methods, building and the homes are built in such a manner to get maximum light from the sun and utilize it.

Now let’s throw some light on the different types of solar power plants used:

• Photovoltaic Solar Energy: it is a replacement of the traditional electricity source. Light from the sun is captured by the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic solar energy and then converted into electricity. The entire process is very clear and clean as it doesn’t require emission of any harmful gases in the atmosphere. Many companies are adopting ways of installing a solar voltaic cells embedded grids to avoid their dependence upon traditional electricity means.

• Solar Thermal Energy: another type of solar power plant which makes solar generated heaters, warms water, and does indoor heating system. As the name indicates, thermal cells trap the sunlight and convert them into heat energy. They can also be used for cooking purposes (similar to the working of pressure cooker), ventilation and for drying clothes. There are different temperature ranges for the working of thermal energy. Low temperature is used for warming water purposes, like heating pools; while medium level is used to facilitate indoor heating system, similar to the one used in our houses and building, and finally the higher temperature range is used to generate electric power.

• Concentrating Power Plant: now come the third and the last type. The working of the concentrating and photovoltaic cells are more or less the same, only with the difference that the concentrating plants also use certain mirrors and lenses to grab the beam of sunlight. The beam of light goes to the photovoltaic cells present in concentrating power plants and converts into heat energy. Due to its different technique, concentrating plants are used on a large scale by big companies.

There different types of solar power plants have made it possible to use sun light is an efficient manner in varying form apart from electricity purposes only. For every type of solar power plant you need some kind of solar tracker for maximum performance.

Photovoltaic Power Plant:

Location: Iža, Slovakia
Year of construction: 2010
Type: greenfield power plant
Yearly production: 1050 mWh
Energy supply: 500 households