Solar Energy

Bruce Logue and Robert Chou The University of Texas at Austin Department of Chemical Engineering

Fall 2006

Overview
How Solar Energy Works Types of Photovoltaic Systems Flat-plate and Concentrator Current Applications Solar Economics Price Trends Costs The Energy Payback Time Advances in Technology Thin-film PV roofing panels Nanomaterials

How does solar energy work?

2

The Photoelectric effect

The PV cell layered with positive and negative charged semiconductor material

Photovoltaic Systems
4

System is constructed of Arrays There are two types of systems

Flat Plate Systems
System can be in a fixed position or moving Makes use of Direct and Diffuse sun light

Concentrator Systems
Moves relative to the sun Requires less PV cell material

Current Applications
7 8 9

10

11

12

Solar Energy Economics

The cost of PV cells has been on decline since 70s. Decline due to advancements in efficiency and manufacturing techniques Residential equipment costs can range from 10K to 100K

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13

Energy Payback Time (EPBT)

EPBT is length of time PV system takes to generate amount of energy put into system. Three factors determine the EPBT:
Amount of illumination received by PV cells Conversion efficiency of PV cell Manufacturing technology used to make PV cell

Manufacturing Methods
There are three methods to produce PV cells
Process cells on wafers sawed from silicon ingots
Ingots are either single or multicrystalline

Process cells on silicon wafers cut from multicrystalline ribbons Deposition of non-crystalline silicon on inexpensive substrates Singlecrystal silicon Non-ribbon
multicrystalline

Ribbon
Multicrystalline silicon

silicon

Cheap Substrate (Cadmium Telluride)

EPBT (Years)
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2.7

2.2

1.7

1.0

Technological Advances
Thin-Film Technology
PV cells are continually processed on a sheet consisting of much less material than the typical PV cells.
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Copper Solar Cells

Thin-Film PV cells are made with Cu to increase efficiencies greater than 12%
compared to silicon
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Technological Advances
Solar Roof Panels
Shingles are combined with PV cells creating insulation that generates electricity
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Nanomaterials
Solar cells incorporating nanomaterials are stronger, more flexible, and more efficient.
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References
Fast Solar Energy Facts. 14 Nov. 2006 <http://www.solarbuzz.com/ FastFactsIndustry.htm>. Harlin, Kevin. "Building new power panels." The Times Union. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. 20 Nov. 2006 <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/ universe>. Konarka, Textronic to Develop Solar Thin-fil PV Fabric. (2005, September 29). Renewable Energy Access. Retrieved November 19, 2006, from http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/productstory?id=37 "Nanomaterials and Cost-effective Manufacturing Technologies Hold Key to Development of Photovoltaic Technologies." PR Newswire US. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. 20 Nov. 2006 <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/ universe>. PV Markets. 20 Nov. 2006 <http://www.ece.umr.edu/power/Energy_Course/energy/ Renewables/pv/French_site/pvmark.html>. Recent Advancements in Solar Panel Technology by Shell Solar. 20 Nov. 2006 <http://www.solarexpert.com/PVadvancements.html>. Residential Solar Power Costs & Savings. 15 Nov. 2006 <http://www.borregosolar.com/home/solar-power-costs-savings.php>. Solar Energy Technologies Program. (2006,April 13). Retrieved November 10, 2006, from U.S. Department of Energy Web site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/photovoltaics.html

Images
Images Courtesy of
1 www.google.com 2 www.faqs.com 3 - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ 4 - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ 5 - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ 6 - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ 7 - http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/anlage-e.html 8 www.windturbine-1.com 9 www.treehugger.com 10 - http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/sat/astronomy/solar_b/index_e.html 11 www.palacefarm.com 12 - http://howto.altenergystore.com 13 - http://www.che.utexas.edu/course/che379&384/Topic8_3.pp 14 - http://www.ece.umr.edu/power/ Energy_Course/energy/Renewables/pv/French_site/overview.html 15 - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ 16 - http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/productstory?id=37 17- http://www.solarexpert.com/PVadvancements.htm 18- http://www.solar-components.com/pvshingl.htm 19- http://newsroom.spie.org/x4436.xml