Difference between MW, MWp and MWh

 

When it comes to measuring power output and energy, there are several terms that are commonly used, including megawatts (MW), megawatt hours (MWh), and megawatts peak (MWp). While these terms may sound similar, they actually refer to different things.

In this blog, we will explore the differences between these terms and how they are used in various contexts.

MW: Megawatt

* MW is a unit of power that measures the rate at which energy is generated or consumed.

* It is commonly used to describe the output of electrical generators or the power consumption of large electrical loads.

* One MW is equal to one million watts, which means that a 1 MW generator can produce enough energy to power around 1,000 homes.

* MW is used to describe the actual power output of a system, rather than a theoretical maximum.

MWh: Megawatt Hour

* MWh is a unit of energy that is equal to one million watt-hours.

* It is used to measure the amount of energy that is consumed or generated over a period of time.

* For example, if a 1 MW generator runs for one hour, it will produce 1 MWh of energy.

* MWh is commonly used in the energy industry to measure the amount of energy that is generated by power plants, as well as the amount of energy that is consumed by households and businesses.

MWp: Megawatt Peak

* MWP refers to the maximum power output of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system under ideal conditions, such as when the sun is shining directly on the panels and the temperature is at an optimal level.

* This means that MWP is not a measure of the actual power output of a solar PV system, but rather a theoretical maximum that the system can achieve.

* MWP is calculated by multiplying the maximum power output of a single solar panel by the number of panels in a system.

* MWP rating of a solar PV system is highly dependent on environmental factors, and may not be achievable in real-world conditions.

Differences between MW, MWh and MWp

• MW measures the rate at which energy is generated or consumed.
• MWh measures the amount of energy that is consumed or generated over a period of time.
• MWp measures the maximum power output of a solar PV system under ideal conditions.
• MW is used to describe the actual power output of a system, rather than a theoretical maximum.
• MWh is commonly used in the energy industry to measure the amount of energy that is generated by power plants, as well as the amount of energy that is consumed by households and businesses.
• MWp is specific to the context of solar PV systems and is used to indicate the theoretical maximum output of a system under ideal conditions.
• MW is calculated by multiplying the voltage and current of an electrical system.
• MWh is calculated by multiplying the power output of a system by the amount of time that it is running.
• MWp is calculated by multiplying the maximum power output of a single solar panel by the number of panels in a system.

In conclusion, while MW, MWp, and MWh may sound similar, they are used in different contexts and refer to different things. MW is used to describe the actual power output of a system, rather than a theoretical maximum. MWh is used to measure the amount of energy that is consumed or generated over a period of time. MWp is used specifically in the context of solar PV systems to indicate the theoretical maximum output of a system under ideal conditions.

Sterling and Wilson Renewables is the world’s largest solar EPC solutions provider with 259 global solar projects undertaken. Sterling and Wilson Renewables have undertaken solar projects ranging from 1 MWp to 1,177 MWp. To know more about Sterling and Wilson Renewables, visit www.sterlingwilsonre.com.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on March 13, 2023.

What is the Balance of System (BoS) in Solar Plants?

In a photovoltaic system, solar panels are the most important part of the plant. However, solar energy needs to be effectively channelled with the help of other components. The components which allow the proper flow of energy from the solar panels to the grid are called the Balance of System (BoS).

What components make up the BoS?

BoS components include all the fittings and equipment apart from the photovoltaic panels. They usually make up about 10–50% of the total solar purchasing and installation cost and require high maintenance.

The following are some components included in the BoS:

• Specified cables and wires to allow proper current flow
• Sturdy mounting systems to hold the panels
• Solar inverters that invert DC to AC
• Battery banks to store and supply energy when required
• Battery chargers to send solar energy to devices or batteries
• Charge regulators to prevent high voltage
• Protection devices like fuses, earth leads, and switches

These are components that usually make up the BoS. Some additional equipment in the BoS based on the nature and requirement of the project could include:

• GPS solar trackers that keep the panels always in a position to receive maximum power from the sun
• Power management software to work on all the parts of the plant
• Wind speed sensors
• Circuit breakers to prevent electrical circuit damage
• Other task-specific accessories

Why is understanding the BoS important?

As mentioned, the BoS makes up for expenses as high as 50% of the total solar purchasing. Hence, a proper understanding of the components, the size of its requirements, and finding cost-effective ways to source these helps solar firms understand the best ways to spend to acquire the optimum BoS. Even though the price of solar panels and inverters has dropped considerably, the cost of BoS components remains steady. Customised planning ensures a cost-effective and energy-efficient BoS environment.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy provides top-quality BoS solutions that fit every scale of solar plants.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on February 9, 2023.

What is an inverter duty transformer?

 

With electricity being a basic necessity in today’s society, there is constant growth in the sector with new and improved technologies being developed every other day. There is also an ongoing boom in renewable energy solutions with a major focus on solar power. In this space, you may have heard of an ‘inverter duty transformer’. This solution is a major component in the world of power generation, playing a key role in delivering higher efficiency of the power plants. Inverter duty transformers are responsible for converting direct current (DC) electrical energy into alternating current (AC) electrical energy. This, in turn, takes the low output of power and steps it up to get the desired voltage for electrical consumption.

These transformers work hand in hand with inverters to transfer electrical energy without changing the frequency. First, the inverter converts DC energy to AC energy at a low voltage after which the transformer increases the voltage to the value that is required by the electrical devices that are being used. Inverter duty transformers are, therefore, designed to drive the optimum results for better performance in all kinds of conditions.

They are specifically designed by energy storage solution providers for small power conversions, most commonly in solar power and wind power projects. The design includes multiple windings located on the primary side of the transformer which allows it to connect multiple inverters to the grid. This offers access to more energy and higher efficiency. It, in turn, requires a lesser amount of transformers to go with a larger number of inverters. It is a specialized system that is tailored to the requirement of that particular power plant. This means that each inverter duty transformer system is unique, offering specific results in terms of voltage, environmental efficiency, network landscape, and other surrounding factors.

Inverter duty transformers play a key role in creating a power plant that is efficient across different factors including performance, cost, maintenance, and load losses. It is the most important component of reducing energy costs and overcoming issues of low voltage of energy losses in the electricity conversion process.

There are plenty of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) as well as Operations and Management (O&M) companies that have significant expertise in developing and managing power plants across the globe. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy is one such provider of turnkey EPC solutions that covers all areas of the project to offer a complete and efficiently designed electricity generation system.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 13, 2022.

What is MWp in solar?

In the world of solar energy, MWp is a measure of quantity. It stands for Megawatt Peak, which is a unit of power that indicates how much electricity can be generated in one hour at maximum capacity.

The term is used primarily in reference to large-scale solar arrays that generate more than 1 MWp per hour. MWp is widely used as a way to compare different types of solar arrays and determine which ones are most efficient at generating energy from sunlight.

How is MWp calculated?

Megawatt peak (MWp) is a measure of a solar panel’s output. It describes how much power your solar panels can produce in one hour at full sunlight or the maximum amount of power your solar panels can produce per hour if the Sun doesn’t set for 24 hours.

To understand this, you need to know two things: how much solar radiation hits the Earth per minute, and how much energy that radiation has. The “peak” part of MWp refers to the peak amount of energy that can be produced by your system during one hour-the highest point on a graph representing your system’s production over time. This means that MWp is not just a single number, but rather an average value over time.

Sterling and Wilson is the leading solar power plant EPC company.

Sterling and Wilson provide comprehensive consulting, engineering, and construction services to clients in a wide range of industries. The company’s portfolio covers wind, solar thermal energy, biomass gasification, and combined heat and power projects.

It is a company that was established in 2013 by two young professionals with a passion for renewable energy solutions. Their goal was to create a team of highly qualified people who have an eye for detail with the ability to deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines while ensuring client satisfaction.

Today they have grown into one of the fastest-growing solar EPC companies in India with offices across four states — Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu; catering to clients across different geographies including South East Asia as well as Europe and North America.

Sterling And Wilson Renewable Energy Projects -

Utility-Scale

• 195 MWp, Andhra Pradesh, India
• 36.3 MWp, Bavdi, Rajasthan, India
• 143.5 MWp, Gujarat, India
• 61 MWp, Jordan
• 22 MWp, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
• 15 MWp, Kolkata, India
• 70 MWp, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
• 7 MWp, Niger
• 125 MWp, Oman
• 22.32 MWp, Philippines
• 28.6 MWp, Philippines
• 90 MWp, South Africa
• 65 MWp, Telangana, India
• 17 MWp, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India
• 104 MWp, Vietnam
• 168 MWp, Vietnam
• 14 MWp, Maharashtra, India
• 1177 MWp, Abu Dhabi
• 175.50 MWp, Morocco
• 375 MWp, Andhra Pradesh, India
• 15 MWp, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Solar Rooftop

• 7.5 MWp, Kerala, India
• 2.4 MWp, Kerala, India
• 500 kWp, Karnataka, India
• 910 kWp, Haryana, India

Floating Solar

• 450 kWp, Kerala, India

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 13, 2022.

5 Commonly Asked Questions about Solar Energy

A lot of people have been moving towards considering solar energy as a reliable substitute for their electricity for multiple reasons lately. However, the big question remains – where do we start? If you are one of these people, then you have landed at the right place. In this article, we try to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about solar energy, from the hows to why and pricing. Dive in to find out!

Q1: What is solar energy and how does it work?

Solar energy is the energy extracted from the sun by using solar panels and plants. The energy is then used to create solar power by converting it into electricity. This electricity can be used to power appliances in your home in place of your regular electricity source. 

The solar panels can be installed on the roofs of independent houses or farms where they are exposed to the sun. They capture current from the sun and flow it through the panels to an inverter, which is then converted from DC power to AC power to be used in your home. 

Q2: Can solar energy help in saving money?

Solar power helps you save on the cost of electricity that you would pay otherwise and also saves you on the rising cost of electricity in the future. Buying a solar power system is like having your own mini power station that would save you a large amount of money every month. 

Q3: How does solar energy help the environment?

Solar energy is a renewable and sustainable form of energy, thereby making it environment-friendly. This is because it turns the sun’s rays into electricity and helps you power your home. The simple fact is that sunlight is not going anywhere, unlike water and fossil fuels, which means that we are not exhausting any nonrenewable sources of energy when we are using it.

Using sunlight for electricity also reduces our reliance on the traditional methods of burning fossil fuels that release nitrogen oxide in the air, contributing to the formation of smog and acid rain. It also reduces the risk of oil spills, damage to landscapes, and depleting water supply. 

Q4: What happens to solar energy on cloudy or snowy days?

Solar panels do not need direct sunlight to harness the sun’s energy, and so they can easily work even on cloudy days. However, they do need light, so they only work through the day and do not capture energy during the night. 

On the other hand, if there is snow settled on your solar panels, chances are they won’t work to generate energy as they cannot absorb the sunlight. Having said that, the good thing is that on days like these, you still do not have to experience a power outage, as your solar panel inverter stores energy for later use, which comes in handy whenever there is bad weather or snow conditions.

Q5: How affordable is it to get solar energy panels

Solar power is as affordable as your electricity bill, which is to say if you can afford to pay your electricity bill, then getting a solar panel shouldn’t be a problem. Lately, the government has also been launching various new subsidy schemes for homes that are looking to move towards solar, which makes it even easier to get solar panels. 

The reason why solar power is considered the best power is that it is clean, renewable, and emissions-free, unlike the fossil fuels that are used for generating electricity. It does not emit any greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and does not weigh too heavy on the pocket either. If you want to know more about solar power, panels, and how they work, you can head on to Sterling and Wilson Solar which has been bringing sustainable change across the globe since 2011. 

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on November 17, 2021.

New innovations that are changing the solar industry

As the need for us to switch to more renewable sources of energy becomes more evident, the solar industry is continuously growing and innovating to offer us the ideal replacement for the more environmentally harmful options. The use of solar power has grown exponentially in recent years and the constantly evolving technology ensures that the future is bright.

Let’s take a look at some of the latest innovations in the solar industry that promise to change the game.

Thin Film Solar Cells

Land area and the installation process account for the majority of expenses when it comes to solar power plants. Second-generation thin-film solar cells are geared to change this obstacle. They are lightweight, flexible and easy to install while having much smaller light-absorbing layers compared to the standard panels. 

In addition to being an economic alternative, they have a high efficiency of up to 21%. These narrow and bendable solar cells are constructed using cadmium-telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon, copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS), and gallium-arsenide (GaAs). 

Perovskite Solar Cells

Another addition to the new generation of solar cells is this flexible, lightweight, and semi-transparent alternative. Hybrid metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have great performance in low light, offering excellent light absorption capabilities. 

The main highlight, however, is that these thin films can be printed, meaning that they are much more scalable in the manufacturing process. Other highlights of PSCs are their low price, thin design, low temperature processing, and 12.2% efficiency. Yet to reach the commercial space, they promise a high economic and efficiency advantage in the future.

Transparent Solar Windows

Engineering researchers at Michigan State University have developed a breakthrough innovation that could change the way we see solar power generation. They have formulated a thin, plastic-like material that acts as a transparent luminescent solar concentrator that creates solar energy without disrupting the view. This means that it can be a revolutionary replacement to the bulky rooftop solar units and instead be used on buildings, windows, mobile phones, cars or any other format that have a clear, see-through surface. 

This see-through material absorbs invisible wavelengths of sunlights using organic molecules developed by the researchers. These researchers are able to tune these materials to pick up only ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelengths of sunlight that will be used to generate electricity. These transparent solar cells are able to record an efficiency of above 5% in comparison to the 15-18% efficiency of traditional solar cells. Despite this difference in efficiency, they are able to offer the untapped potential of being applied to a wide number of surfaces in a larger area as well.

Reverse Solar Panels

When it comes to the efficiency of solar panels, the unavailability of sunlight during the night time is a major hurdle. Researchers from the University of California, Davis set out to combat this problem with an interesting innovation. 

Typically, solar cells are cooler than the sun and therefore absorb the light. Reversing this concept, the UC Davis researchers theorised that if you take a warmer object and point it towards sky where space is cooler it will radiate heat towards it in the form of infrared light. This means that, even without the availability of sunlight, thermoradiative cells can be used to generate electricity during daylight as well as the night time. 

Although this alternative could only generate about a quarter of the electricity that a regular solar panel could, it would still be more power than regular solar panels are currently able to generate at night.