Solar current for the grid

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Schematic diagram:
Direct current from photovoltaic plants must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the grid. The steps for adapting electric power from a private plant and from a solar power plant (“solar park") are compared here.

Available in: English, Spanish (CREA), German

Last update: 2018-10-26

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This medium is made available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 international license.

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Media package:

Experimento | 10+: A5 Properties of solar cells
Solar thermal energy and photovoltaics – energy forms with a future

Description:

The diagram compares two possible ways of generating power for the grid by means of photovoltaics: decentralized use in private households and centralized use in a solar park. In both cases the electric current must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the public grid by using a power inverter. Thanks to modern high-power electronics is it also possible to carry out almost loss-free conversion into medium and high voltages for the 36- and 110-kV network in large solar parks as well.
Incidentally: A solar panel has a power output of 30 – 350 Wp (Watt-peak = output with optimum solar irradiation).

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Learning resource type:

Illustration

Subjects:

Technology

Grade levels:

Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13

School types:

Middle/high school; Vocational training

Keywords:

Chart; Ecology; Energy; Energy supply; Environment (general); Environmental protection; Power generation; Power plant; Renewable energy; Solar energy; Solar technology; Ecology (environmental protection); Electric power generation; Electric power supply; Energy conversion; Environment; Graphics; Photovoltaics; Renewable energy; Solar cell; Solar power plant

Bibliography:

Siemens Stiftung Media Portal

Author:

MediaHouse GmbH using material from: Russell Neches - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rneches/2541181118/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28001643 (Power inverter; license: CC BY-SA 2.0), edited by Siemens Stiftung

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Solar current for the grid

Schematic diagram:
Direct current from photovoltaic plants must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the grid. The steps for adapting electric power from a private plant and from a solar power plant (“solar park") are compared here.

Available on CREA

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Solar current for the grid

Schematic diagram:Direct current from photovoltaic plants must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the grid. The steps for adapting electric power from a private plant and from a solar power plant (“solar park") are compared here.

Available on CREA

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Schematic diagram:
Direct current from photovoltaic plants must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the grid. The steps for adapting electric power from a private plant and from a solar power plant (“solar park") are compared here.