1

Contents

Introduction. 2

Usage of solar energy. 2

Solar thermal energy. 3

Solar water heating energy. 3

Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators. 4

Photovoltaic cells. 4

Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. 6

Current solar powerplant working in Pakistan. 7
Conclusion. 7
Reference 7
2

Introduction

Solar energy Originates with the thermonuclear fusion reactions occurring in the sun.
Represents the entire electromagnetic radiation (visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, x-
rays, and radio waves). This energy consists of radiant light and heat energy from the
sun. Out of all energy emitted by sun only a small fraction of energy is absorbed by
the earth. Just this tiny fraction of the sun’s energy is enough to meet all our power
needs.
The Sun daily provides about
10,000 times more energy to
the Earth than we consume.
The earth receives 174
petawatts [1015 watts] of
solar radiations from the sun.
The total energy absorbed by
earth’s atmosphere, oceans,
land mass is 3,850,000
exajoules [1018 joules] per
year. The energy reaching
earth’s atmosphere consists of about 8% UV radiation, 46% visible light, 46% infrared
radiations.
Solar energy is the most readily available source of energy. It is also the most
important of the non-conventional sources of energy because it is non-polluting. The
fossil fuels are non-renewable sources so we cannot depend on them forever. Though
nuclear energy is a clean and green energy, as said by Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, there
are always some problems associated with it.

Usage of solar energy.

1. Solar Thermal Energy.

2. Solar Water Heating.
3. Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators.
4. Photovoltaic Cells.
3

Solar thermal energy.

Like solar cells, solar thermal systems,

also called concentrated solar power
(CSP), use solar energy to produce
electricity, but in a different way. Most
solar thermal systems use a solar
collector with a mirrored surface to focus
sunlight onto a receiver that heats a
liquid. The super-heated liquid is used to
make steam to produce electricity in the
same way that coal plants do. Solar
thermal technologies involve harvesting energy from the sun for heating water or
producing electrical power. Solar collectors are used for this purpose.

Types
• Flat-plate collectors.
• Evacuated-tube collectors.
• Integral collector-storage systems (Batch or Bread Box).

Solar water heating.

Solar energy can be used to heat
water. Heating water for bathing,
dishwashing, and clothes washing is
the second largest home energy cost.
Installing a solar water heater can
reduce your water heating bill by as
much as 50 percent. A solar water
heater works a lot like solar space
heating. In our hemisphere, a solar
collector is mounted on the south side
of a roof where it can capture sunlight. The sunlight heats water in a tank. The hot
water is piped to faucets throughout a house, just as it would be with an ordinary water
heater.
4

Types
• Active Solar Heating System.
• Passive Solar Heating System.

Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators.

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a power generation technology that uses mirrors
or lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays and, That heat a fluid and produce steam. The
steam drives a turbine and generates power in the same way as conventional power
plants. Other concepts are being explored and not all future CSP plants will
necessarily use a steam cycle.

Solar power is concentrated in various ways:

There are now several devices and structures created which focus and concentrate
solar power.
• Solar Parabolic Troughs
• Stirling Dish
• Solar Power Tower
• The Linear Fresnel Reflector

Photovoltaic cells.
Photovoltaic comes from the words photo, meaning light, and volt, a measurement of
electricity. Sometimes photovoltaic cells are called PV cells or solar cells for short. You
are probably familiar with photovoltaic cells. Solar-powered toys, calculators, and
roadside telephone call boxes all use solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity.
Solar cells are made up of silicon, the same substance that makes up sand. Silicon is
the second most common substance on Earth. Solar cells can supply energy to
anything that is powered by batteries or electric power.
5

Electricity is produced when

radiant energy from the sun
strikes the solar cell, causing
the electrons to move around.
The action of the electrons
starts an electric current. The
conversion of sunlight into
electricity takes place silently
and instantly. There are no mechanical parts to wear out. Compared to other ways of
making electricity, photovoltaic systems are expensive and many panels are needed
to equal the electricity generated at other types of plants.
It can cost 10 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour to produce electricity from solar cells. Most
people pay their electric companies about 12.6 cents per kilowatt-hour for the
electricity they use, and large industrial consumers pay less. Solar systems are often
used to generate electricity in remote areas that are a long way from electric power
lines.

Basic structure of solar cell.

When sun light falls on silicon metal
cell, the photon energy allows the
electrons from the Player to move to
the N-layer, creating an electric
potential difference on the
semiconductor borders.
If these borders are connected to a
load by conductive wires, there will be
a flow of electric current, getting back
the electrons to the P-layer and
starting the process again. A
photovoltaic cell generally has low
current and voltage levels, of about 3
A and 0.7 V, respectively.
6

Photovoltaic modules.
Assemblies of cells are used to
make solar modules , also known
as solar panels and these
panels are combined to form
arrays. For this , many cells are
connected in series and/or
parallel to obtain the expected
current and voltage levels and
this set of cells is mounted on an appropriate structure to create a photovoltaic module.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.

Advantages of Solar Energy.

• The power source of the sun is absolutely free.
• The production of solar energy produces no pollution.
• The technological advancements in solar energy systems have made them
extremely cost effective.
• Most systems do not require any maintenance during their lifespan, which
means you never have to put money into them.
• Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend
the electricity power grid.
• Solar cells are long lasting sources of energy which can be used almost
anywhere.
• Solar cells are also totally silent.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy.

• Solar panels are expensive.
• Solar power is inefficient in cloudy areas.
• A solar energy installation requires a large area for the system to be efficient
in a source of electricity.
7

• Solar power maintenance is a problem especially to those who doesn’t know

the proper techniques.
• Disposal is difficult for the batteries and solar panels when they have broken
down because they contain toxic chemicals like lead, sulfuric acid & cadmium
telluride.

Current solar power plants functioning in Pakistan.

• QAID-E-AZAM POWER PLANT (THAR)
• SOLAR ENERGY PAKISTAN LTD. (THATTA, SINDH)
• DACC LLC SOLAR (SINDH)
• WAH INDUSTRIES LIMITED SOLAR (TAXILA, PUNJAB)
• TEH ACCESS SOLAR (PUNJAB)
• CWE SOLAR (CHOLISTAN)
• BAKHSH ENERGY SOLAR (KASUR)
• ROSHAN POWER SOLAR

CONCLUSION.
Solar energy is the energy emitted by the sun. It is the most abundant and renewable
form of energy. Photovoltaic cells convert light energy into electrical energy. Assembly
of PV cells make solar panels. Solar panels finds its applications in many fields such
as domestic lighting, solar vehicles etc. Cost and area are big disadvantage of solar
cells.

Reference
• V. Smil, “Energy at the crossroads”, OECD Global Science Forum, 2006.
• V. Smil, “General Energetics Energy in the Biosphere and Civilization” , xiii +
369 pp (1991).
• "Climate and Earth’s Energy Budget". NASA Earth Observatory, (2009).
• Donald A. Neaman, “Semiconductor Physics and devices”, fourth edition, Tata
McGraw Hill Pvt. Ltd., pg:- 177-197.
• B.H.Khan, “Non –conventional energy resources”, second edition , Tata
McGraw Hill Pvt. Ltd., pg:-88-192
8

• Mohit Kr. Srivastava, Sharad Kr. Gupta, Ashish Gupta, “Environmental

Aspects of Solar Cell Modules”.