Photovoltaic power station

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_power_stations

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Solar array at Nellis Air Force Base. These panels track the sun in one axis. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.

Solar power plant near Serpa, Portugal 38°1?51?N 7°37?22?W/38.03083,-7.62278

First Solar 40-MW CdTe PV Array installed by JUWI Group in Waldpolenz, Germany

Solar photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity and many solar photovoltaic power stations have been built, mainly in Europe.^[1] Several large photovoltaic power plants have been completed in Spain in 2008: the Parque Fotovoltaico Olmedilla de Alarcon (60 MW), Parque Solar Merida/Don Alvaro (30 MW), Planta solar Fuente álamo (26 MW), Planta fotovoltaica de Lucainena de las Torres (23.2 MW), Parque Fotovoltaico Abertura Solar (23.1 MW), Parque Solar Hoya de Los Vincentes (23 MW), the Solarpark Calveron (21 MW), and the Planta Solar La Magascona (20 MW). Another recently completed 14 MW plant is located at Nellis Air Force Base in the USA. Germany has a 12 MW plant in Arnstein, and a 10 MW photovoltaic system in Pocking, with a 40 MW power station planned for Muldentalkreis. Portugal has an 11 MW plant in Serpa and a 62 MW power station is planned for Moura. A photovoltaic power station proposed for Australia will use heliostat concentrator technology, should come into service in 2010, and is expected to have a capacity of 154 MW when it is completed in 2013.^[2]

Many of these plants are integrated with agriculture and some use innovative tracking systems that follow the sun's daily path across the sky to generate more electricity than conventional fixed-mounted systems. There are no fuel costs or emissions during operation of the power stations.

World's largest photovoltaic power stations

For comparison, the largest non-photovoltaic solar plant, the solar thermal SEGS in California has an installed capacity of 354 MW. The largest nuclear power stations generate more than 1,000 MW.

Large systems in planning or under construction

See also

• List of renewable energy topics by country
• List of solar thermal power stations
• Photovoltaics
• Renewable energy commercialization
• Renewable energy industry
• Renewable energy in the European Union
• Solar energy
• Solar power in Germany
• Solar power satellite

References

External links

• AES and Riverstone Commit $1 Billion to Solar Joint Venture
• SCE Launches 250-MW Solar Project
• GM installs world's biggest rooftop solar panels

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_power_stations

Published - December 2008