The benefits of choosing solar panels over other forms of electricity generation are undeniable. It is a great renewable source of energy that is also cost effective.
So what about accessibility?
We all know that solar panels use sunlight to create electricity for all kinds of residential and commercial uses. However, when deciding whether to choose solar power as the main source of electricity, we often have to consider how much sunlight will be accessible for the solar panels. What might come as a great consolation to those facing heavy rains or cloudy days is that solar panels can still receive sunlight in those conditions.
The photovoltaic cells in the solar panels absorb solar radiation from the sunlight and then convert into a flow of electric current. This can be done even in the cloudy or rainy season because solar panels are able to absorb indirect sunlight even when the light is reflected or partially blocked by clouds. There will always be visible light that can penetrate through clouds and rain even in harsh storms. Solar panels work the same way as they do on a bright day although the direct sunlight is more effective than on a rainy or cloudy day.
Solar panels are generally able to only generate 30-50% of their full capacity due to cloudy weather or 10-20% of their full capacity due to heavy rain. For instance, if a solar power system is able to generate 4kWh of electricity on a normal summer day, it can reduce to generating around 1-2 kWh of electricity on a cloudy day or 0.5-1 kWh of electricity on a rainy day.
So, what is the solution to managing this reduced capacity of electricity generation?
It all depends on the type of solar power system that has been installed.
For Utility Grid Solar Power Systems
These systems are connected to a main utility grid operated by the electricity providers. Extra electricity that solar panels generate is sent to the grid, leaving only the electricity that is required by the consumer. This way, in situations where the weather doesn’t allow the solar panels to perform at their peak, the extra energy that the consumer requires is pulled from the main grid. The electricity provider will then charge the consumer for those extra units at the end of the month. Similarly the consumer can earn when solar panels generate excess power in sunny weather that is supplied to the utility grid.
For Off Grid Solar Power Systems
Although these systems are not connected to the utility grid, they do have a Solar PV Energy Storage System connected in case of electricity shortage. There needs to be adequate storage capacity in these batteries for situations where it rains or is continuously cloudy for multiple days. Extra batteries or a small diesel generator are good precautions for worst case scenarios. It is also advisable to oversize when opting for an off grid solar power system, allowing for a guaranteed supply of extra electricity stored in the batteries.
Sterling and Wilson Solar offers a complete range of Turnkey and Balance of System (BoS) solutions for our utility-scale, rooftop, and floating solar power projects. Our solutions include design, solar epc and project management and operations and maintenance.
No comments:
Post a Comment