Solar Technology
Why Burn expensive fuel when you can harvest the sun for free?
As a free source of energy, sunlight can be converted into electricity using Photovoltaics (PV), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) and various experimental technologies. PV has mainly been used to provide electricity to provide small and medium-sized applications and homes.
For large-scale electricity generation, CSP plants have been the norm, but recently the new generation of multi-megawatt plants have been PV and CPV plants. All three technologies are described below.
CONCENTRATED PHTOTOVOLTAICS (CPV) Uses mirrors or lenses focusing light on solar cells concentrating sunlight at 500x.
- Highest electricity density
- Matches peak load demand
- Best in hot climates
- Readily scalable to GW
PHOTOVOLTAICS CONVENTIONAL (PV) PV cells consist of a type of semiconductor such as silicon. When light strikes the cells, the absorbed light is transferred via semiconductor to generate electricity.
- Mature Technology
- Accepts Indirect sunlight
- Doesn’t require tracking
- High temperatures limit
CONCENTRATED SOLAR ELECTRICITY (CSP) Uses lenses or mirrors & tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam used to heat a working fluid which is then used for electricity generation or storage.
- Cost efficient in large installations
- Mature solar technology
- Large land use
- Significant water usage