1

Renewable Energy Sources

.



Solar Cells

2
Solar Energy
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Renewable Energy Sources


1. Wind Turbine:
Converting the wind energy into electricity
Wind, Propeller, Electric Generator, Current Flow (lights)
2. Solar Cells
Converting the Suns (light) energy directly into electricity
Intensity of the sunlight
Wavelength of the sunlight
Type and surface area of the solar cell
3. Fuel Cells
Producing electricity by combining Hydrogen and Oxygen
to produce H
2
O
4. Other: Solar Panels
Heating: Cold water in Hot water out
Material
4
Interesting Estimates *
Every hour, enough sunlight energy reaches the Earth
to meet the worlds energy demand for a whole year.

The amount of energy from the Sun that reaches the
Earth annually is 4 E18 Joules.***

The amount of energy consumed annually by the
world's population is about 3 E14 Joules.


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Solar Cells: Basic Concepts
Photovoltaics
Solar cells, (also called photovoltaics - PV), convert sunlight directly into
electricity.
They are made of semiconductor material- similar to those used in computer
chips.
When sunlight is absorbed by these cells, the solar energy knocks electrons
loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the material to
produce electricity. movement of electrons.

Sunlight contains packets of energy called photons that can be converted
directly into electrical energy.

This is referred to as the photovoltaic effect.
Photo- means light and -voltaic means electrical current;

Thin film solar cells use layers of semiconductor materials only a few
micrometers thick.

Thin film technology has made it possible for solar cells to double as roof
tiles, rooftop shingles, building front elevation.


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Photovoltaic Cells
Photovoltaic cells are made of at least two layers of semiconducting material. The
first layer has a positive charge; the next layer has a negative charge. When
sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconducting material absorbs photons from the
light. This process frees electrons from the negative layer, which move to the
positive layer. This flow of electrons constitutes an electric current, which can be
captured in a circuit connecting the two layers. The electricity generated by a
photovoltaic cell can be used directly, stored in batteries.
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Solar Panel collects and
utilizes heat energy.
Photovoltaic panels (Solar Cells)
transform light energy into electricity
Suns Light and Heat
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Atoms

An atom is composed of three different particles: (for now)

Nucleus- Center of the atom:
1. Protons (P
+
)-- positively charged.
.
2. Neutrons -- no charge.

3. Electrons (e-) -- negatively charged.
-- orbit the nucleus.

No of protons = No of electrons





Protons (P
+
)
Neutrons
(e
-
)
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Valence Electrons - Helium atom model

Two valence electrons (-)
Two protons (+)
Two neutrons
Outermost energy level
An electron cell can be thought of
as the orbit of electrons around the
nucleus.

The electrons in the outermost shell,
called the valence shell, are called
the valence electrons.

Valence electrons determine
the chemical /electrical
properties of the atom.

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Example
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Valence Band-(oversimplified description)
E
n
e
r
g
y

l
e
v
e
l
s

Valence band
Conduction band
Band gap
c
o
n
d
u
c
t
o
r

s
e
m
i
c
o
n
d
u
c
t
o
r
s

i
n
s
u
l
a
t
o
r

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Boron B
5
, Phosphorus P
15
Silicon Si
14
e
-e-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
N
e
-
Si
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
B
e
-
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
-

e
P
e

e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e

e
Si = 4 valence e
-
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Semiconductor Doping
How can we change the electrical properties of the pure Semiconductor
material?

By adding foreign material to it, called dopants. (impurities)
Boron, phosphorus, arsenic are common dopants.
Rate of low :1 every 100,000,000 atoms
high: 1 every 10,000 atoms

Silicon (Si) with Phosphorus (P
2,8,5
) dopant : n-type
(extra valence electrons are added)

Silicon (Si) with Boron (B
2,3
) dopant = p-type
(missing fourth valence electron, holes)
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n - type
.
e
e
e
-

e
P
e

e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e

e
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
Phosphorus with 5 valence gives - donor n-type
Si
-
15
p- type
.
B
e
-
e
e
e
e
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
Boron with 3 valence e
-
, accepts acceptor p type
Si
-
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p-n junction
e
-
B
e
-
e
e
e
e
e
-
e
-
e
-
Si
-
p-type
n-type
p-n J unction
e
e
e
-

e
P
e

e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e

e
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
Si
-
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Photon Hits the Atom of a Semi Material
.
Hole is the empty space left behind as a result of the movement of the
free electron. Holes have + charge.
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Solar Cell Schematic
. .
Protective Cover-Glass
Electrical Contact
Antireflective Layer
N
P-N Junction
P Electrical Contact
Load
current
P
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Sunlight is made of photons, small particles of energy.
These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar
PV panel.
The photons 'agitate' the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell.
As they begin to move (or are removed), these are 'routed' into a current.
This, technically, is electricity - the movement of electrons along a path.
The Process
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In Summary
Light breaks silicon bonds and creates free
electrons and holes, missing electrons
Holes are positive charges
Built-in field separates electrons and holes


Step 1. Photogeneration of charge carriers,
electron (negative) and hole (positive).
Step 2. Separation of the charge carriers
through the medium.

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Q - What is a Circuit in Series ?
A One where electricity travels on one path.
V = V1 + V2
I = Constant
V
1
V
2
V
1
=1.5
V
2
=1.5
I=1.7 A
P = (V
1
+V
2
) (I)= (1.5+1.5) (1.7)
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Parallel Connection: Multiple Paths
Solar Cells vs. Equivalent Batteries
I
2
I
1
(I)
I=I
1
+I
2
I
2
(I
2
= I I
1
)
V = Constant
I
1
= 1.7 A
I
2
= 1.7 A
I = 1.7 + 1.7 = 3.4 A.
V
1
= V
2
= 1.5 V

Power = ?
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Factors affecting Solar Cell Performance
Light intensity (type of light)
Light wavelength (color of light)
Angle of incident light
Surface condition of solar cells cleanness)
Temperature on solar cells
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Clicker - Q1
The drawing is a model of a carbon atom.
How many protons does its nucleus have?

A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
E. 10

e-
e-
e-
e-
e-
e-
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Q2. Adding Impurities
By adding impurities to silicon in order to
generate holes we are building __?__ type
material.

A. n - type
B. p - type
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Q3
Name the junction that is created by doping
adjacent regions of a semiconductor

A n-type
B p-type
C valence junction
D p-n junction
E silicon

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Q4. Given the values and the set up bellow, what is the
total power generated?
I
1
= 1.0 A
I
2
= 1.0 A
V = 3.0 V
A. P = 3.0 W
B. P = 4.0 W
C. P = 5.0 W
D. P = 6.0 W
E. P = 7.0 W
V = 3.0
I
1
I
2
I
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Review Question (Q5)
A p-type semiconductor is a ___?_____
carrier?

A. Photon
B. Electron
C. Hole
D. Ion
E. None of the above


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Review Question (Q6)
Which of the following will deteriorate a
solar cells performance?

A. Thickness of the cell
B. A water stain
C. Shape of the cell
D. All of the above
E. None of the above