The operation of a solar photovoltaic plant is based on photons and light energy from the sun’s rays. The types of solar panels used in these types of facilities are also different. While solar thermal plants use collectors, photovoltaic power plant use panels consisting of photovoltaic solar cells made of silicon (monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels) or other materials with photovoltaic properties (amorphous solar panels).
How do these solar cells work?
Thanks to the materials they are made of, when the sun's rays strike them directly, the electrons contained in the more external layers of the photovoltaic cells absorb the radiation and generate direct current electricity. To build a solar photovoltaic plant, these solar cells are connected in series to be integrated into a single module, forming photovoltaic panels.
In turn, the solar panels are connected in parallel, forming strings coupled to a current inverter, where the direct current coming from the photovoltaic cells is transformed into alternating energy. Then the electricity is directed to a transformer in which its voltage and intensity are adapted so that it can be transported through the electrical grid lines to the consumption centers.