Solar Energy

Abhishek Singh
 What is Solar Energy?
• The most precise Solar Energy definition : Energy
from the sun.
• But what is solar energy really?
There are two types of solar energy: Thermal
Energy & Electric Energy
• Thermal Energy: Thermal Energy is everywhere. It’s
lights up our days. It heats the earth, our bodies and
our homes. It dries our clothes . All for free!
• Electric Energy: Electric Energy uses the power of
the sun to produce electricity through solar cells,
otherwise known as Photovoltaics (PV).
 The Sun

• Diameter: 1.39E9 m (120 x greater than earth)

• Distance from earth = 1.495E11 m (93 million miles) ± 1.7%
• Center: Density ≅ 100 x density of water and T>1E6 K
• Powered by hydrogen fusion
• Composed of layers. The outer layer is the photosphere
• Effective blackbody temperature of 5777 K
Cont’d
 Whhyy S
Soollaarr E
Enneerrgy
• World Energy Conservation
predicted estimation about the rate
of utilization of energy resources
shows that the coal deposits will
deplete within the next 200 to 300
years and petroleum deposits will
deplete in next few decades
• The most advantage using Solar
Energy is that this is distributed
over a wide geographical area,
ensuring that developing regions
such as India have access to
electricity generation at a stable
cost for the long-term future
• The huge consumption of fossil
fuels has caused visible damage to
the environment in various forms

Cont’d
 IIm
mppoorrttaanncce ooff S
Soollaar E
Ennergy

The following table shows the amount of carbon

and sulphur deposited in the atmosphere

Amount deposited in the

S. No Activity atmosphere

1. Human Vehicle, Waste product etc 8 billion tones

2. Fossil fuels 6.5 million tones

3. Deforestation and forest firing 1.5 million tones

Cont’d
 Solar
Solarlar Radiation
Rad
adiatiatio
ion
Solar
SolarRadiation
Radiation
Components
Components
••Ultra-Violet
Ultra-Violet (200nm
(200nmtoto400nm)
400nm) ••NNeeaarrininfrfraa-r-eredd(7(70000nnmmto to1110000nnmm))
8.7%
8.7% 2288.1.1%%
••Visible
Visible(400nm
(400nmtoto700nm)
700nm) ••InInfrfa
rarreedd//fafar-ri-ninfrfraarreedd(a(abboovvee11110000nnmm))
36.2%
36.2% 2255.4.4%%
••Infra-red
Infra-red (700nm
(700nmtoto2500nm)
2500nm)
53.1 %
53.1% SSililcicoonnPPVVeeffifcicieiennttUUsseess

RReeggio
ionnssOOnnlylyhheeaatitninggoorrTThherermmoo
PPhhoototoVVooltlataicic

SSoollaarrRRaaddiiaattiioonnLLeevveell
••AAvveerraaggeerraadiaiattioionn outerssppaacce
VVooltltaaicicFFoorrm
mooffrraaddiaiattio
ionn::
113366.7.7m
mww/s/sqq.c.cm
m DDififfuusseeddoorrBBeeaam
meedd
••Raaddiaiattioion onEEaarrtthh surfaacce
Cont’d
107m
107mww/s/sq.
C urrent solar ener gy consumption

Cont’d
 HIIS
STORIICAL MIILESTONE S
•• 1838
1838--Edmund EdmundBecquerel
Becquerelobservedobserved
materials
materialswhich whichturn
turnlight
lightinto
intoenergy
energy M
Moouucchhoouutt‘s‘s SSoolalarrccoollleleccttoorr
•• 1876
1876--78 78--William
WilliamAdams,
Adams,wrote wrotethe the
first
firstbook bookabout aboutSolar
SolarEnergy
Energycalled:called:AA
SSuubs bsutibs tutitteitute
fortute
Fuefor
l ifnorTrFoue
puieclailn
CTCrToroountr
puiopn
cicaatl roieuntr
s andieswas
andablewasto power
able a 2.5 a
to power
horsepower
2.5
horsepower steam
steamengine
engine
•• 1860-
1860-Auguste
AugusteMouchout,
Mouchout,usedused
direct
directconversion
conversionof
ofsolar
solarradiation
radiation
into
intomechanical
mechanicalpower.
power.
•• 1895
1895--Aubrey
AubreyEneas
Eneasformed
formedthethefirst
first
Solar
SolarEnergy
Energycompany
company
•• 1904
1904--Henry
HenryWillsie
Willsiebuilt
built22huge
huge
plants
plantsininCalifornia
Californiatotostore
store generated
generated
power.
power.He Hewas
wasthethefirst
firstto
tosuccessfully
successfully
use
usepower
powerat atnight
nightafter
aftergenerating
generatingitit
during the day
during the day
Cont’d
 HISTORICAL MILESTONES
•• 1954
1954-Calvin
-CalvinFuller,
Fuller,Gerald
GeraldPearson Pearson
and
andDarylDarylChaplin
Chaplinof ofBell
Bell
Laboratories
Laboratoriesdiscovered
discoveredthe theuse useof
of
silicon
siliconas asaasemi-conductor,
semi-conductor,which which
led
ledto tothe
theconstruction
constructionof ofaasolarsolar
panel
panelwith withan anefficiency
efficiencyrate rateof of6%.
6%.
•• 1956
1956-The -Thefirst
firstcommercial
commercialsolar solarcell
cell
was
wasmade madeavailable
availableto tothethepublicpublicat ataa
very
veryexpensive
expensive$$300 300 pper er wwatt att
•• 1958-
1958-Vanguard
VanguardI Ithe thefirstfirstsatellite
satellite
was
waslaunched
launchedthat thatused
usedsolar solarenergy
energy
to
togenerate
generateelectricity.
electricity.
•• 1970-
1970-TThe heTEhe neErne
gnyeCrrgiysiCs r!is(iOs P! EC oil
e(OOPE
(m bPaEC
embargo) rgooil) Solar
Solarenergy
energyhistory historywas was
made
madeas asthetheprice
priceofofsolar
solarcells cells
dropped
droppeddramatically
dramaticallyto toabout
about$$20 20
ppeeprewr att.
watt.tt.
Cont’d
 DDiissccoovveerrSSoollaarrPPaanneellss
HHOOW WIITTW WOORRKKSS
1)1) Sunlight
Sunlighthit
hitthe
thesolar
solarpanel
panel(photovoltaic/
(photovoltaic/
PV)
PV)and
andabsorbed
absorbedby bysemi-conducting
semi-conducting
materials
materialssuch
suchasassilicone.
silicone.
2)2) Electrons
Electronsare
areknocked
knockedloose
loosefrom
fromtheir
their
atoms,
atoms,which
whichallow
allowthem
themtotoflow
flowthrough
throughthe
the
material
materialtotoproduce
produceelectricity.
electricity.This
Thisprocess
process
isiscalled
calledthe
thephotovoltaic
photovoltaic(PV)
(PV)effect.
effect.
3)3) An
Anarray
arrayofofsolar
solarpanels
panelsconverts
convertssolar
solar
energy
energyinto
intoDCDC(direct
(directcurrent)
current)electricity.
electricity.
4)4) The
TheDC
DCelectricity
electricityenters
entersan
aninverter.
inverter.
5)5) The
Theinverter
inverterturns
turnsDC
DCelectricity
electricityinto
into120-volt
120-volt
AC
AC(alternating
(alternatingcurrent)
current)
6)6) The
TheAC
ACpower
powerenters
entersthe
theutility
utilitypanel
panelininthe
the
house.
house.
7)7) The
Theelectricity
electricity(load)
(load)isisthen
thendistributed
distributedto
to
appliances
appliancesororlights
lightsininthe
thehouse.
house.

Cont’d
 DDiissccoovveerrSSoollaarrPPaanneellss HHOOW
W
ITTW WOORRKKSS
8)8) When
Whenmore
moresolar
solarenergy
energyisisgenerated
generatedititcan
canbebe
stored in a battery as DC electricity and will
stored in a battery as DC electricity and will
continue
continuetotosupply
supplyyour
yourhome
homewithwithelectricity
electricityinin
the
theevent
eventofofaapower
powerblackout
blackoutor oratatnighttime.
nighttime.

9)9) When
Whenthe
thebattery
batteryisisfull
fullthe
theexcess
excesselectricity
electricitycan
can
be
beexported
exportedback
backinto
intothetheutility
utilitygrid,
grid,ififyour
your
system
systemisisconnected
connectedto toit.it.
10)
10) Utility
Utility supplied
supplied electricity
electricity can
can also
also be
be drawn
drawn form
form
the
thegrid
gridwhen
whennot
notenough
enoughsolar
solarenergy
energyisis
produced
produced

11)
11)The
Theflow
flowofofelectricity
electricityininand
andout
outofofthe
theutility
utilitygrid
grid
isismeasured
measuredby byaautility
utilitymeter,
meter,which
whichspins
spins
backwards
backwards(when
(whenyouyouareareproducing
producingmoremoreenergy
energy
that
thatyou
youneed)
need)and
andforward
forward(when
(whenyouyourequire
require
additional
additionalelectricity
electricityfrom
fromthetheutility
utilitycompany).
company).
The
Thetwo
twoare
areoffset
offsetensuring
ensuringthatthatyou
youonly
onlypay
payfor
for
the
theadditional
additionalenergy
energyyou youuse
usefrom
fromthetheutility
utility
company.
company.ThisThissystem
systemisisreferred
referredtotoasas"net-
"net-
metering".
metering".
Cont’d
 SSoollaarr PPhhoottoovvoollatics in India
•• Begun
Begunas asfar
farback
backas asininthe
themid
mid70’s
70’s
solar
solarphotovoltics
photovolticsprogramme
programmeof ofthe
the
Government
Governmentof ofIndia
Indiaisisone
oneofofthe
the
largest
largestininthe
theWorld
World
•• Reliefs
Reliefsoffered
offeredby bygovernment
governmenton on
SPV
SPVmanufacturers
manufacturersand andusers
usersof
ofSPV
SPV
based
basedproducts
products::
** 100%
100%depreciation
depreciationininthe thefirst
firstyear
yearofof
installation
installationofofthe
thesystems
systems
** No
Noexcise
exciseduty
dutyfor
formanufacturers
manufacturers
** Low
Lowimport
importtariff
tarifffor
forseveral
severalraw
raw
materials
materialsandandcomponents
components
** Soft
Softloans
loansto tousers,
users,intermediaries
intermediaries PPoosstataggeeSStatammppppuubblilsishheeddBByy
and
andmanufacturers.
manufacturers. InInddiaiaGGoovveern
rnmmeenntt
Cont’d
 SSoolarPhhoottoovvolatticsin Inndia((ccoonntt’’d)
Proomoottiingusse of PVtteechnoollogy to Proviide Liighttiingiin
Viilllagesiintthhe formooff :

Systems Capacity Uses

Community lighting systems 1KW to 2.5 KW Small household lighting system

Portable solar lanterns 10Wp SPV module lighting 7 W CFL lamp for 3
hours a day

Street lights 75Wp SPV module Charging 100-130AH battery to

Fixed home lighting systems
Water Pumping
run a 11W CFL lamp for dusk to
dawn operation
35-50Wp SPV module powering two CFLs -- 9 or 11W ,
work 4-5 hours /day,
run a small TV set or a fan
1KW DC motor shallow pumping

Cont’d
 PPRRAACCTTIICCAALLAAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONNSSOOFFSSOOLLAARREENNEERRGGYY

Soalarr poowerred “AAuuttooRRicickksshhaaww”

NAASSAdesigigned Soalarrpowerred
vehiciclele-- “HHEELLIO
IOSS”

Cont’d
 PPRRAACCTTIICCAALLAAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONNSSOOFFSSOOLLAARREENNEERRGGYY

Semi i auttonomoouusW Waarr

macchhinine-- ”OOddyyssseeuuss”

Soalarr carr-- “QQuuaanntt”

Cont’d
 PPRRAACCTTIICCAALLAAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONNSSOOFFSSOOLLAARREENNEERRGGYY

Solar streetlilgighhtt

Solar cookkeeruusseedin
RRuurraalInnddiaa

Cont’d
 Solar Energy Advantages
• Saves you money
• After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is
practically FREE.
• Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your
cost.

• Environment friendly
• It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not
subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
• Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal), sustainable and
helping to protect our environment.
• As we see previously ,it does no pollute air.
• Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or
smog. It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas
emissions. By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost
and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of
radioactive waste. Cont’d
 Solar Energy Advantages (cont’d)
• Low/ no maintenance
• Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for
decades.
• Once installed, there are no recurring costs. They operate silently, have no
moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to
add any fuel. More solar panels can easily be added in the future when
your family's needs grow.

Cont’d
 Solar Energy- Main Drawbacks
• The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy
system, largely because of the high cost of the semi-conducting
materials used in building one.
• The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable
utility-supplied electricity.
• Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a
good level of efficiency.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun,
although this problem can be overcome with the installation of
certain components. The production of solar energy is influenced
by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air. Similarly, no solar
energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery
backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem.
• As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not
appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

Cont’d
 FINAL VERDICT
AA11--kkiilloowwaatttthhoom meessoollaarrssyysstteem
mw wiill pprreevveennttaapppprrooxxiim
maatteellyy117700
llbbss..ooffccooaallffrroom
mbbeeiinnggbbuurrnneedd,,330000llbbssooffCCOO22ffrroom mbbeeiinngg
moosspphheerreeaanndd110055ggaalllloonnssooffw
rreelleeaasseeddiinnttootthheeaattm waatteerrffrroomm
bbeeiinnggccoonnssuum meeddeeaacchhm moonntthh!!
Tools For Adoption & Acceleration SSooallarr EEnneerrggyy CCoolleleccttoorr

•• Penalizing
Penalizingextractive
extractiveand
andpolluting
polluting
fossil-fuel
fossil-fueleenergy
nergy

•• Create
CreateIncentives
Incentives
–– Feed-in
Feed-intariffs
tariffs
–– Net SSooallarr D
Disishh
Netmetering
metering
–– Rebates
Rebates
–– Consumer
Consumertax
taxdeductions
deductions
–– Production
ProductionTax
Taxcredits
credits

•• Invest in R&D
Invest in R&D
Cont’d
 C
Caann ssoollaarr ddoo iitt aalll??
No!
But it can do much more
than it does now.
“Old guys” don’t know
about
solar design.
It is up to the “New
Graduates”
to promote solar.
Cont’d
Thank You