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Solar Electricity:
(i) Photovoltaic Systems (PV Systems)
PV Systems use solar or
photovoltaic cells (PVC) to obtain light directly from Sun, converts
the light to electricity and use it to provide electricity for lighting or
to power electric devices (refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washing
machines, dryers etc) at home or in commercial settings.
A PVC often require a battery to store DC
currents coming from the Sun through the PVC and an inverter to convert
the DC to the AC currents required for electricity supply and for powering electric devices.
Initial uses of PVCs had been for powering homes and dwellings at remote locations
(off-grid) and to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs. Recent and future uses will include powering homes that are
connected to the main electric grid system. For more information, please go to
the
Photovoltaic cells page.
(ii) Solar Power Generating Plants:
Solar Power Plants work similarly to
Coal Plants, Hydropower
Plants, Nuclear Plants and
Geothermal Plants. Solar radiation is collected through thermal collectors,
which can be:
(a) Parabolic Troughs or
(b) Solar Dish),
The radiation is used to heat up a fluid to produce steam
that is used to turn the blades of a turbine, which in turn turns a shaft
connected to electromagnet and copper wire
 system (generator) resulting in the
generation of electrical charges (electricity). The electricity generated
can be stepped up by transformer and sent through transmission lines to
end users.
A new solar generating plant system under
development is the Solar
(Updraft) Tower system. The system is based on the simple theory that
hot air rises. It combines chimney effect with the effects of greenhouse
and wind.
Solar towers involve the use of the sun’s radiation to
heat a large body of air (fluid) from beneath
a chimney, causing the air to heat and rise up
through the chimney. The movement of the hot air provides the power that
turns large turbines
fitted with electromagnetic and copper arrangements systems that generate
electricity, similar to other power plants - coal
plants, hydropower plants,
nuclear plants,
geothermal plants etc.
A prototype of the Solar Tower was developed
in Spain in 1982 by a group led by a German Engineer Prof
Jörg Schlaich, the founder of
a company called
Schlaich
Bergermann & Partner.
A Solar Updraft
Tower is being constructed by
EnviroMission, in Australia and will be completed by
2012. A picture of the tower and the video, both from
EnviroMission are produced below:
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