School of Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades

AECH 2112
Sustainability & Renewable Energy

Types of Solar
Energy

Dr. Walid Alqaisi

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Objectives
Objectives

After the completion of this module, the student will be able to:
• Explain the basic principle of solar energy.
• Show an understanding of how measurements of solar energy are
expressed.
• Recognize the different types of solar energy.
• Explain how solar panels work.
• Identify the different types of solar cells.
• Explain the applications and efficiencies of the different types of solar
cells.
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Introduction
• Increasing demand for energy and the fact that coal, oil and gas will
run out eventually, requires the utilization of other everlasting
resources such as solar energy.

• Solar energy is the most important source of energy available on earth

and it is vital for its inhabitants. Without it there would be no life.

• Solar radiation, often called the solar resource, is a general term for
the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun.

• Solar radiation can be captured and turned into useful forms of energy
such as heat and electricity using a variety of technologies.
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The Sun
• The sun rays travel 150 million km to reach the earth.
• Scientists can tell from the color of the sun that the temperature at
the surface is about 6000 °C.
• This is about twice as hot as the filament in a light bulb.
• However’ the sun is far hotter at its center and this is where the sun’s
energy is produced.
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Basic Principle of Solar Energy

• Every location on Earth receives sunlight at least part of the year.

• The amount of solar radiation that reaches any spot on the Earth's surface
varies according to:
1. Geographic location
2. Time of day
3. Season
4. Local landscape
5. Local weather

• Because the Earth is round, the sun strikes the surface at different angles,
ranging from 0° (just above the horizon) to 90° (directly overhead).
• When the sun's rays are vertical, the Earth's surface gets all the energy
possible.
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Basic Principle of Solar Energy

• The more slanted the sun's rays are, the
longer they travel through the
atmosphere, becoming more scattered
and diffuse.

• The same amount of light covers a larger

area and is a little less intense in that
same spot.
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Measurement of Solar Energy

• Measurements of solar energy are typically expressed as total radiation on a
horizontal surface or (as total radiation on a surface tracking the sun).

• Radiation data for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems are often represented
as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2).

• Direct estimates of solar energy may also be expressed as watts per square
meter (kW/m2).

• The brighter the sunlight, the greater the output and the more advantageous.
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Types of Solar Energy

• There are two ways of turning the
energy contained in sunlight into
electricity :

1- Electricity Generation (Direct

Solar Power) using solar or
photovoltaic cells.

2- Heat Generation (Indirect

Solar Power) involves using the sun
as a source of heat to drive a heat
engine.
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1 Electricity Generation (Direct Solar Power)

• These PV cells are gathered together

and are commonly called solar
modules or panels.

• The PV cells contain a material capable

of converting radiation from the sun
into a current of electricity.
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1 Electricity Generation (Direct Solar Power)

• 1 Electricity Generation (Direct Solar Power)

The electricity produced is used in buildings, power stations,

transportation and solar powered satellites.
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1 Electricity Generation (Direct Solar Power)

• The advantage of this type is that

there are no emissions from the sun
and they require little maintenance
after being installed.

• The disadvantage of this type is that

it is not available at night and the
initial cost is high.
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2 Heat Generation (Indirect Solar Power)

• The difference between direct and indirect solar power is the number of
steps it takes until it reaches the point where it is turned into electricity.
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2 Heat Generation (Indirect Solar Power)

• 2 Heat Generation (Indirect Solar Power)

• The step of heat storage using molten salt for example can be used to overcome
the no power generation after sunset,
• Within the receiver the concentrated sunlight heats molten salt to over 1,000 °F
(538 °C).
• The heated molten salt then flows into a thermal storage tank where it is stored,
maintaining 98% thermal efficiency, and eventually pumped to a steam generator.
The steam drives a standard turbine to generate electricity.
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Molten Salt Energy Storage (MOSAS)

▪ Molten salt energy storage (MOSAS) :

▪ Molten salts are a phase change material that is commonly used for thermal
energy storage.

▪ Molten salts are solid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure but change
to a liquid when exposed to thermal energy. (it turn to liquid as temperature
220°C. 500°C or 700°C based on the manufacturing components).
▪
▪ The heat is later converted into steam to directly feed a steam turbine and
generate electricity when there is no sunshine or wind.

▪ Storage systems based on MAN MOSAS achieve excellent efficiency due to the high
operating temperature and heat transfer properties of molten salt.
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Molten Salt Energy Storage (MOSAS)

▪ Benefits of Molten salt energy storage :

1. Makes less fluctuating renewable energy source.

2. Improves Grid stability.

3. Provides Long-duration storage for renewable energy.

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2 Heat Generation (Indirect Solar

Power)

Solar Thermal Power

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Solar Thermal Power

• Solar Thermal Power
• Solar thermal power plant concepts can be divided into two basic
categories, namely, line focusing and point focusing technologies.

• Most characteristic CSP (Concentrated solar power) designs are briefly

described in the following:

point focusing line focusing

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Solar Thermal Power

• Solar Thermal Power

• 1- Parabolic Trough

• 2 - Parabolic Dish Solar System

• 3- Linear Fresnel Reflector

• 4- Solar tower
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Solar Thermal Power

1- Parabolic Trough:

▪ The focal point in solar parabolic linear reflectors can be

found along their length.

▪ A receiver pipe with a fluid (oil or molten salt) is running

along the inner part of the curved surface.

▪ The concentrated solar energy heats the fluid flowing

through the pipe, and the heat energy is then used to
generate electricity in a conventional steam generator
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Types of Solar Energy

2 - Parabolic Dish Solar System

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Types of Solar Energy

3- Linear Fresnel Reflector:

This kind of technology approaches the parabolic trough collectors but uses an array of flat or
slightly curved mirrors to collect the sun rays onto a fixed receiver mounted on a linear tower

Its major asset is that it uses flat or elastically curved reflectors, which are cheaper compared to
parabolic glass reflectors
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Types of Solar Energy

4- Solar Towers:
▪ Solar towers, also known as central receiver systems.

▪ utilize hundreds or thousands of small reflectors

(called heliostats).

▪ They collect the sunlight on a central receiver unit

mounted on the top of a fixed tower.
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Types of Solar Energy

4- Solar Towers:

▪ The working fluid (mostly water) is heated and later drives a turbine to
produce electrical power.

▪ In this design, very high temperatures are reached; therefore, an increase in

efficiency is marked resulting in less cost of thermal storage.

▪ Temperatures reached in a solar power tower can be greater than 1000 °C.
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End of PPT

Any Questions?