SOLAR ENERGY
•The sun is the most important source of renewable energy
available today
•Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun
•Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either
directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using
concentrated solar power (CSP)
POTENTIAL
•The Earth receives 174,000 terawatts (TW) of
incoming solar radiation
•Insolation levels are 150 to 300 watt per square
meter or 3.5 to 7.0 kWh/m2 per day
•The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's
atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately
3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.
WHY SOLAR
•Solar energy is free
•Solar energy is infinite, whereas fossil fuels
are limited
•Solar energy does not cause pollution
•Solar energy is available in plenty
•Solar energy is hence a Green Energy
WHY SOLAR IS GREEN
ENERGY
•Green energy comes from natural sources such
as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, algae and
geothermal heat.
•These energy resources are renewable,
meaning they're naturally replenished.
•Renewable resources have a much smaller
impact on the environment than fossil fuels,
which produce pollutants such as greenhouse
gases as a by-product, contributing to climate
change.
ENERGY
STRUCTURE
HOW TO TAP SOLAR
ENERGY
•Solar Energy is tapped using 2 methods:
•CPS is Concentrated Solar Power (Indirect Method)
-Uses lenses or mirrors to focus solar light to a
point
•PV is photovoltaics (Direct Method)
-Converts light into electric current using
photovoltaic effect
HOW CPS & PV
TAPS ENERGY
•CPS, also called concentrated solar thermal
-uses solar thermal energy to produce steam to
power turbines
•PV use photovoltaic cells ( Solar Panels) to
convert light energy into electric current
Our scope of study is focused on Photovoltaics
PHOTOVOL
TAIC CELL
•A Photovoltaic cell is a p-n junction usually
made of silicon
•Photovoltaic cells are mainly classified as
Polycrystalline
Thin-Film
Monocrystalline
PHOTOVOL
TAIC CELLS
Monocrystalline Polycrystalline
Thin-Film
POLYCRYSTA
LLINE SOLAR
CELLS
•Produced from highly pure molten silicon using
casting process, heated to a high temperature
and cooled under controlled conditions.
• It sets as an irregular poly- or multi-crystal
form.
•Square silicon block is then cut into 0.3mm
slices. The typical blue appearance is due to the
application of an anti-reflective layer.
•The thickness of layer determines the colour-
blue has the best optical qualities.
•Mass-produced polycrystalline PV cell modules
have an efficiency of 12-16%.
THIN-LAYER
SOLAR CELLS
•Non-crystalline silicon cells are found in pocket
calculators etc.
•Layer of semi-conductor material is only 0.5-
2.0um thick.
• Considerably, less raw material is necessary in
their production compared with crystalline silicon
PV production.
•The film of amorphous silicon is deposited as a
gas on a surface such as glass.
•PV cells have an efficiency of between 6-8%.
•This type of PV cell is not currently suitable for
use on residential developments due to the low
generation density.
MONOCRYST
ALLINE
SOLAR CELLS
•Grown from highly pure molten silicon.
•Single crystal cylindrical ingot cut into thin
slices between 0.2 and 0.3mm thick is the
basis of a solar PV cell.
•Edges are cut off to give a hexagonal shape so
more can be fitted onto the module
•Have efficiencies of 13-16% and are the most
efficient type of the three types of silicon PV
cell.
•However, they require more time and energy
to produce than polycrystalline silicon PV cells,
and are therefore slightly more expensive.
HOW SOLAR
PANEL
WORKS
Photoelectric Effect: The ability of matter
to emit electrons when a light falls on it.
Silicon is what is known as a semi-conductor,
meaning that it shares some of the
properties of metals and some of those of an
electrical insulator, making it a key
ingredient in solar cells.
HOW SOLAR
PANEL
WORKS
•Every day, sunlight hits your roof’s solar panels with
photons (particles of sunlight)
•Panel converts photons into electrons of direct current
(“DC”) electricity
•The sunnier it is, the more energy is produced by the panels
•Electrons flow out of the panel and into an inverter and
other electrical safety devices
• Inverter converts that “DC” power into alternating current
or “AC” power.
HOW SOLAR
PANEL
WORKS
FACTS ABOUT
SOLAR
ENERGY
•Solar Energy is an intermittent energy
source
-not continuous or steady
•All available output must be taken when it
is available
•Either stored for when it can be used later,
or transported over transmission lines
to where it can be used now
FACTORS
AFFECTING
OUTPUT
ORIENTATI
ON
EFFICIENC
DIRT Y
SHADOW/ PANEL
SHADE TYPE
TEMPERATURE
ORIENT
ATION
•For best efficiency, solar panels should be
positioned to maximize the input of sunlight,
means that solar panels should be faced
south.
•Solar trackers are used to adjust the
orientation of solar panels to follow the sun`s
trajectory throughout the day.
•The pitch of roof can be altered with racks
to allow solar panels to stay longer in the
sun.
EFFICIE
NCY
•Efficiency of commercial solar panels operates
in the range 11-15%.
•Inverters come with wide ranging efficiencies
typically between 80% to 90%.
•Whenever backup is required batteries are
used.
•A lead-acid battery has an efficiency of only 75-
85% (this includes both the charging loss and
the discharging loss).
• From zero State of Charge (SOC) to 85% SOC
the average overall battery charging efficiency
is 91%- the balance is losses during discharge.
PANEL
TYPES
•Monocrystalline solar panels are based on
the highest-purity silicon available. This
makes them the most efficient solar panel
•Solar panels based on polycrystalline silicon
are usually not quite as efficient as
monocrystalline, but there is not that much
of a difference.
•Thin-film solar panels are relatively
inefficient, but they also cost less. Thin-film
solar panels take up a lot more space than
mono- or polycrystalline solar panels and are
unsuited for most households.
TEMPER
ATURE
•Temperature affects output of solar panels
in hot areas.
• As the temperatures increase, the
efficiency of solar panels usually decreases a
little bit.
•Professional installers make sure that the
solar panels are positioned to receive
sufficient amounts of airflow.
•This induces natural cooling, which help
keep the efficiency rates up.
SHADE/
SHADOW
•Shade will obviously affect the output of
solar panels.
•Very little shade can even bring down an
entire solar system.
•Solar panel installation is done after a
thorough analysis of shading in your
specified location.
DIRT
•Even roof top solar panels can become
dirty.
•Pollution, traffic dust and even bird
droppings contribute to soiling the solar
panels.
•When the panels are dirty, their efficiency is
reduced.
•To combat this, be sure to have the panels
cleaned regularly.
STORAGE OF
SOLAR
ENERGY
•Solar energy trapped by solar panels are
stored in batteries
•Rechargeable batteries are used to store
charge
•Commonly used batteries are lead-acid,
nickel-cadmium or lithium-ion battery
SOLAR
MICROGRID
SOLAR
MICROGRID
•Used for electrification projects
•Generation for a group of customers
•Preferably for setting up of Solar Parks
•Uses a pool of array of solar panels arranged
at a single open area
ROOF TOP
SOLAR
SYSTEM
GRID
GRID TIED OFF GRID
INTERACTIVE
GRIED TIED & GRID INTERACTIVE ARE ON
GRID SYSTEM VARIANTS
GRID TIED
Area of Usage
•Industrial
•Commercial
•Residential
•Primarily designed to supply power to grid/utility and also to power load
Working •Will not generate power during power failure as inverter shuts down to stop sending power to grid to prevent shocks to personnel operating on
grid
•Net metering is applicable
Scope •Aimed at nullifying power bills
•Suited for areas less prone to power failure
GRID
TIED
DC POWER AC POWER FLOW
FLOW
MAIN UTILITY UTILITY GRID
COMBINER BREAKER
BOX
DC DISCONNECT AC DISCONNECT UTILITY METER
INVERTER
Solar HOME
Panel (LOAD)
Array
GRID
TIED
GRID
TIED
GRID
INTERACTIVE
Area of Usage
•Industrial
•Commercial
•Residential
•Primarily designed to supply power to load
Working •Works in conjunction with a backup component, preferably battery
•Works using battery power after day hours
•Net metering is not applicable
Scope •Operative even if grid supply is not available
•Best suited for residential buildings
GRID
INTERACTIV
E
GRID
INTERACTIV
E
OFF-
GRID
•Offices
Area of Usage
•Shops
•Residential
•Apartments & Villas
•Designed to supply power to load
Working •Works in only with a backup component, preferably battery
•No interaction with grid
Scope
•Operative even if grid supply is not available
•Convenience & comfort of customer is primary concern
OFF-
GRID
OFF-
GRID
ON GRID v/s
OFF GRID
ON GRID v/s
OFF GRID
GRID TIED v/s
GRID
INTERACTIVE
GRID
GRID TIED • Power is fed into grid, load
• Power is fed into grid & load & INTERACTIVE
battery
• No charging process • Charger charges batteries to
included suitable operating voltage
• Very low green house • Have considerable green
emission as no battery is house emission as lead acid
used batteries are used
• Simple design & • Design is challenging &
construction complex
• In the absence of solar • In the absence of solar
power, grid supplies power power, battery supplies
to load power to load
• Non operative during power • Operative even during
WHAT IS
NET
METERING?
•Measures difference between electricity
you buy from your utility and the electricity
you produce with your solar energy system
•Any excess electricity produced by your
solar energy system is delivered back into
the utility grid, compensates your
consumption from grid
•Considerably reduces electricity bill
GREENHOUS
E GAS
EMISSIONS
COAL POWER PLANT •915 to 994 grams per kilowatt hour
OIL POWER PLANT •893 grams per kilowatt hour
GAS FIRED POWER PLANT •400 to 599 grams per kilowatt hour
SOLAR POWER PLANT •22 to 46 grams per kilowatt hour
SOLUTIONS FOR
HAZZLE FREE
OPERATION
•Dust off panels regularly
•Wash panels everyday if water is available
in plenty
•Temperature factor compensated with
higher sun hours per day
•Dust off using mechanical means
•Cleaning panels using blowers
