Australia is a country that is uniquely suited to benefit from solar power technology. Due to its geographical position, Australia receives between 4 KWh and 6 KWh per square metre on an average day. The country has been involved in groundbreaking solar PV research since the 1950s.
By 2020, Australia’s installed solar capacity was about 17,627 MW making it one of the top ten solar energy producers in the world. Yet, due to its low population density, Australia’s installed solar PV capacity of 637 Watts per capita was the world’s highest in 2019. In June 2021, Australia’s installed solar PV capacity reached 22,295 MW; this accounted for about 10% of the country’s electricity.
The rapid growth of solar power in Australia can be attributed to strong government support and the nationwide acceptance of solar PV technology. This article focuses on the essential components of a modern solar PV system. Read on if you would like to know what these components are and how they work.
Also Read: PSO By Primelis
Contents
What Is A Modern Solar Power System?
A solar power system is a set of devices that work together to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The versatility of solar energy makes it suitable for residential, industrial or commercial applications.
- Residential solar power systems are small scale solutions designed to provide electricity for your home.
- Industrial solar power systems refer to large scale systems designed to power large factories, industries or institutions.
- Commercial solar power systems are built to convert solar energy for distribution in an electricity grid that can be local, regional or national.
Types of Solar Panel Systems
There are three types of solar panel power systems. The configuration of your solar panel system depends on your budget, preference and purpose for installation. These types of solar PV systems are:
- Grid-Tied Solar PV System
- Hybrid Solar PV System
- Stand-Alone Solar PV Systems
Grid-Tied Solar PV refers to residential or industrial systems that combine the use of solar panels and the conventional electricity grid. The electricity grid provides backup power at night. Yet, you can sell excess electricity to the grid during the day.
Hybrid Solar PV refers to systems that combine more than two power sources with solar. They can consist of solar panels, grid connections, wind turbines, diesel generators and batteries in varying configurations. The energy source configuration depends on the availability of the resource and the cost of electricity production.
Stand-Alone Solar PV refers to an off-grid system that relies on solar panels as the primary source of power. Stand Alone systems need a backup source of energy to provide electricity at night. Many stand-alone solar systems use batteries for back up while others rely on diesel generators. Some stand-alone systems use hybrid configurations.
Solar Power System Components
There are four essential components that you must have in any modern solar power configuration. Below is a list and description of these components.
- Solar Panels
- Solar Power Storage Systems
- Solar Inverter
- Solar Control systems
The presence of these four components ensures the efficiency and consistency of your power supply. They also protect your system from costly failures.
i. How Solar Panels Work
Solar panels in Sydney and several parts of the country are referred to as solar generators. These are the primary components of any solar PV system. Solar panels are made of special materials that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight through a process known as the photoelectric effect.
Through the photoelectric effect, photosensitive materials such as silicon react to the sun’s UV radiation by releasing negative electrons. Connecting these photosensitive materials with electric wires forms a circuit that transmits an electric current. The flow of electrons in an electric current can power electrical appliances and devices.
ii. Solar Power Storage Systems
Solar panels generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. Yet, you can extend the use of solar energy after the sunset through power storage. The basic method for storing solar power is with solar batteries.
During the day, your solar panels can generate excess electricity to charge your solar batteries. The batteries convert the electric energy from your solar panels and store it in chemical form. At night, the energy stored in your batteries powers your home and electric devices. Solar batteries are ideal for stand-alone solar systems that are independent of the electricity grid.
There are several types of solar batteries suitable for a variety of applications. The Tesla Powerwall Home System is one good example of a modern solar battery storage system. It is suitable for all types of solar panel systems.
iii. Solar Inverter
Most of the electrical appliances and devices in your home or office run on an alternating current (AC) of about 230 volts. Yet, solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity of 12 volts to 48 volts depending on your configuration.
Solar power inverters are devices that convert the DC electricity generated by your 12V Solar panel and battery storage system into 230 V AC. Without an inverter, you would need DC appliances that can run on 12V to 48V DC electricity. The inverter enables you to switch to solar without replacing any of your appliances.
Grid-tie solar inverters enable you to monitor your electricity consumption and feed excess power to the grid. The grid-tie inverter also protects your home from any dangerous power fluctuations in the regional electricity grid. In Australia, you can earn an extra income by selling your solar power to the regional grid. A grid-tie inverter stabilizes your power supply and enables you to comply with the grid provider’s regulations.
iv. Solar Control Systems
Electricity generation through solar panel systems is a complex process. The flow of electricity from your panels into the battery storage and your home needs to be regulated. Solar control systems enhance the stability and reliability of the electricity you generate. Below are two examples of essential control systems found in a modern solar panel system.
- Charge controllers
- MPPT Devices
Charge controllers extend the lifespan of your solar batteries by controlling how they are charged and discharged. The charge controllers manage the depth of discharge and prevent the system from overcharging your batteries. Many battery failures are related to frequent overcharging and deep discharging.
MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking. MPPT devices enable your solar panel to maximize its output with the position of the sun. These devices enhance your solar panel efficiency throughout the day and year.
Bringing it all together, solar panel power systems consist of several components that work together in synchrony. The system’s efficiency relies on the optimal performance of each component. As technology advances, the components of a solar panel system may evolve.
