photovoltaic plant

photovoltaic plant

We know that of the types of renewable energy that exist in the world, solar is the most advanced and well-known. The place where solar energy is transformed into electrical energy to be able to use it is in the photovoltaic plant. There are many different types of photovoltaic power plants and each one has its characteristics and capabilities.

In this article we are going to tell you about the characteristics of a photovoltaic plant, the types that exist and the advantages they have with respect to energy production plants based on fossil fuels.

Characteristics of a photovoltaic plant

Photovoltaics

A photovoltaic plant is a power plant that uses the photovoltaic effect to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The photovoltaic effect occurs when photons hit a material and manage to displace electrons, creating direct current.

a photovoltaic plant It basically consists of photovoltaic modules and inverters. Photovoltaic panels are responsible for converting solar radiation. In turn, the inverter converts direct current power into alternating current power with characteristics similar to those of a grid.

In this type of solar system, all the electricity generated is injected into the distribution network. This operation leads to a better performance of the device, since all the energy generated in this way is used.

The largest photovoltaic plant in the world is Bhadla Solar Park in India with an installed capacity of 2.245 MW. The total cost of the installation is 1.200 million euros. Photovoltaic energy is considered a clean energy source because it does not produce polluting gases.

Main components

solar energy formation

The main components that any type of photovoltaic plant must have, regardless of the type it is, are the following:

  • Solar panels: Photovoltaic panels are the backbone of a plant of this type. They are made up of photovoltaic cells that capture energy from sunlight and convert it into direct current electricity.
  • Investors: The electricity generated by solar panels is direct current, but most electrical devices and systems use alternating current. The inverters transform electricity from direct current to alternating current, making it compatible with domestic use and integration into the electricity grid.
  • Support structures: Solar panels are installed on structures designed to keep them in place, ensuring their correct orientation towards the sun and their protection against adverse weather conditions.
  • storage system (optional): Some photovoltaic plants can incorporate energy storage systems, such as batteries, to store excess electricity generated during the day and use it at night or at times of low solar radiation.
  • weather tower. It is where different meteorological conditions are analyzed to determine the amount of solar radiation that is received or expected to be received.
  • Lines of transport. They are the lines that carry electrical energy to the consumption centers.
  • Control room: It is in charge of supervising the place where all the elements of the photovoltaic plant operate.

One of the fundamental aspects of photovoltaic power plants is that the electrical components must be dimensioned to take into account possible increases in installed power of the plant in the future.

Types of photovoltaic power plants

large photovoltaic plant

As we have mentioned before, there are different types of photovoltaic plants depending on the demand, the electrical power and many more aspects to take into account. Let's see what are the main types that exist:

  • Isolated photovoltaic plants: These plants are located in remote areas where there is no access to the conventional electricity grid. They use solar panels to generate electricity and store it in batteries for later use. They are ideal for applications such as farmhouses, weather stations, or navigational beacons.
  • Grid-connected photovoltaic plants: These plants are connected to the conventional electricity distribution system. They generate electricity on a large scale and feed it directly into the grid, allowing it to be distributed to consumers. These centers can be of two types:
  1. Large-scale photovoltaic power plants: Also known as open field solar power plants, they are made up of a large number of solar panels arranged over a large area. They can occupy unoccupied land, such as deserts or rural areas, and generate a significant amount of electricity.
  2. Photovoltaic plants on roofs: These power stations are installed on the roofs of residential, commercial or industrial buildings. They use the available spaces on the roofs to generate electricity and feed internal consumption or even inject excess energy into the electricity grid.
  • Floating photovoltaic plants: These plants are built in bodies of water, such as lakes or reservoirs. Solar panels float on the surface of the water and generate electricity. This approach has several advantages, such as soil conservation, reduced water evaporation, and higher yields due to the cooling effect of the water.
  • Portable photovoltaic plants: These plants are designed to be transported and deployed in different places according to the needs. They are usually used in emergency situations or in temporary areas where electricity is required, such as camping or outdoor events.

How a photovoltaic plant works

In the control room, the operation of all plant equipment is supervised. In the control room, it receives information from meteorological towers, inverters, current cabinets, substation centers, etc. The conversion process of photovoltaic solar energy into electricity is as follows:

Conversion of solar energy into direct current

Photocells are responsible for capturing solar radiation and converting it into electricity. Usually, are made up of silicon a semiconductor material that facilitates the photoelectric effect. When a photon collides with a solar cell, an electron is released. Electricity is produced in the form of direct current through the sum of many free electrons.

The power generation capacity will depend on the weather (radiation, humidity, temperature...). Depending on the weather conditions at each moment, the amount of solar radiation that the photovoltaic cells will receive will be variable. For this, a meteorological tower is built in the solar plant.

DC to AC conversion

Photovoltaic panels generate direct current. However, The electrical energy that circulates through the transmission network does so in the form of alternating current. To do this, direct current must be converted to alternating current.

First, the DC power from the solar panels is fed to the DC cabinet. In this cabinet, the current is converted to alternating current by a power inverter. The current is then delivered to the AC cabinet.

Transportation and supply of electricity

The current arriving at the AC cabinet is not yet ready to feed the grid. Therefore, the electrical energy generated passes through a conversion center where it is adapted to the power and voltage conditions of the transmission lines for use in the consumer center.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about what a photovoltaic plant is like and its characteristics.


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