Rooftop photovoltaic power generation is a form of photovoltaic power generation where photovoltaic modules are installed on the rooftops of buildings to convert solar energy into electrical energy. It utilizes the available space on rooftops to generate electricity for self-use or grid connection, making full use of the building's envelope and turning it into an energy production area.
The concept of rooftop photovoltaic power generation emerged in the 1970s along with the development of photovoltaic technology. In the early days, due to the high cost of photovoltaic cells and limited technology, it was mainly used in some experimental and demonstration projects. With the continuous progress of technology and the significant reduction in the cost of photovoltaic cells in the following decades, rooftop photovoltaic power generation began to gradually enter the civilian field. In recent years, with the increasing emphasis on renewable energy and the support of relevant policies in various countries, the installation scale of rooftop photovoltaic power generation has continued to expand and has become an important part of the distributed energy system.
Similar to the principle of general photovoltaic power generation, when sunlight shines on the photovoltaic cells in the rooftop photovoltaic modules, the photons in the sunlight excite the electrons in the semiconductor materials of the cells, generating a potential difference and current. The generated direct current electricity is then converted into alternating current electricity through an inverter and can be used directly for self-use or sent to the power grid through the grid connection equipment after meeting the grid connection standards.
1. Space utilization: It makes full use of the idle rooftop space of buildings, does not occupy additional land resources, and is suitable for various types of buildings in urban and rural areas.
2. Decentralized and close to the user: It can generate electricity directly at the user end, reducing the transmission and distribution losses of the power grid and improving the energy utilization efficiency. At the same time, it can also ensure the power supply reliability of the user in case of power grid failure.
3. Flexible installation and capacity adjustment: The installation scale and capacity of rooftop photovoltaic power generation can be adjusted according to the size and electricity demand of the rooftop and the user's economic situation. It can be installed in a small amount for self-use or in a large amount for grid connection and income generation.
4. Good economic benefits: In addition to reducing the electricity bill for self-use, the surplus electricity can be sold to the power grid to obtain income. Moreover, with the continuous progress of technology and the reduction in costs, the investment return period of rooftop photovoltaic power generation is gradually shortening and the economic benefits are becoming more and more obvious.
5. Aesthetics and environmental protection: The installation of rooftop photovoltaic modules can also play a certain role in beautifying the building's appearance in some cases. At the same time, it is a clean and renewable energy generation method, which is very beneficial to the environment and sustainable development.
6. Some intermittency: The power output of rooftop photovoltaic power generation is affected by the intensity and duration of sunlight, and there is intermittency and instability. It needs to be coordinated and compensated by other power generation methods or energy storage devices to ensure the stability and reliability of the power grid.[!--empirenews.page--]
Some common terms in rooftop photovoltaic power generation include photovoltaic module, inverter, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), fill factor, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, rated power, efficiency, shading effect, temperature coefficient, grid connection, energy storage, rooftop load-bearing capacity, orientation angle, inclination angle, etc. Understanding these terms is helpful for better understanding and operation of rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems.