Solar Applications
Solar power plants are relatively common than what we have witness in past decay. There are many reasons which we have been discussing through out on different section of website that it is important to adopt some kind of alternative source of power generation before we run out of current sources which produce electricity for us at present. The most obvious and realistic choice is solar energy. Solar energy is available in abundant amount on earth and shifting our electricity requirements on solar energy is most likely to be the option in coming future.
Solar plants have already start providing electricity to us on different levels and scales. What we have all witness since our childhood is solar power calculator or wrist watch but now thankfully things have moved way on. Solar power gadgets or huge solar power arrays are seen producing massive amount of electricity for domestic and commercial areas. Solar power usage is not constant through out the world. Developed countries more obviously have larger solar power consumption than developing countries. For instance Abengoa Solar launched commercial solar plant in Seville Spain, it produces 20Megwatts of electricity. Solar Applications can be divided into three categories for understanding them better. Solar applications are available in sectors like Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Agriculture. Let’s discuss these sectors in detail and know what work has been done in given sectors.
Residential solar power:
There are numerous solar powered based devices available in market which are used in residential sector, products like solar power heater, geezer, out door garden lights, battery chargers etc. These days’ entire homes can be powered by solar energy. Appropriate solar cells type is used and joined together in modules. These modules of cells are mounted on the roof of the home for direct exposure to the sun light. This sun light is then converted into electricity using solar cells and then transfer into electric system of the house. If power requirement of house is higher then what solar power plant is producing then it can be used supplementary to reduce utility bills and incase if more power is produced than it is required, your electric plant grid station may use net metering and purchase the amount of electricity sent to grid station by your solar power plant. There are systems available which hold battery backups and store the access amount of energy. This energy can be used when conventional electricity is out.
Industrial Solar Power
Solar energy is been in use in industry and provides multiple industrial applications, especially when power is required in remote locations. Solar power can be useful in such industrial applications where small kilowatt energy is required. Some examples of remote location solar powered applications are TV Station, Radio broadcasting towers, repeater stations, radio telephones etc.Solar power also facilitated electricity in transportation signaling system. In Japan, there are cities which are totally equipped with solar power traffic signal systems and does not require conventional electricity to operate. Other transportation system includes navigation systems, light houses in oceans, runway lights on airports, security camera in dark etc.Other industrial applications where solar power is used are environmental, situation equipment and protection systems for well heads, bridges pipelines etc. Such applications where electricity load is high, solar power can prove cost effective by configure hybrid electric power systems, that joints photovoltaic solar power system with small generators that operates on fuel or natural gas. Solar power is highly reliable and can work on locations where conventional electricity is not reachable. Space is one of the examples for it. Satellites are powered by solar power from the day first when first satellite was launched in spaceSolar car is another most sophisticated application of solar energy. PV is installed on the surface of the car which converts sun light into electricity to power up a car. Such cars are not yet available for use in market, but they are bound to come for launch commercially very soon in future.
Commercial Solar Power
Commercial building like offices, school, clinics, community halls, hospitals etc can also take advantage from solar energy electrification. In office buildings, glass/glass PV modules can provide cover over atria, which provide shaded light inside the building. PV systems can also be installed on vertical wall office building in several ways, Curtain wall system, rainscreen overcladding etc.