Grid-connected Solar Power Plants
Alternative methods of generating electricity are particularly popular today, as they allow businesses and individuals to obtain electricity independently of centralized power grids, resulting in significant cost savings and sometimes even profit. The most convenient and effective way to achieve this is by installing a solar power plant.
By purchasing a solar power plant, one can forget about huge electricity bills. Any excess energy can be sold to the government at the Green Tariff rate. However, to realize this idea, it is crucial to choose the right equipment. What types of solar generators are there, and how do they differ?
Types of Solar Power Plants
Solar power plants are divided into three types depending on the inverter equipment, which is responsible for converting the direct current from solar photovoltaic modules into alternating current with the required frequency, harmonics, etc. These can be standalone solutions that work as follows:
- Solar radiation reaches the photovoltaic elements.
- Energy is produced and, under the influence of electric fields, transformed into electric current.
- The electricity is accumulated in batteries.
- The inverter converts the direct voltage into alternating current (220V).
Network solar power stations, which operate without batteries, must be connected to an external grid. The electricity produced by the inverter is redirected to the grid. Such models are used to compensate for the self-consumption of houses, shops, hotels, recreation centers, as well as industrial enterprises.
For network-connected solar power stations built for private households, the state provides the option to sell surplus electricity, which happens automatically and is measured by special bidirectional meters. This allows the owner of the solar power plant to recover the investment in the network station more quickly.
For businesses, the situation is ideal since the construction and operation of their solar power plant do not require approvals or permits. They simply purchase less electricity from external suppliers, such as the local energy company. When designing such a solar power plant, the company's daytime consumption is taken into account (if necessary, our specialists install consumption monitoring systems), and then a calculation is made for the potential capacity and payback period of the project.
It's essential to carefully weigh all the pros and cons before building a network-connected solar power plant, as they cannot act as a monopolistic power source. These solar plants can fully provide power during daylight hours and the spring-summer period, and partially cover consumption in the autumn.
Hybrid inverters can manage electricity production, store excess power in batteries, and, when there is insufficient energy, for example, on cloudy and winter days, automatically draw the required amount of electricity from the external grid.
Due to the capabilities of this equipment, the price of hybrid solar power plants is 20-30% higher than the cost of network solutions (based on inverter equipment). Additionally, the cost of battery storage must be considered. Installing a hybrid system allows for the efficient allocation of resources, not only providing electricity to the consumer (facility) but also selling excess energy.
How to Determine the Optimal Power of a Solar Power Plant?
The power of the photovoltaic array is determined based on the objectives, namely, self-consumption compensation during the day/night and electricity selling. In the first case, consumption monitoring is carried out, which is then overlaid on the performance schedule of the solar power plant (SPP).
It's essential to understand that the solar station generates maximum energy for about 4-5 hours during the day. 80% of the total annual generation occurs in the 6-month spring-summer period. It is an unrealistic idea to heat a house solely with solar panels during winter since there is little sunlight. The productivity of the station decreases significantly during the evening. Some solutions track the sun throughout the day by tilting and rotating the photovoltaic modules, increasing the SPP's generation by 40-50%, especially during winter. Additionally, the efficiency of photovoltaic modules decreases as their temperature rises. Therefore, when designing an electricity-selling station, it's necessary to include extra solar batteries to compensate for the reduced performance.
Thus, you should understand:
- A solar power plant produces less energy during winter.
- The most efficient SPP operates during midday hours.
- A solar power plant alone cannot cover your evening energy consumption without an energy storage system.
The specialists at GREEN SYSTEM can provide free consultation during business hours. By obtaining data on your energy consumption and the potential placement of photovoltaic modules on your premises (ideally oriented towards the south, with the tilt angle adjusted according to your region), they can calculate the efficiency of the SPP according to your requirements, necessary investments, payback periods, and return on investment.
It's crucial to remember that your hourly energy consumption won't necessarily match the power of the station.
There are also nuances when choosing components for your solar power plant.
The photovoltaic elements installed on roofs or other surfaces are made of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous silicon. Each type has a different efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity, with monocrystalline silicon converters being the most productive among them.
The number of photovoltaic converters installed on the roof or other surface determines the amount of current the solar power station will produce. The presence of obstacles that may shade the solar panels, such as tree crowns, roofs, or facades of neighboring buildings, should also be considered.
Solar Power Station by "Green System"
The company "Green System" specializes in designing, constructing, and installing solar power stations for private consumers and businesses. As a leader in implementing projects under the green tariff (SPP up to 30 kW) in Ukraine, we guarantee high-quality "turnkey" service. Utilize a consultation with our company's manager to learn more about solar generators, their varieties, and differences in operation.
Our geographical coverage extends beyond one region. You can order the design and installation of a solar power station in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and other cities in the country. Additionally, you can purchase additional photovoltaic converters and take advantage of the service for upgrading your existing solar power station to increase its productivity. The cost of such projects is discussed individually with each client.
Importantly, our cooperation with clients doesn't end with the installation and launch of the solar generator. We take care of servicing the installations during the warranty and post-warranty periods. You can always rely on professional support and technical advice from our specialists.
Buying and installing a solar power station with solar batteries will allow you to protect yourself from malfunctions in the centralized power grid. You will have a reliable source of electricity available at any time, all year round.