SOLAR POWER PLANT

Introduction:

In order to create electricity on a massive scale, a solar power plant uses the sun's limitless energy.
These plants generate clean, renewable energy by converting sunlight into electrical power using
photovoltaic cells or solar thermal systems. When it comes to reducing carbon emissions and lessening
the impact of climate change, solar power plants are indispensable. These plants are becoming more
efficient and cost-effective as technology advances, making solar energy a crucial component in the shift
towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future.

What is a solar power plant?

The process of electricity production in a solar plant is completely ecological and doesn't generate
polluting elements for the environment, as well as being one of the most efficient renewable energies
that currently exist.

Thanks to these advantages of solar energy compared to energies generated from fossil fuels or non-
renewable sources, solar power plants represent a key tool for developing a new long-term sustainable
production model, which is completely eco-friendly.

Depending on its operating system, there are two main types of solar plants: solar thermal power plants
and solar photovoltaic plants.

Types of Solar Power Plant

Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant

Photovoltaic power plants are also known as the PV. They convert sunlight into electricity. This type uses
photovoltaic cells. These cells are made using silicon alloys. These panels are available in different forms.
Some popular forms are crystalline solar panels and thin-film solar panels. PV options are preferred since
it enables to store the solar energy into batteries. It can feed into the national grid as well. The PV plants
will need inverters for transforming the power from the DC into the AC.

As mentioned above, PV panels usually come from semiconductor material. When the photons of
sunlight will hit the material, free electrons will be generated. The free electrons will flow through the
material to generate a direct electrical current. The entire process is known as the photoelectric effect.
The DC will be converted into AC by using an inverter, and finally, it will be fed into the grid. The PV
panels are different from the solar thermal plants. They use photo effects. However, thermal plants use
liquid heat-carrying ways. The benefit of PV panels is that they do not focus on energy. Instead, they
convert photons into energy.

Solar Thermal Power Plant

Solar thermal power plants collect sunlight in such a way that they can generate electricity. These are
subdivided into three types. These are linear, solar dish power plants, and parabolic trough solar
thermal. The most common ones are the linear collectors or solar dishes. These types normally consist of
parallel rows.
The solar thermal power plant will produce heat from the sunlight. It will operate below 100 °C
temperatures. The installations are available for residential and commercial properties. The generated
heat can be used for different types of industrial needs. The CHINT uses the right technologies to create
a better solution for commercial and residential usage. They use solar thermal collectors. The solar
thermal collectors absorb the heat from the sunlight and then transfer the heat to a heat transfer fluid
that includes water, antifreeze, and air. The fluid will be transported to the heat intended areas.