In solar power plants, radiation from the sun is converted into electricity for domestic or industrial use using various systems such as solar thermal power plants or photovoltaic power plants.

Unlimited, clean and accessible solar energy, even in remote areas, is an excellent alternative to traditional energy sources, which is key to the progress of the ecological transition, but what technologies are currently used to produce it? The energy from the sun's rays is converted into electricity in a solar power plant, using different systems depending on its type.

The process of electricity production in a solar plant is completely ecological and does not generate polluting elements for the environment, as well as being one of the most efficient renewable energies that currently exist. Thanks to these advantages of solar energy compared to energies generated from fossil fuels or non-renewable sources, solar power plants represent a key tool for developing a new long-term sustainable production model, which is completely eco-friendly. Depending on its operating system, there are two main types of solar plants: solar thermal power plants and solar photovoltaic plants.

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.