MAHARASTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

MUMBAI

A
PROJECT REPORT

ON
"SOLAR ENERGY SOURCES AND

VIKRAM SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING

COMPANY IN INDIA"

NAME ROLL
SUBMITTED BY: NO. ENROLLMENT NO.
MR. MAYURESH BALARAM PADEKAR 5380 1915090168
MR. ABHISHEK ASHOK MHATRE 5379 1915090165
MR. ADITYA VIJAY PATIL 5392 1915090181
MR. ADARSH ANAND MALI 5357 1915090092

GUIDED BY
MR.SWAPNIL BHOIR.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

NJBSPM’S SHANTINIKETAN POLYTECHNIC
PLOT NO.2 7/28, S ECTOR- 02 , NEW PANVEL NAVIMUMBAI.(2020-2021)
 CHAPTER 1
SOLAR ENERGY
 1.1 INTRODUCTION

Energy produced and radiated by sun is known as solar energy. This solar
energy can be converted directly or indirectly into other forms of energy
such as heat and electricity.

There are three main ways to harness solar energy: photovoltaics, solar
heating & cooling, and concentrating solar power. Photovoltaics generate
electricity directly from sunlight via an electronic process and can be
used to power anything from small electronics such as calculators and
road signs up to homes and large commercial businesses. Solar heating &
cooling (SHC) and concentrating solar power (CSP) applications both
use the heat generated by the sun to provide space or water heating in the
case of SHC systems, or to run traditional electricity-generating turbines
in the case of CSP power plants.

1.2 POTENTIAL

The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast
that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from
all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and
mined uranium combined,The potential solar energy that could be used
by humans differs from the amount of solar energy present near the
surface of the planet because factors such as geography, time variation,
cloud cover, and the land available to humans limit the amount of solar
energy that we can acquire.
Geography affects solar energy potential because areas that are closer to
the equator have a higher amount of solar radiation. However, the use of
photovoltaics that can follow the position of the Sun can significantly
increase the solar energy potential in areas that are farther from the
equator.[4] Time variation effects the potential of solar energy because
during the nighttime, there is little solar radiation on the surface of the
Earth for solar panels to absorb. This limits the amount of energy that
solar panels can absorb in one day. Cloud cover can affect the potential of
solar panels because clouds block incoming light from the Sun and
reduce the light available for solar cells.
Besides, land availability has a large effect on the available solar energy
because solar panels can only be set up on land that is otherwise unused
and suitable for solar panels. Roofs are a suitable place for solar cells, as
many people have discovered that they can collect energy directly from
their homes this way. Other areas that are suitable for solar cells are lands
that are not being used for businesses where solar plants can be
established.

Solar technologies are characterized as either passive or active

depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight and
enable solar energy to be harnessed at different levels around the world,
mostly depending on the distance from the equator. Although solar
energy refers primarily to the use of solar radiation for practical ends,
all renewable energies, other than geothermal power and Tidal power,
derive their energy either directly or indirectly from the Sun.

Active solar techniques use photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, solar

thermal collectors, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into useful
outputs. Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with
favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air,
and referencing the position of a building to the Sun. Active solar
technologies increase the supply of energy and are considered supply side
technologies, while passive solar technologies reduce the need for
alternate resources and are generally considered demand-side
technologies.

1.3 APPLICATIONS

1. Solar Water Heating:

Fig. 1.1 Solar Collector

A solar water heating unit comprises a blackened flat plate metal
collector with an associated metal tubing facing the general
direction of the sun. The plate collector has a transparent glass
cover above and a layer of thermal insulation beneath it.

The metal tubing of the collector is connected by a pipe to an insulated

tank that stores hot water during cloudy days. The collector absorbs
solar radiations and transfers the heat to the water circulating through
tubing either by gravity or by a pump.

This hot water is supplied to the storage tank via the associated metal
tubing. This system of water heating is commonly used in hotels, guest
houses, tourist bungalows, hospitals, canteens as well as domestic and
industrial unit.

2. Solar-distillation:

In arid, semi-arid or coastal areas there is scarcity of potable water.

The abundant sunlight in these areas can be used for converting
saline water into potable distilled water by the method of solar
distillation.
In this method, solar radiation is admitted through a transparent air tight
glass cover into a shallow blackened basin containing saline water.
Solar radiation passes through the covers and is absorbed and converted
into heat in the blackened surface causing the water to evaporate from
the brine (impure saline water). The vapours produced get condensed to
from purified water in the cool interior of the roof.

The condensed water flows down the sloping roof and is collected in
the troughs placed at the bottom and from there into a water storage
tank to supply potable distilled water in areas of scarcity, in colleges,
school science laboratories, defence labs, petrol pumps, hospitals and
pharmaceutical industries.

3. Solar Cooking:

A variety of fuel like coal, kerosene, cooking gas, firewood dung cakes
and agricultural wastes are used for cooking purposes. Due to the energy
crisis, supply to these fuels are either deteriorating (wood, coal, kerosene,
cooking gas) or are too precious to be wasted for cooking purposes (cow
dung can be better used as manure for improving soil fertility).
This associated the used of solar energy for cooking purposes and the
development of solar cookers.
A simple solar cooker is the flat plate box type solar cooker. It consists of a
well-insulated metal or wooden box which is blackened from the inner
side. The solar radiations entering the box are of short wavelength. As
higher wavelength radiations are unable to pass through the glass covers,
the re-radiations from the blackened interior to outside the box through the
two glass covers is minimised, thereby minimising the heat loss.
The heat loss due to convection is minimised by making the box airtight.
This is achieved by providing a rubber strip between the upper lid and the
box for minimising the heat loss due to conduction, the space between the
blackened tray and outer cover of the box is filled with an insulating
material like glasswool, saw-dust, paddy husk etc.
When placed in sunlight, the solar rays penetrate the glass cover and are
absorbed by the blackened surface thereby resulting in an increase in
temperature inside the box. Cooking pots blackened from outside are
placed in the solar box. The uncooked food gets cooked with the heat
energy produced due to increased temperature of the solar box.
Collector area of such a solar cooker can be increased by providing a
plane reflector mirror. When this reflector is adjusted to reflect the sun
rays into the box, then a 15°C to 25° C rise in temperature is achieved
inside the cooker box.

4. Solar Electric Power Generation (Photo voltaic system):

Electric energy or electricity can be produced directly from solar energy

by means of photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cell is an energy
conversion device which is used to convert photons sunlight directly into
 electricity. It is made of semiconductors which absorb the photons
received from the sun, creating free electrons with high energies.

Fig. 1.4 Solar photovoltaic cell

These high energy free electrons are induced by an electric field, to flow
out of the semiconductor to do useful work. This electric field in photo
voltaic cells is usually provided by a p-n junction of materials which have
different electrical properties.

There are different fabrication techniques to enable these cells to achieve

maximum efficiency. These cells are arranged in parallel or series
combination to form cell modules. Some of the special features of these
modules are high reliability, no expenditure on fuel, minimum cost of
maintenance, long life, portability, modularity, pollution free working
etc.

Application of photovoltaic cells has been used to operate:

a. Irrigation pumps,

b. Rail road crossing warnings,

c. Navigational signals,
d. Highway emergency call systems,

e. Automatic meteorological station etc. in areas where it is difficult to lay

power lines,

f. They are also used for weather monitoring and

g. Portable power sources for televisions, calculators, watches, computer

card readers, battery charging and in satellites etc.

5. Concentrated solar power

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and

tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The
concentrated heat is then used as a heat source for a conventional power
plant. A wide range of concentrating technologies exists; the most
developed are the parabolic trough, the concentrating linear Fresnel
reflector, the Stirling dish, and the solar power tower. Various
techniques are used to track the Sun and focus light. In all of these
systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight, and is
then used for power generation or energy stostora. Designs need to
account for the risk of a dust storm, hail, or another extreme weather
event that can damage the fine glass surfaces of solar power plants.
Metal grills would allow a high percentage of sunlight to enter the
mirrors and solar panels while also preventing most damage.
 CHAPTER 2
VIKRAM SOLAR
PANEL
MANUFACTURING
COMPANY
 1. INTRODUCTION

Vikram Solar Limited is an Indian company based in Kolkata and the

second-largest solar energy company in India by revenue. [1] The
company’s primary business focus is manufacturing solar PV modules
and also carries out engineering, procurement and construction
services and operations & maintenance of solar power plants. It is a
subsidiary of Vikram Group, which also has subsidiaries in the tea
processing, textiles and engineering industries.

2. HISTORY

Vikram Solar was founded in 2006 by Gyanesh ChChaudha as a

manufacturer of solar modules, and it has since moved into Engineering,
procurement, and construction management, and solar power plant
operations & maintenance.[10][11]In 2015 the company completed the
first floating solar power plant in India.

3. ANNUAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY

Vikram Solar’s rated annual PV Module manufacturing capacity has been

upgraded to 1 GW mark in 2017. In line with our company’ s focus on
adopting pioneering and innovative technologies, our manufacturing
facility has the finest machinery and equipment imported from United
States, Switzerland, Germany and J apan.
4. PROJ ECTS

Below are some of Vikram Solar's project references:

India

200 MW- Anatapuramu, Andhra Pradesh (2018)

20MW - Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (2019)
10 MW – Itrasi, Madhya Pradesh (2018)
10 MW – Dhaej, Gandhar, Hazira (2018)
1461 kW Rooftop – Gujarat (2018)
350 kW Rooftop – Cossipore (2018)
100 kW Rooftop – Haryana (2018)
130 MW – Rajasthan (2017) [38]
80 MW – Charanka, Gujarat (2017)
20 MW – Karnataka (2017)
10 MW – Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh (2017)
100 kW Rooftop – Patna (2017)
10 kW Floating Solar Plant – Kolkata (2015)

Abroad

Vikram Solar Supplied 52.6 MW of Modules to Southern Current, USA.

4.2 MW project commissioned in the USA with Vikram Solar modules.
312 kWp solar system installed by Finnwind Oy with Vikram Solar
modules at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
5. RECOGNITION

In 2019

Active Customer Engagement Award from CII on 22 J anuary.

India Rooftop Solar Congress Leadership Awards 2018 by Solar
Quarter on 17 J anuary.
CBIP Awards from Power Minister Shri R.K. Singh on 4 J anuary. India’s
most preferred Brands Award on 3 January.

In 2018

No. 1 Solar Panel Manufacturer of the year and No. 1 Sharing Grid Solar

PV Power Solution Provider of The Year award from Soft DisS

On 8 December
Dare-to-Dream Awards, Kolkata manufacturing leadership awards and
Kolkata Best Employer Brand Awards on 30 October. Leading RE
Manufacturer Awards from REI event on 17 Septembon.
Solar Module Company of the Year & Rooftop Solar EPC Company of the
Year award by Solar Quarter on 18 Quarter.
Fastest Growing Company by ET Bengal Corporate Awards on January.

IN 2017

Gold Certificate of Merit by Frost & Sullivan on 13 DeSulliv.

 Kolkata Best Employer Brand awards by Employer Branding
Institute India on 8 NovembeI. Leading Renewable Energy
Manufacturer Solar Module Awards by REI on 20 Septembe. CEO &
MD of Vikram Solar, Mr. Gyanesh Chaudhary was conferred with
Emerging Leader Award by CMA on 16

IN 2016

Fastest growing company in INR 300-1000 core categorcate Economic

Times of India.
National excellence award for Rooftop Solar Power Projects in the

Domestic Solar Module Manufacturers Category by MNRE on 13

JUNE
6. FUTURE PROJECTS

1. RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, BELUR MMATH

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:-
 OWNER
Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math

PROJ ECT
164 Kwp Rooftop Project

LOCATION
Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal

MODULE TYPE
Somera 345 Wp (Monocrystalline)

CONNECTION TYPE
Grid Connected

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
RATED SYSTEM POWER
164 kWp

INVERTER
Solar Grid Connected Inverter: 10 kW-2nos.; 20 kW-3nos.; 33
kW2nos.
NUMBER OF MODULES
477

COORDINATES
 Latitude: 22°37’54”N
Longitude: 88°21’ 12” E

CO2 SAVINGS PER ANNUM (APPROX.)

201.72 tonnes

SPACE COVERAGE
1975 sq. m. (approx.)

ANNUAL ENERGY
YIELDS 2.38 lakh units
(approx.)

PROJ ECT BRIEF DETAILS

Vikram Solar, one of India’s leading module manufacturers and a

prominent Rooftop & Ground Mounted EPC solar solutions provider,
commissioned rooftop solar plant for Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)
at Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, and the headquarters of
Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.

A Swachh Bharat Mission initiative of Damodar Valley

Corporation (DVC), the rooftop solar plant will power 6 buildings at Belur
Math- Shilpvidyalaya, Shilpamandira, Shilpayatan, Shikshanmandira, SBI
Bank and Showroom. The 164 kWp rooftop solar project is spread across
1975 sqmtr. (approx.) of rooftop area & is expected to generate 2.38 lakh
units of electricity per annum.

2. NTPC LIMITED, BHADLA RAJASTHAN

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:-

OWNER NTPC
Limited

PROJ ECT
130MW Ground mounted

LOCATION
Beadle, Rajasthan

MODULE TYPE Polycrystalline

CONNECTION TYPE
Grid connected & connected to Bhadla 220KV Pooling Station -1

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
RATED SYSTEM POWER
130MW

INVERTER Solar Grid Connected Inverter

(104 nos.)

NUMBER OF MODULES
440000

COORDINATES
Latitude: 27.5N
Longitude: 72.0E
SPACE COVERAGE 663
acres

ANNUAL ENERGY YIELD

212.44 million Unit (expected)

PROJ ECT BRIEF DETAILS:-

The 130MW NTPC project is one of the largest solar PV plant ever
executed by Vikram Solar since its incorporation.
 The project is located inside the Bhadla Solar Park, built by RRECL,
with basic infrastructural support like GSS, pooling station, bitumen road,
approach road, street lights, construction water and land lease.
Permissions from multiple government bodies were acquired and
statutory norms were diligently followed during the installation and
commissioning of the plant.
This was the first-of-its-kind project under our supervision. In order to
avoid soil erosion, murram spreading was done up to 1 sq. m. of the pile
area for each of the 73,000 piles. Commissioning of 2 x 65MW blocks was
done in 4 phases (40MW, 25MW, 25MW & 40MW). The solar plant was
commissioned prior to the scheduled time and generation started about two
months in advance, which is considered as an achievement on its own owing
to the size of the project. The work started from 8th February and continued
up to 24th March.
Vikram Solar was the first among all the other bidders to commission the
project successfully.
One of the first helipads in the region was developed inside this project area
block.

PLANNING & EXECUTION

Total 4,40,000 solar PV modules (approx.) were installed in the

130MW plant.
 Total 7500MT of steel were used for the mounting of the module
structure.
Each 65MW block has a unique switchyard which steps up the plant
voltage from 33kV level to 132KV level with the help of 63MVA grid
transformer.