Solar Power Farms: Industrial Grade Solar Photovoltaic Plants

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 30 April 2010

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Industrial-Grade Production at Solar Photovoltaic Plants Gains Traction

Solar farms are catching on globally, as they have great potential to facilitate electricity production. Countries such as Spain, Portugal and now the US are poised to become world leaders in the solar farm industry.

In recent times, developing a solar farm has become a world trend in the solar power sector. By solar power, the reference is to an inexhaustible source of renewable energy that can be created when sunlight is converted into electricity.

Spain is the world’s fourth largest manufacturer of solar power. Spain developed one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic farms in Jumilla, Murcia (Southeastern Spain) as a new breakthrough that would enable it to produce an inexhaustible source of solar power. Interestingly, Jumilla is one of Spain’s well known wine-producing regions.

Covering 247 acres, this solar power farm will produce energy that can be used by nearly 20,000 homes. A team of 400 people worked for 11 months to build the Jumilla solar farm, which was installed with 120,000 solar panels and further segregated into 200 arrays to facilitate elecriticity generation.

Another country to join the bandwagon of solar farm development is Portugal, which is currently developing one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaics farms in a small town called Mouro. The target is to wean itself off oil and fossil fuel dependence.

Portugal’s Mouro-based solar farm comprises a stunning 2,520 giant solar panels. These panels are positioned at 45 degree angles so that the sun’s movement across the sky can be correctly monitored. The 62 MW solar plant on this farm covers the sunniest 130 hectares in Europe and will be completed in two phases. The first phase will be completed with 40-45 MW this year. The second phase is expected to be completed by 2010. When the solar farm reaches completion, it will emerge as the world’s biggest solar power station, nearly six times as productive as its competitors. It will produce and distribute power that can be used by 30,000 homes. This development is a strong and powerful move by a country like Portugal that has to import nearly 85% of its energy needs. Further, the current estimate for Portugal is joining the top league of global leaders in the solar sector.

With renewed interest in developing its solar farm industry, US-based Cleantech America LLC announced its plans to build an 80 MW solar farm, making it one of the world’s largest solar power farms. The proposed farm will cover 640 acres near Fresno, California. The advent of this farm will catapult California into the top league for huge solar projects. The completion of this farm is estimated in 2011.

Given the scale and prospects of these projects, more and more companies across the globe are stepping forward with strong initiatives to develop solar farms and establish their expertise.


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