A photovoltaic solar power plant is an operating unit of the solar power plant which produces electricity using sunlight, in the same way as thermodynamic solar power plants. Also called a domestic solar power plant, the photovoltaic solar power plant supplies heat or electricity to a house for heating or hot water production. Discover how this type of central unit works, its power and its different advantages.



What form of energy does a photovoltaic plant use?

A photovoltaic plant captures energy from the sun to produce electricity. These are photovoltaic cells which transform solar radiation into direct current. These cells, mounted in series on panels and rows, are made of silicon. This cell constitutes the electronic component of a photovoltaic solar power plant. It comprises a layer of polycrystalline or monocrystalline semiconductor silicon. Under the effect of light, silicon releases electrons which create direct current. Aside from silicon, it is also possible to use cadmium telluride.

The direct current is then transformed by an inverter into alternating current and then injected into the medium voltage lines of the distribution network before supplying each household. Electrical devices run on electricity. If the latter is not connected to the network, it can be stored in the battery. Open-field photovoltaic solar power plants form a set of photovoltaic panels mounted on the ground on a solar tracker or fixed support.

How powerful is a solar power plant?

The power of a photovoltaic plant is very important to know the electricity production capacity of an installation. Who says power of a solar power plant says energy production capacity, expressed in 1m². A panel's unit of power is kilowatt-peak or watt-peak, indicating the maximum electrical power provided by a panel.

To know the production capacity of a solar panel, it is important to know the number of average hours of sunshine in the area in a year and multiply it by the maximum power. To get the actual power, he subtracts about 10% taking into account the shade on the roof and the temperature variation. The subtraction would be greater if the roof is not inclined at 30° or if it is not south facing. To fully understand this production capacity, it would be preferable to call on an RGE certified solar installer.

To know the power of an installation, you must add the nominal power of the panel to the total number of panels. This nominal power is between 300 Wp and 330 Wp. Others have a power between 375 Wp to 400 Wp. In one year, the nominal power of a panel is between 270 kWh and 420 kWh.

To calculate the electricity needs with the photovoltaic plant, you must know that 1 kWp produces between 900 to 1400 kWh depending on the region. With the consumption and this estimate, it would be easier to determine the power required for the electricity needed. To promote the production of electricity from photovoltaic solar panels, several factors must be taken into account. This is the case of the level of sunshine in the region, the power of the panels, their inclination, orientation as well as its performance.

What are the advantages of solar thermal power plants?

Photovoltaic power plants have various advantages. They enable savings in carbon dioxide, because each household consumes less gas and fuel oil. With 8m² of thermal solar panels, it is possible to avoid the emission of a ton of carbon dioxide per year, or 8,000 km for a car that runs on gasoline. Solar energy is free. When solar panels transform solar radiation into heat, this generates savings. This installation covers 50 to 80% of a home's domestic hot water needs for an individual solar water heater. If photovoltaic panels are combined with another system, they contribute to the heating of a home (25 to 60%).

The solar thermal power plant also reduces the energy bill, because less oil and gas is consumed for the production of domestic hot water. Furthermore, this type of installation allows you to keep the heating system. You only need to make a few technical modifications to easily activate the solar panels. If a house is located in a plain, its occupants have no need to use their heating, because domestic hot water is provided by solar panels.

Solar energy is non-polluting and inexhaustible. In fact, it reduces emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, dependence on fossil fuels and requires no transport costs. Likewise, photovoltaic panels can be installed in cold, sunny and mountainous regions. They are easy to maintain with demineralized water and a sponge.

In short, the solar photovoltaic plant works with semiconductor materials to provide electricity. It has many advantages both in terms of economy and respect for the environment