Introductioin To Solar Power
Solar power is the conversion of sunhine into electricity, either directly with photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly with concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP systems use a mirror or lense system and tracking systems to focus a large area of light from the sun into a small beam. PV converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.
Industrial CSP plants were first developed during the Eighties, and the 354 MW SEGS CSP installation is the largest solar power plant on the planet and is located in the Mojave Desert of California, USA. Other large CSP plants would include the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW) and the Andasol solar power station (100 MW), which are both located in Spain. The 97 MW Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant in Canada, is the world's greatest PV (photovoltaic) plant.
Despite Scotland not being famous for it's abundance of sunshine, solar thermal panels are still a worthwhile investment as they are capable of producing hot water even in cloudy weather.
Solar panel technology was developed around 40 years ago and is now well-established ,with numerous installers set up up and down Scotland, and the UK in general, although AES Solar based in Forres (who provided the panels for the Scottish Parliament building) are Scotland's only manufacturer.
Since the introduction of government grants for solar panels and Feed-in tariffs there has been a growth in the volume of installed PV panels, which generate electricity. Back in 2004, the largest PV set up in Scotland was a 21 kWp system at the Sir E. Scott secondary school in Tarbert, Isle of Harris although bigger systems have been completed since then. The UK's practicable resource is estimated at 7.2 TWh per annum, which in the Scottish context is the approximate equivalent of 70 MW or less of installed capacity.
The "road energy system" uses water pipes sunk beneath a layer of tarmac. In the summer, the dark coloured tarmac is baked by the sun which in turn heats the water in the pipes. This water can be contained in an underground aquifer and the heat extracted in winter by using a heat pump. The system can be used to warm or cool down roads, keeping them clear of ice, snow and other winter hazards and/or preventing softening due to overheating. Or, if required, the stored energy could be used for cooling buildings such as shops, offices or houses.
IDES Energy Solutions are the leading installers of solar panels in Scotland and have a complete info and fitting service from solar panel FAQ's to home energy efficiency systems.
