SOLAR POWER
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SOLAR POWER
Solar power is the conversion of solar radiation into electricity through the use of solar photovoltaic cells. This conversion takes place in the solar cell by the photovoltaic effect. As said by many experts, the amount of solar energy reaching the earth is more than 10000 times the current energy consumption by man.
Different Types of Solar Electric Systems
There are different configurations of the solar electric system and are discussed below.
Off-grid/Standalone Solar Electric Systems
These are the most popular type of solar installations which are primarily designed to supplement or replace the conventional mains supply.
These are mainly used in the locations where there is no other source to provide power supply and hence these are used in remote locations and rural areas where it is difficult to get the power from grid extensions.
Generally, off-grid systems use solar power to charge the batteries, and this charge is then supplied to the load when needed. The battery power either directly operates the DC loads (DC lamps) or drives the power inverter that converts the DC power to AC power to operate the appliance like pumps, lighting equipment, refrigerators, etc.
This method is followed for any standalone system whether it is a pocket calculator or a complete off-grid home. Standalone systems are comparatively small and simple systems.
Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems
These systems effectively create a micropower station and are connected directly into the electricity grid. These are normally found in urban areas where power is readily available.
During the day it feeds the excess electricity generated into the grid and during evening and night it imports the electricity from the grid. Here the grid acts like a storage medium in which power is taken from the grid when needed.
It is to be noted that, grid-connected system doesn’t have to supply enough electricity to cover the entire power demand. So this system can be small or large depending on the owner’s choice.
This system receives the payment for each kilowatt of power which is supplied to the electricity providers. This type of installation reduces the dependence on electric utilities and hence reduces the electricity bills.