Solar Panels

The solar photovoltaic module is fixed firmly on top of the pole with suitable tilt and inclination so as to receive maximum sunlight throughout the day. The solar photovoltaic module thus produces suitable voltage and current, which is used to charge the battery inside the battery box. This energy stored in the battery is used to light up the LED which is housed inside the luminaire during night time.

A solar power plant is based on the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses, mirrors, and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. The largest photovoltaic power plant in the world was the 354 MW Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) CSP installation located in the Mojave Desert, California. Other large CSP plants include the 250 MW Agua Caliente Solar Project in Arizona, the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW, 250 MW when finished), and the Andasol solar power station (150 MW), both in Spain.

Solar water heating system is a device that helps in heating water by using the energy from the SUN. This energy is totally free. Solar energy (sun rays) is used for heating water. Water is easily heated to a temperature of 60-80o C. Solar water heater of Solar water heaters (SWHs) of 100-300 liters capacity are suited for domestic use. Larger systems can be used in restaurants, canteens, guest houses, hotels, hospitals etc. A 100 liters capacity SWH can replace an electric geyser for residential use and may save approximately 1500 units of electricity annually. The use of 1000 SWHs of 100 liters capacity each can contribute to a peak load saving of approximately 1 MW. A SWH of 100 liters capacity can prevent emission of 1.5 tones of carbon dioxide per year.