Renewable Energy Source

SOLAR ENERGY

Whats Solar Energy?

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 suns energy is
enough to meet all our power needs.

Insolation
Insolation is the amount of solar radiation
reaching the earth. Also called Incident Solar
Radiation.
Maximum value is 1000 kW/m2.
Components of Solar Radiation:
Direct radiation
Diffuse radiation
Reflect radiation

How much solar energy?

The surface receives about 47% of the total solar

energy that reaches the Earth. Only this amount
is usable.

Using present solar techniques some of the solar energy

reaching the earth is utilized for generating heat, electricity
etc.
Even then the energy demand met by using solar energy is
very less.
Fossils
1st Qtr
Bio-fuels
2nd Qtr
Hydro-based
3rd Qtr
Nuclear

SOLAR(0.8%)
4th Qtr
Windmills

Why Solar Energy?

The fossil fuels are non renewable sources so we can

not 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.
So the only option we have is solar energy because it is a
nonpolluting and silent source of electricity and also low
maintenance and long lasting energy.

How solar energy is used

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar Heating
Solar Water Heating
Solar Space Heating
Solar Space Cooling
Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators
Photovoltaic Cells

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar thermal technologies involve
harvesting energy from the sun for heating
water or producing electrical power.
Solar collectors are used for this purpose.
Three Types:

Flat-plate collectors

Evacuated-tube collectors
Integral collector-storage systems(Batch or Bread Box)

FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS

EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTTORS

INTEGRAL COLLECTOR SYSTEM

 Water Heating

Passive systems

Thermosyphon
Collector storage systems

Active systems

Direct circulation systems

Indirect circulation systems
Hot air systems.

Thermosyphon

 Space Heating
Active Solar Heating System

A system that uses water or air that the sun has

heated and is then circulated by a fan or pump.
Passive Solar Heating System
The house itself acts as the solar collector and storage
facility.
No pumps or fans are used.
This system makes use of the materials of the house to
store and absorb heat.

Direct

Passive Solar Heating System

Three Types:
Direct-Gain
Indirect-Gain
Attached Greenhouse

Indirect

Greenhouse

 Space Cooling
The heat from a solar collector can also be used to cool
a building by using the solar heat as an energy source.

Electricity from Solar Energy

Solar power is described as the conversion of sunlight
into electricity. Sunlight could be changed into electricity
with the use of :
Directly using PV or photovoltaic or
Indirectly by CSPs.

Concentrated Solar Power

CSP is a power generation technology that uses mirrors
or lenses to concentrate the suns 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

Photovoltaics

Converting solar energy directly into electrical

energy .
Devices used are called solar panels.
Solar panel is a group of solar cells.
Solar cells work on the principle of photoelectric
effect.

Structure of a Solar Cell

A typical solar cell is a multi-layered unit consisting of a:
Cover - a clear glass or plastic layer that provides outer
protection from the elements. Transparent Adhesive - holds
the glass to the rest of the solar cell.
Anti-reflective Coating - this substance is designed to
prevent the light that strikes the cell from bouncing off so that
the maximum energy is absorbed into the cell.
Front Contact - transmits the electric current.
N-Type Semiconductor Layer - This is a thin layer of silicon
which has been mixed (process called doping) with
phosphorous.
P-Type Semiconductor Layer - This is a thin layer of silicon
which has been mixed or doped with boron.
Back Contact - transmits the electric current.

Working of A solar cell

Photoelectric effect
When a light of certain frequency falls on the surface of a
metal
Electrons will absorb the energy
If incident light energy is greater than the work
function(minimum energy required to remove the loosely
bound valence electrons)of the metal
Then the photo electrons will be emitted and
The excess energy is converted to the kinetic energy of
electron.

 When solar panels are placed in the sunlight ,

photons will strike the surface and emits
electrons.
As a result electron hole pair is created in the
solar cell.
When external circuit is connected to the solar
cell , electrons flow in the circuit and the current
is generated.

The Types of Solar Electric Systems

The Stand Alone System

Standalone, or off-grid, solar power systems

consist of solar panels and a battery bank.
Used in rural areas and regions where there
is no access to the utility grid.
Very good at giving economical electricity.
Grid-Tie Solar System

Very useful for homes that are already linked

to the utility grid.
Primary advantage is the cheap price of utility.
The system needs to be wired with an inverter

Stand Alone-off grid

Grid connected

USES OF SOLAR ENERGY

Heaters
Cars
Lights
Satellites
Dryers
Calculators

On an office building , roof areas can be covered with

solar panels .
Remote buildings such as schools , communities can
make use of solar energy.
In developing countries , this solar panels are very much
useful.
Even on the highways , for every five kilometres ,solar
telephones are used.

Green houses
water pumps
Desalination
Chilling
Solar ponds
Thermal

Commercial use

Applications

Solar car

Solar heater

Solar lights

Developing Solar Power In

PAKISTAN
In PAKISTAN, about 70% of the population lives in
some 50,000 villages dispersed around the country.
Many of these villages are far from the main
transmission lines of the national grid because of their
relatively small populations.
It is not usually economically viable to connect these
villages to the grid.

 Solar energy has great potential in areas of

PAKISTAN that receive high solar radiation
throughout the year.
For e.g. 19 mega Joules of solar energy per square
meter is received everyday.
The nation wide average is 5.5 kWh/mess/day.
Enough energy potential for solar energy because
there are 250-300 sunny days per year.
Continuous cloudy days are rare.

 Solar energy systems are now designed for particular

needs. For instance, you can convert your outdoor
lighting to solar. The solar cells are directly on the lights
and cant be seen by anyone. At the same time, you
eliminate all costs associated with running your outdoor
lighting.
Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is
too expensive to extend the electricity power grid.
It is estimated that the worlds oil reserves will last for 30
to 40 years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite
(forever). 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 Power

Initial Cost : The initial cost of purchasing and
installing solar panels always become the first
disadvantage. Although subsidy programs, tax
initiatives and rebate incentives are given by
government to promote the use of solar panels we are
still way behind in making full and efficient use of solar
energy.

Location: The location of solar panels is of major

importance in the generation of electricity. Areas which
remains mostly cloudy and foggy will produce electricity
but at a reduced rate and may require more panels to
generate enough electricity homes. Houses which are
covered by trees, landscapes or other buildings may not
be suitable enough to produce solar power.

 Pollution: Most of the photovoltaic panels are made up

of silicon and other toxic metals like mercury, lead and
cadmium. Pollution in the environment can also
degrade the quality and efficiency of photovoltaic cells.
New innovative technologies can overcome the worst of
these effects.
Reliability: Unlike other renewable source which can
also be operated during night, solar panels prove to be
useless during night which means you have to depend
on the local utility grid to draw power in the night.

 Inefficiency: Since not all the light from the sun is

absorbed by the solar panels therefore most solar
panels have a 40% efficiency rate which means 60% of
the sunlight gets wasted and is not harnessed.
Installation areas: For home users, a solar energy
installation may not require huge space but for big
companies, a large area is required for the system to be
efficient in providing a source of electricity.

Better ways of usage

Government should take measures and see that

solar lights are used as street lights in all the

areas.
We can place solar panels in the barren lands
instead of keeping it away uselessly.
We can also keep these solar panels in the
deserts , where we can make use of this energy
with the help of a rechargeable battery.
Efficiency of solar panels depends on the range
of frequencies of light that strikes the surface .
So they can give higher efficiency if we split the
light into different frequency ranges and direct
the beams onto the cells tuned to these
frequencies.
Building a new home is the best time to design
and orient the home to take the advantage of the