Several types of solar power generation systems are available today. These include photovoltaic, concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, and the Brayton cycle.
Concentrated solar power
Besides the increasing demand for electricity worldwide, the global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) market is driven by the need to ramp up renewable energy and reduce air pollution. In addition, governments around the world are increasingly supportive of renewable energy and cleaner technologies, which are likely to contribute to the market growth over the coming years.
As the name suggests, Concentrated Solar Power generates electricity from the sun through the conversion of light to heat, which is then used to drive a steam turbine to generate electricity. There are several types of CSP systems, including parabolic troughs, dish Stirlings and solar power towers.
While it is true that the efficiency of CSP is very high, it is not as high as that of photovoltaic solar power. The efficiency of a CSP system is determined by several factors, including the components used to generate the electricity.
The IEA (International Energy Agency) Concentrating Solar Power Technology Collaboration Programme aims to accelerate CSP technology development and deployment. The project has two main goals: to accelerate research and development (R&D) and to create a technology roadmap to help accelerate market deployment.
Photovoltaic systems
Whether you are looking for a cost-effective way to generate electricity, or want to contribute to the development of green jobs, the use of photovoltaic systems for solar power generation is an option. However, you need to consider a few factors before deciding on a system.
The output power of a photovoltaic system can vary depending on the location, the type of system, the amount of shading, and the amount of energy lost during system operation. This information can be described in seasonal figures or monthly figures.
A photovoltaic system is a complex arrangement of components that includes the solar array, DC to AC power converters, energy storage devices, and other minor components. Some systems also include a charge controller.
A charge controller regulates the amount of DC output from the solar panels. A more advanced charge controller incorporates MPPT logic. Using a charge controller can help protect the battery in a PV system.
The installation cost of a PV system varies according to the type of system and its location. In addition to the cost of PV solar panels, you also need to consider the cost of the battery bank, which is used to store the excess energy produced by the system.
CSP systems
During the last five years, the global installed capacity of CSP increased by an average of 50% per year. By 2020, the world’s CSP installations will have 1.7 GW.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy technology that utilizes a combination of water, heat, and steam to generate electricity. There are three key technologies that are used in CSP plants: thermal transfer fluids, steam powered turbines, and light concentration. These technologies are used to store, transport, and convert solar thermal energy into steam and electricity.
Generally, a CSP plant takes up a large amount of land, but can be located where power is needed. A typical CSP plant requires 5 to 10 acres per MW of capacity. These plants are used mainly in utility-scale projects.
The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility is the world’s largest CSP plant, and it is located in California’s Mojave Desert. The facility uses solar power tower technology to focus sunlight onto a central receiver.
In addition to its solar power generation capacity, the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility also uses water as a heat-absorbing material. The facility produces about 392 MW of electricity.
Brayton cycle
Using supercritical carbon dioxide instead of air as a working fluid is an emerging option for solar power generation. It allows solar energy storage in a low temperature environment and is less power-intensive than air. It also requires fewer components, and it increases overall electricity production by approximately 30%.
In addition to supercritical carbon dioxide, helium is another working fluid that has been considered for a high temperature nuclear reactor. Helium has excellent thermophysical properties, and it is thermal conductivity is approximately 5 to 6 times that of air. It also has higher specific heat capacity, which reduces mass flow to achieve a given output power.
In addition to working with helium, Brayton cycles have also been designed using air. The Brayton cycle is composed of two intercooling exchangers. One exchanger is used to reduce high pressure stage inlet temperature, and the second is used to pre-heat air entering the combustor.
In addition to the air-based Brayton cycle, helium-based Brayton cycles have also been evaluated for solar power generation. These cycles consist of three compression stages. The first stage expands the air feeding the cycle. The second stage turbine then expands the heated gas to be fed to the third stage turbine.