Concentrated Solar Panels

Concentrated solar power system types parabolic dishes.

Concentrated solar panels.

With parabolic dish concentrated solar power systems mirrors are set up in a satellite dish shape. Unlike conventional photovoltaic systems it uses lenses or curved mirrors to focus sunlight onto small highly efficient multi junction mj solar cells. Because csp technologies collect solar energy and convert it to thermal energy that can be stored before powering a generator they can be used either as a flexible provider of electricity such as a natural gas peaker plant or as a baseload source of electricity similar to a traditional nuclear or coal plant. Solar power towers have a host of mirror reflectors at the ground level also known as heliostats.

Concentrated solar thermal systems csp are not the same as photovoltaic panels. Concentrator photovoltaics cpv also known as concentration photovoltaics is a photovoltaic technology that generates electricity from sunlight. As diffuse light cannot be effectively concentrated concentrating pv panels are best suited to areas with a high level of clear sunshine. Csp systems concentrate radiation of the sun to heat a liquid substance which is then used to drive a heat engine and drive an electric generator.

This indirect method generates alternating current ac which can be easily distributed on the power network. The ouarzazate solar power station osps also called as noor power station is a solar power complex that is located in the drâa tafilalet region in morocco. 2 x siemens sst 700 drh. In addition cpv systems often use solar trackers and sometimes a cooling system to further increase their efficiency.

This solar power complex is a concentrated solar power station located in the mojave desert in eastern riverside county california about 25 miles 40 km west of blythe. Although research has continued on concentrating photovoltaics for many years they have not made their mark on the industry and where they have been used it has been in large scale projects. With an installed capacity of 510 mw it is the largest concentrated solar power pant of the whole world. The solar power plant consists of two independent 125 mw net 140 mw gross sections using solar trough technology.