Solar Power Generating System

Solar photovoltaic (PV)cells / modules generate electricity from sunlight, which can be fed into the mains electricity supply of a home/industry/building or sold to the public distribution company connected to the grid. This will Reduce the need for generation through fossil fuel technology. More and more solar energy systems on roof top will help create jobs, enabling home/industry/building to save money, and cut greenhouse emissions/ pollution.

PV Modules

PV modules use semiconductor materials (usually silicon) to generate DC electricity from sunlight. A large area is needed to collect as much sunlight as possible. So the semiconductor is either made into thin, flat, crystalline cells, or deposited as a very thin continuous layer onto a support material, usually glass. The cells are wired together and sealed into a weather proof module, with electrical connectors added.

Modern modules for grid connection usually have between 48 and 72 cells and produce dc voltages of typically 25 to 40 volts, with a rated output of between 150 and 300 Wp solar panels . Then these panels are combined to give a certain voltage and current to be fed to an inverter which will then convert DC to AC electricity to be further used for energy/power needs of a home/industry/commercial building.

Grid-tied PV systems for producing/generating electricity are installed on the rooftop or ground in or around a building. This can also be taken up at a land that could’nt be used for other purposes like agriculture. Ideally the PV faces towards the equator and the exact direction is critical otherwise there is loss of production of solar energy.

However, it is important to make sure that there is minimal shading of the PV. If the PV electricity production exceeds building demand then the excess can be exported to the grid, and vice versa. With net metering being permitted by govt in almost all states , clients are billed on net of export and import of electricity.

A typical grid connected system rated at 1 kWp requires an area of about 10 m2. However if the roof is slanted tin shed ( mostly industries have slanted roof of tin shed)and south facing then the area required reduces to 7 sq mts.