Question

If the solar thermal plant experiences a cloudy day , how will this affect its power output compared to the output of a photovoltaic array with the same active area at the solar thermal plant?

Answer 1

A photovoltaic array is a device which converts light directly to electric current . The produce direct Dc which is fluctuate with the sunlight's intensity .

In case of solar thermal plants they uses the heat of the sun's radiation to generate electricity from conventional steam-driven turbines . As they do not convert sun rays to electricity that means the steam form by them is used to rotate turbine and we can say the output electricity doesnot fluctuate as in photovaoltaic array case .

solar thermal plant has the capacity of storing energy by use of thermal energy and uses it at time of low sunlight on cloudy days .

while the photovoltaic array  do not produce or store thermal energy as they directly generate electricity – and electricity cannot be easily stored