Solar Power Stations in South Africa
Solar power is energy from the Sun that is transformed into electrical or thermal energy. Solar power is probably the cleanest and also most abundant natural renewable energy resource available, and the United States has quite a bit of solar resources as well. Most importantly, the process of converting sunlight directly into usable electricity can be done at home. There are two main approaches for this process: through photovoltaic panels or through concentrating solar power (CSP). Both have their strong pros and cons.
A photovoltaic system is nothing more than solar panels. These are boxes with mirrors and concentrators that collect the energy from the Sun. The PV cells or photovoltaic cells are set up on the surface of the Sun. When sunlight hits the cells, electrons are knocked loose in the form of photons (light particles) and flow through the tubes to create usable electricity.
This kind of renewable energy system is pretty efficient. It is dependent on the Sun for its energy, which means it will only be able to produce a surplus amount at certain times of the year. For example, it may not be possible to generate enough electricity during the winter. During those months when the Sun's energy output is at its lowest, the solar power production capacity will be significantly reduced.
CSPs, on the other hand, incorporate the concept of energy storage. A fuel (in the form of an oil substrate) is heated up and injected into the surface of the Sun. The Sun's energy is then stored within the fuel, providing the electricity required by the various solar power plants in South Africa. The process of heating the fuel and injecting it into the Sun is called solar hot water. In addition to energy storage, photovoltaic cells are used to facilitate the actual conversion of photons into electricity.
There are two types of photovoltaic technologies currently being used in South Africa: active and passive systems. An active system uses active solar energy, whereas a passive system uses material that absorbs the sun's radiation and becomes dark (known as black silicon). Active systems are more efficient (the total output of all photovoltaic systems may be greater) than passive systems; however, passive systems are cheaper to build. It now costs less than half the cost to install a single PV module at home!
In addition to being cost-effective and ecologically sound, solar energy has other advantages over traditional forms of alternative energy. For example, while coal and petroleum have to be mined from deep within the Earth, the Sun is accessible at virtually any location on Earth. Moreover, unlike nuclear energy, there is no need for the extraction of fossil fuels, nor do we have to worry about the impact of mining on the environment. Solar power stations can also be built-in remote areas that would otherwise be out of reach of standard electricity systems. Solar energy can also be used to supplement electrical power in remote communities that lack access to commercial electricity.
