Question

What is solar energy? How is the solar energy used to generate electricity in a solar power plant?

Answer 1

Hint:The collection of physical phenomena connected with the presence and motion of matter with an electric charge is known as electricity. Electricity and magnetism are both components of the electromagnetic phenomena, as defined by Maxwell's equations.

Complete answer:
Solar energy is one of the renewable energies and is described as the transformation of energy present in the sun. The majority of sunlight that travels through the earth's atmosphere is visible light and infrared radiation. Photosynthesis is the process through which plants convert carbon dioxide into sugar and carbohydrates.

This energy is converted into electricity using solar cell panels. Solar energy is divided into two groups based on the technique of conversion and the sort of energy it produces. The mechanism of conversion includes both passive and active solar energy.A solar thermal plant concentrates the sun's energy to produce heat and electricity. As a result, steam is produced, which is used to power a turbine and generator.

Troughs in the parabola: The most prevalent form of solar thermal plant is this one.Many parallel rows of solar parabolic trough collectors make into a "solar field." They concentrate the sun at 30 to 100 times its typical intensity using parabola-shaped reflectors.The procedure involves heating a certain type of fluid, which is then collected at a central place to produce superheated steam at high pressure.

Note:Solar energy is the energy gained from the sun. A solar power plant is a device that uses thermal energy to produce electricity. It is made up of a huge number of concave reflectors, with black painted water pipes at the centre. The reflectors concentrate the sun's heat energy on the pipes, causing the water within the pipes to boil and generate steam. The steam generated is utilised to operate a steam turbine, which drives an electric generator.