Photovoltaic panel field

What is a photovoltaic power station?

A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, solar farm, or solar power plant, is a large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power system (PV system) designed for the supply of merchant power.

Where does the photovoltaic effect occur?

The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed of two different types of semiconductors - a p-type and an n-type - that are joined together to create a p-n junction. To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click here.

How many TW of solar photovoltaic potential are there?

There is approximately 115 TW of solar photovoltaic potential in the U.S., which includes 1 TW on buildings, 27 TW on agricultural land, 2 TW on brownfields, and 2 TW for floating solar. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) conducts research to reduce the cost and impact of siting solar.

Why are large-scale photovoltaic installations becoming more popular?

Electricity production from large-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations has increased exponentially in recent decades 1, 2, 3. This proliferation in renewable energy portfolios and PV powerplants demonstrate an increase in the acceptance and cost-effectiveness of this technology 4, 5.

Do working PV panels have a strong encapsulant?

No, working PV panels have a strong encapsulant that prevents leaching. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) cells are sealed between two sheets of glass to protect the semiconductor materials from the outside environment; and silicon modules are typically sealed with a front sheet of glass with a polymer encapsulant and backsheet.

How does photovoltaic technology differ from concentrated solar power?

This approach differs from concentrated solar power, the other major large-scale solar generation technology, which uses heat to drive a variety of conventional generator systems. Both approaches have their own advantages and disadvantages, but to date, for a variety of reasons, photovoltaic technology has seen much wider use.