 Test system |
Direct solar Comparison.Nowadays, the solar energy production consists of two technologies: the photovoltaic units and the solar thermal power plants. Both of them need the sun to generate energy, but they do have substantial differences. The common photovoltaic unit uses the photoelectric effect from silicon solar cells. Silicon is a product that has a huge natural availability. However, it has to be absolutely pure, so that it can be used for a solar cell. Is a silicon coated solar cell contaminated with impurity atoms, it is detached into two layers: a positively and a negatively charged. Is the sun radiation now hitting those cells, the contacts are generating a voltage. Is a load connected to it, electric current is flowing. It is even possible to generate electrical power with diffuse radiation. Solar thermal power plants need direct sun radiation. Locations south of the 40th parallel are necessary for an economic use of such power plants. The acquirement of such assets is essentially beneficial and the level of efficiency is higher. The continuous electricity supply from fossil energy carriers (hybrid operation) is another advantage of these power stations. A constant energy flow is guaranteed by a special salt silo, which is used for storing thermal energy. As a bonus, the system works completely without fossil fuel. |
