SOLAR ENERGY

Types of energy
Solar energy currently preferred for
Solar energy harvesting
Solar energy -AC loads
Solar energy -DC loads
Selecting solar panels
Solar energy compared with renewable sources
Solar energy compared with non renewable sources
Hybrid solar systems
Applications of solar energy

Types of energy sources

Energy Sources can be broadly
classified into two types
Renewable energy sources
Non renewable energy sources

NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES

A nonrenewable resource is a natural resou

rce that cannot be re-made or re-grown at

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Nuclear fission uses uranium to
create energy.
Nuclear energy is a nonrenewable r
esource because once the uranium
is used, it is gone!

COAL, PETROLEUM, AND GAS

Coal, petroleum, and natural gas

are considered nonrenewable beca
use they can not be replenished in
a short period of time. These are
called fossil fuels.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Renewable resources are natural resources
that can be replenished in a short period of
time.
Solar
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal
Tidal

SOLAR
Energy from the sun.

WIND

Energy from the wind.

BIOMASS
Energy from burning
organic or living matte
r.

GEOTHERMAL
Energy from Earths heat.

TIDAL
Tidal energy is a form
of hydro power that c
onverts energy of the ti
des into electricity.

Solar energy currently preferred fo

Of all the other sources r
of energy solar energy is the most afford
able and this is evident due to a variety of factors
The very first aspect is the equipment used in harnessing solar po
wer
Solar power proves to be readily available power source as oppose
d to wind and hydroelectricity.

Solar energy harvesting

Solar Photovoltaic's is used for harvesting energy from sun
Photovoltaic solar panels convert solar radiation (termed
insolation) into Direct Current (DC) electricity.
On a clear day, the total insolation is about 1000 watts per square
meter.
By measuring the insolation, the peak sun hours can be
determined. Peak sun hours vary throughout the year and can be
affected by the Earths position relative to the sun, location of site
(latitude), atmospheric conditions, and any obstructions at a given
site (shade).
Photovoltaic solar systems typically contain several panels wired
together (termed an array), electrical disconnects, overcurrent
protection (circuit breakers or fuses), inverter, junction box, and
other specialized equipment depending on application (grid-tied,
off-grid, battery-backup).

Solar energy -AC loads

Photovoltaic systems can be designed to provide DC
and/or AC power service.
The power conditioning unit (PCU) converts the DC
power produced by the PV array into AC power .
The AC power produced by the PV system to either
supply on-site electrical loads.
AC Loads --Appliances, motors and equipment powered
by alternating current.

Continued.

Solar energy -DC loads

The DC output of a PV module or array is directly

connected to a DC load.
There is no electrical energy storage (batteries) in
direct-coupled systems.
The load only operates during sunlight hours, making
these designs suitable for common applications such
as ventilation fans, water pumps, and small
circulation pumps for solar thermal water heating
systems.

Solar energy AC and DC loads

Selecting Solar Panels

Solar energy compared with renewable

sources
Energy
Wind
Sources
Maintenance More

Solar

Bio-Mass

Tidal

Free

less

Less

GeoThermal
Less

Noise

More

No noise

No noise

No noise

No noise

Area
required
Generation
of electricity

More

Less

less

More

More

Both day
and night

day

According to Power for Both day

the
waste 10 hours
and night
materials

Cost

Less

More

More

More

More

Pollution

less

Nil

More

Nil

Nil

Hybrid solar systems

Hybrid solar wind systems
Hybrid solar Bio mass systems
Hybrid solar Geo thermal systems
Hybrid solar Tidal systems

Hybrid solar wind systems

A small "hybrid" electric
system that combines home
wind electric and home solar
electric (photovoltaic or PV)
technologies offers several
advantages over either single
system.

Hybrid solar Bio mass systems

Solar PV-biomass
system generates
electricity by
combining power
produced by solar
PV and the
combustion of
solid biomass .

Hybrid solar Geo thermal systems

Solar generated steam,
augmented
by
hot
exhaust from the gas
turbine, drives a steam
turbine.

Hybrid solar Tidal systems

Solar PV-biomass
system generates
electricity by
combining power
produced by solar PV
and the tidal.

Applications of solar energy

Power plants: In conventional power plants non-renewable energy sources
are used to boil water and form stream so that turbines can rotate and water to
produce electricity. But with application of solar energy heat of sun can boil
that water to create steam and rotate turbines. To convert sunlight into
electricity solar panels, photoelectric technologies and thermoelectric
technologies etc are used.
Homes: Use of solar energy is increasing in homes as well. Residential
appliances can easily use electricity generated through solar power. Besides
this solar energy is running solar heater to supply hot water in homes.
Through photovoltaic cell installed on the roof of the house energy is
captured and stored on batteries to use throughout the day at homes for
different purposes. In this ways expenditure on energy is cutting down by
home users.
Commercial use: on roofs of different buildings we can find glass PV
modules or any other kind of solar panel. These panels are used there to
supply electricity to different offices or other parts of building in a reliable
manner. These panels collect solar energy from sun, convert it into electricity
and allow offices to use their own electrical power for different purposes

Applications of solar energy-ctd

Ventilation system: at many places solar energy is used for ventilation purposes. It
helps in running bath fans, floor fans, and ceiling fans in buildings. Fans run almost
every time in a building to control moisture, and smell and in homes to take heat out
of the kitchen. It can add heavy amount on the utility bills, to cut down these bills
solar energy is used for ventilation purposes.
Power pump: solar power not just help in improving ventilation system at your
homes but with that it can also help in circulating water in any building. You can
connect power pump with solar power supply unit but you must run it on DC current
so that water circulate throughout your home.
Swimming pools: swimming pools are great joy for kids and adults in all seasons.
But during winters it is tough to keep water hot in these pools with minimum power
usage. Solar energy can help many in this matter as well. You can add a solar blanket
in the pool that will keep the water hot with energy generated from sunlight. Besides
this you can install a solar hot water heating system with solar hot water heating
panels.

Continued
Solar Lighting: these lights are also known as day lighting, and work with
help of solar power. These lights store natural energy of sun in day time
and then convert this energy into electricity to light up in night time. Use of
this system is reducing load form local power plants.
Solar Cars: it is an electrical vehicle which is recharged form solar energy
or sunlight. Solar panels are used on this car that absorb light and then
convert it into electrical energy. This electrical energy is stored in batteries
used with the car, so that in night time as well we can drive these vehicles.
Remote applications: Remote buildings are taking benefit of solar energy
at vast scale. Remote schools, community halls, and clinics can take solar
panel and batteries with them anywhere to produce and use electric power.