A photovoltaic system (informally, PV system) is an arrangement of components designed to supply usable electric power for a variety of purposes, using the Sun (or, less commonly, other light sources) as the power source. A photovoltaic array (also called a solar array) consists of multiple photovoltaic modules, casually referred to as solar panels, to convert solar radiation (sunlight) into usable direct current (DC) electricity. A photovoltaic system for residential, commercial, or industrial energy supply normally contains an array of photovoltaic (PV) modules, one or more DC to alternating current (AC) power converters  (also  known as  inverters).   The tracking system that supports the solar modules, electrical wiring and interconnections, and mounting for other components.Optionally, a photovoltaic system may include any or all of the following: renewable energy credit revenue-grade meter, maximum power point tracker (MPPT), battery system and charger, GPS solar tracker, energy management software, solar concentrators, solar irradiance sensors, anemometer, or task-specific accessories designed to meet specialized requirements for a system owner. The number of modules in the system determines the total DC watts capable of being generated by the solar array; however, the inverter ultimately governs the amount of AC watts that can be distributed for consumption.   A small PV system is capable of providing enough AC electricity to power a single home, or even an isolated device in the form of AC or DC electric. For example, military and civilian Earth observation satellites, street lights, construction and traffic signs, electric cars, solar-powered tents and electric aircraft may contain integrated photovoltaic systems to provide a primary or auxiliary power source in the form of AC or DC power, depending on the design and power demands. Large grid-connected photovoltaic power systems are capable of providing an energy supply for multiple consumers. The electricity generated can be stored, used directly (island/standalone plant), fed into a large electricity grid powered by central generation plants (grid-connected or grid-tied plant), or combined with one, or many, domestic electricity generators to feed into a small electrical grid (hybrid plant). PV systems are generally designed in order to ensure the highest energy yield for a given investment. PV systems may be built in various configurations:  - Off-grid without battery (array-direct) - Off-grid with battery storage for DC-only appliances - Off-grid with battery storage for AC and DC appliances - Grid-tie without battery - Grid-tie with battery storage Salient Features   Grid Tied Solar Power System The grid tied solar power system stores the electric power produced by the solar panels into the battery in the day. When people need to use electricity at night, they can directly use the electric energy stored in the battery. The excess power can be directly sold to the state grid so as to realize full utilization of the solar energy resources.   Solar Base Station The solar base station is suitable for use in areas where there is no electricity or lack of electricity. It makes full use of solar energy to provide those areas with timely communication and information. It not only saves manpower and materials, but also realizes the sustainable development of the information and communication industry.  

Linear Fresnel reflectors use long, thin segments of mirrors to focus sunlight onto a fixed absorber located at a common focal point of the reflectors. These mirrors are capable of concentrating the sun’s energy to approximately 30 times its normal intensity.

A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror. The energy of sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects are positioned that is intended to be heated. For example, food may be placed at the focal line of a trough, which causes the food to be cooked when the trough is aimed so the Sun is in its plane of symmetry. For other purposes, there is often a tube, frequently a Dewar tube, which runs the length of the trough at its focal line.   The mirror is oriented so that sunlight which it reflects is concentrated on the tube, which contains a fluid which is heated to a high temperature by the energy of the sunlight. The hot fluid can be used for many purposes. Often, it is piped to a heat engine, which uses the heat energy to drive machinery or to generate electricity. This solar energy collector is the most common and best known type of parabolic trough. Salient Features Higher operating temperatures A parabolic trough collector permits operating temperatures of up to 500 °C.  Simpler construction Construction achieves greater stiffness and wind resistance.  Reduction of the collector weight and cost Reducing the proportion of steel means the weight of the collector is reduced resulting into reduction in overall project cost.  Cost reductions in production and transport The individual modules can be shipped without problems in standard containers, which means on-site manufacturing is no longer absolutely necessary. The modular design makes unrestricted project sizes possible.  Increase in optical efficiency The parabolic trough collector achieves an optical efficiency of up to 75 %. 

A photovoltaic system (informally, PV system) is an arrangement of components designed to supply usable electric power for a variety of purposes, using the Sun (or, less commonly, other light sources) as the power source. A photovoltaic array (also called a solar array) consists of multiple photovoltaic modules, casually referred to as solar panels, to convert solar radiation (sunlight) into usable direct current (DC) electricity. A photovoltaic system for residential, commercial, or industrial energy supply normally contains an array of photovoltaic (PV) modules, one or more DC to alternating current (AC) power converters  (also  known as  inverters).   The tracking system that supports the solar modules, electrical wiring and interconnections, and mounting for other components.Optionally, a photovoltaic system may include any or all of the following: renewable energy credit revenue-grade meter, maximum power point tracker (MPPT), battery system and charger, GPS solar tracker, energy management software, solar concentrators, solar irradiance sensors, anemometer, or task-specific accessories designed to meet specialized requirements for a system owner. The number of modules in the system determines the total DC watts capable of being generated by the solar array; however, the inverter ultimately governs the amount of AC watts that can be distributed for consumption.   A small PV system is capable of providing enough AC electricity to power a single home, or even an isolated device in the form of AC or DC electric. For example, military and civilian Earth observation satellites, street lights, construction and traffic signs, electric cars, solar-powered tents and electric aircraft may contain integrated photovoltaic systems to provide a primary or auxiliary power source in the form of AC or DC power, depending on the design and power demands. Large grid-connected photovoltaic power systems are capable of providing an energy supply for multiple consumers. The electricity generated can be stored, used directly (island/standalone plant), fed into a large electricity grid powered by central generation plants (grid-connected or grid-tied plant), or combined with one, or many, domestic electricity generators to feed into a small electrical grid (hybrid plant). PV systems are generally designed in order to ensure the highest energy yield for a given investment. PV systems may be built in various configurations:  - Off-grid without battery (array-direct) - Off-grid with battery storage for DC-only appliances - Off-grid with battery storage for AC and DC appliances - Grid-tie without battery - Grid-tie with battery storage Salient Features   Grid Tied Solar Power System The grid tied solar power system stores the electric power produced by the solar panels into the battery in the day. When people need to use electricity at night, they can directly use the electric energy stored in the battery. The excess power can be directly sold to the state grid so as to realize full utilization of the solar energy resources.   Solar Base Station The solar base station is suitable for use in areas where there is no electricity or lack of electricity. It makes full use of solar energy to provide those areas with timely communication and information. It not only saves manpower and materials, but also realizes the sustainable development of the information and communication industry.  

A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror. The energy of sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects are positioned that is intended to be heated. For example, food may be placed at the focal line of a trough, which causes the food to be cooked when the trough is aimed so the Sun is in its plane of symmetry. For other purposes, there is often a tube, frequently a Dewar tube, which runs the length of the trough at its focal line.   The mirror is oriented so that sunlight which it reflects is concentrated on the tube, which contains a fluid which is heated to a high temperature by the energy of the sunlight. The hot fluid can be used for many purposes. Often, it is piped to a heat engine, which uses the heat energy to drive machinery or to generate electricity. This solar energy collector is the most common and best known type of parabolic trough. Salient Features Higher operating temperatures A parabolic trough collector permits operating temperatures of up to 500 °C.  Simpler construction Construction achieves greater stiffness and wind resistance.  Reduction of the collector weight and cost Reducing the proportion of steel means the weight of the collector is reduced resulting into reduction in overall project cost.  Cost reductions in production and transport The individual modules can be shipped without problems in standard containers, which means on-site manufacturing is no longer absolutely necessary. The modular design makes unrestricted project sizes possible.  Increase in optical efficiency The parabolic trough collector achieves an optical efficiency of up to 75 %. 

Linear Fresnel reflectors use long, thin segments of mirrors to focus sunlight onto a fixed absorber located at a common focal point of the reflectors. These mirrors are capable of concentrating the sun’s energy to approximately 30 times its normal intensity.