Construction of solar parks have skyrocketed and so has the range of technology deployed to leverage the best for the earth.
Solar parks, also known as solar farms or photovoltaic power stations, are large-scale solar energy installations designed to harness sunlight and convert it into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) panels. Over the past few years, solar parks have grown in both size and technological sophistication, making them a key player in the fight against climate change. Let’s explore some of the largest solar parks in the world, their cutting-edge technologies, and how they’re impacting the environment positively.
In India, the Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan, is one of the largest in the world, with a capacity of around 2,245 MW. It is spread across 14,000 acres of the Thar Desert. This solar park is one of the most exemplary models with a consistent generation of 2.25GW.
One of the most recent advancements in solar technology is the use of bifacial solar panels, which capture sunlight on both sides of the panel. Solar farms with the target of doubling their installed capacity are aiming for bifacial panels. By generating power from light reflected off the ground, these panels increase the overall energy output by 10-20%. Solar parks in locations like deserts, where ground reflectivity (albedo) is high, benefit immensely from this tech. Kozani Solar Park, Greece, has this tech and has allured scientists with the veracity of its electricity generation capacity: 350GWh to 75,000 households annually.
As land becomes scarcer and more valuable, many solar parks are adopting floating solar farms, also known as floatovoltaics. The visuals would definitely pique your interest. These panels are installed on bodies of water, like reservoirs or lakes, that cools the panels and reduces evaporation from water bodies. Ramagundam, Telangana, India, has implemented floating solar farms leading the way to a green future.
Solar trackers enable panels to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day, optimizing energy absorption. New-generation solar parks, such as the ones in the U.S. and Spain, use dual-axis solar trackers that allow panels to move in multiple directions, further increasing efficiency by up to 25%.
Perovskite materials have recently been integrated into solar cells, making them lighter and more flexible compared to traditional silicon cells. These cells are cheaper to produce and have the potential to achieve efficiency rates beyond silicon. Although still in the development stages, many parks are beginning to experiment with this game-changing technology. While talking about perovskite, it is pertinent to mention the grandeur of the Crete solar farm that was designed by a team of dedicated university researchers. Crete has spearheaded the unique harvesting of solar energy and industrialisation by reducing greenhouse gasses.
Solar energy generation fluctuates with weather conditions and the time of day. To overcome this, advanced solar parks incorporate battery storage systems that store excess energy generated during peak hours of sunlight. This is one solution to address the intermittent availability of solar energy. Powerpack batteries, used in some large-scale projects like the Hornsdale Power Reserve in Australia, are an example of this tech. This latest development is stabilising grid supply and reducing even the slightest reliance on fossil fuels in the absence of sun.
Solar parks are at the forefront of renewable energy technology. The successful running of solar parks around the world demonstrates how innovative tech can be harnessed to tackle the climate crisis. From bifacial panels to floating farms and advanced energy storage solutions, these parks represent a beacon of hope in the global push toward a greener, more sustainable future.
