Solar is the Latin word of the sun and solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is a powerful source of energy. Many applications may use solar energy such as heating, cooling, ventilation, illumination, transport, cooking, water heating, water treatment, fuel production, electricity production, energy storage systems (ESSs) and buildings. It is found, statistically, that the amount of solar energy from the sun falling on the earth in one hour is more than that used by everyone in the world in one year. So, it is an important source of renewable energy, and solar technologies are broadly characterized as either active solar or passive solar depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power. Large-scale solar thermal systems, concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, can be used for electricity production. To study and analyse a utility grid supported by such active solar energy, it entails understanding how the solar energy is converted into electricity especially when using PV or CSP technologies.Parabolic troughs, linear Fresnel systems and power towers can be coupled to steam cycles of 10-200 MW of electric capacity, with thermal cycle efficiencies of 30%-40%. The values for parabolic troughs, by far the most mature technology, have been demonstrated in the field.

Chapter Contents:

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Solar PV technology
• 3.2.1 Basics
• 3.2.2 Energy loss in a solar cell
• 3.2.3 Electricity generation
• 3.2.4 PV cell equivalent circuit
• 3.2.5 Solar modules
• 3.2.6 Solar arrays
• 3.2.7 PV cell power curve
• 3.2.7.1 Temperature and insolation impact
• 3.2.7.2 Shading impact
• 3.3 Concentrating solar power
• 3.3.1 Linear concentrator systems
• 3.3.2 Dish-engine systems
• 3.3.3 Power tower systems
• References

Inspec keywords: solar absorber-convertors; statistical analysis; solar energy concentrators; solar power

Other keywords: solar energy; solar technologies; renewable energy; power towers; linear Fresnel systems; power grid; parabolic troughs; electricity production; active solar; CSP technologies; thermal cycle efficiencies; statistical analysis; concentrating solar power technology; passive solar; large-scale solar thermal systems; PV system

Subjects: Solar power stations and photovoltaic power systems; Solar collectors, concentrators and control films: optical aspects; Other topics in statistics; Solar energy; Photothermal conversion; Other direct energy conversion