What’s the difference between Thermal Power Plants and Solar Power Plants?

 

The growing relevance of renewable energy resources has invoked the interest of everyone from consumers to corporates. Thermal power plants are still the most commonly used source of energy but everyone is starting to take notice of the solar power plants alternative.

To understand these energy sources, let’s take a look at the differences between Thermal Power Plants and Solar Power Plants.

Thermal Power Plants

This solution is used to generate electricity with the help of heat — achieved by using a non-renewable energy source like coal or fossil fuels. Burning these resources emits heat energy that is converted into electrical energy. Although it is the most commonly use the form of electricity generation while also being extremely efficient, thermal power plants are not an environmentally friendly solution. This is because it uses scarce resources while also emitting air pollutants in the process.

The process goes as follows:

• The heat obtained from burning fuel is used to convert water into steam.
• The steam, at high heat and pressure then rotates turbine blades.
• These blades are part of the shaft which is connected to the generator.
• The generator converts the energy obtained from the movement of the turbine into electric energy.

Solar Power Plants

This solution is the perfect green alternative for electricity generation. The conversion of readily available sunlight into consumable electricity is an excellent renewable energy source. Solar power is also a financially viable alternative with an easy installation process. While it may not be as efficient in terms of electricity generation due to the dependency on weather and environmental conditions, rapid innovation is working to counter this setback.

The process goes as follows:

1. The individual solar cells that make up an entire solar panel absorb the light from the sun.
2. These cells convert the sunlight into Direct Current (DC) electricity through a process called the Photovoltaic Effect.
3. The DC electricity then flows into an inverter that converts it into Alternating Current (AC) electrical power.
4. AC electricity is the energy consumed by electronic devices and appliances that are connected to the solar energy system.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on August 16, 2022.

What are the different types of solar power plants?

Solar energy has already made its place as a mainstay in the path towards building sustainable communities. While the industry is constantly innovating and evolving the way solar power is generated, there are three broad types of solar power plants that one can choose from.

Grid Connected Solar Power Plant

Grid Solar Power Plant

These solar power plants are connected to a shared utility grid in areas where this regular power supply is available. These systems are set up so that any excess energy that is not consumed is sent to the utility, giving the owner credit on their electricity bill or even paying the owner depending on the state laws.

This is therefore an extremely cost-effective source of electricity since it reduces the burden of electricity bills while also having minimal maintenance costs. The setup of these systems is also affordable compared to other solar options since it requires fewer components. It is the most popular type of solar plant for its high efficiency as well since it is dependent on the grid. However, this grid dependence also means that there might not be a backup of electricity for usage in times of a power outage.

Off-Grid / Standalone Solar Power Plant

Off-Grid / Standalone Solar Power Plant

As a completely independent system, these solar power plants store all the power that is not being used in battery banks. They are not connected to a grid which is convenient in areas with frequent power outages. The backup power stored in the battery banks is also useful for areas with low sunlight.

The convenience of these batteries that need to be purchased also means additional costs with limited life and the need for maintenance. This means that even though this type of solar power is the perfect solution to regular power cuts and low sunlight, it also comes at a higher price than grid-based systems.

Hybrid Solar Power Plant

Hybrid Solar Power Plant

This type of solar plant offers the best of both worlds with access to the grid as well as a battery backup. This completely eliminates the possibility of having no access to electricity.

The battery setup in these systems is installed based on the requirements of the owner while the grid part is also available through an electricity provider. The batteries require a higher cost for set and maintenance but it is made up in terms of the extra energy that is exchanged with the utility company.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on December 16, 2021.