Aerial view of renewable energy Solar panels, Solar PV farm with sheep grazing, near Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire Wales
Large utility-scale solar parks or farms are power stations and capable of providing an energy supply to large numbers of consumers. Generated electricity is fed into the transmission grid powered by central generation plants (grid-connected or grid-tied plant), or combined with one, or many, domestic electricity generators to feed into a small electrical grid (hybrid plant). In rare cases generated electricity is stored or used directly by island/standalone plant. PV systems are generally designed in order to ensure the highest energy yield for a given investment. Some large photovoltaic power stations cover tens or hundreds of hectares and have power outputs up to hundreds of megawatts. Conventional c-Si solar cells, normally wired in series, are encapsulated in a solar module to protect them from the weather. The module consists of a tempered glass as cover, a soft and flexible encapsulant, a rear backsheet made of a weathering and fire-resistant material and an alumnium frame around the outer edge. Electrically connected and mounted on a supporting structure, solar modules build a string of modules, often called solar panel. A solar array consists of one or many such panels. A photovoltaic array (or solar array) is a linked collection of solar panels. The power that one module can produce is seldom enough to meet requirements of a home or a business, so the modules are linked together to form an array. Most PV arrays use an inverter to convert the DC power produced by the modules into alternating current that can power lights, motors, and other loads. The modules in a PV array are usually first connected in series to obtain the desired voltage; the individual strings are then connected in parallel to allow the system to produce more current. Solar panels are typically measured under STC (standard test conditions) or PTC (PVUSA test conditions), in watts. Typical panel ratings range from less than 100 watts to over 400 watts.
Size: 5760px × 3840px
Location: near Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire Wales
Photo credit: © DV Aerial / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: array, carbon, clean, eco, ecological, electricity, energy, environment, farm, footprint, global, grazing, green, panels, photovoltaic, power, pv, renewable, saving, sheep, solar, station, station), warming
