Tang Wei Feng 2A4

Fong Wai Chun 2A4

Kevin Chang Jon Kit 2A4
1. Introduction
2. Types of solar energy
3. Advantages of using solar energy
4. Potential energy output
5. Hwa Chong application
6. Current breakthroughs

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, is harnessed
with the use of various technologies, such as solar heating and
solar photovoltaic.
These technologies can be categorised as passive solar or active
solar based on they way they capture, convert and distribute
energy.
Solar thermal energy:
This is a technology used to harness solar energy for thermal
energy requirements, for industries, residential sectors and
commercial setup
These solar thermal collectors are classified as low, medium or
high-temperature collectors.
Photovoltaic is a method used to convert solar radiation into
direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the
photovoltaic effect.
Solar photovoltaic is a sustainable energy source. In 2013, its
fast-growing capacity increased by 36% to a running total of 136
GW, worldwide. This is sufficient to generate 160 TWh/year or
about 0.85% of the electricity demand on the planet.
It is the third most important renewable energy source in terms
of globally installed capacity.

Artificial photosynthesis is a chemical process that replicates
the natural process of photosynthesis, a process that converts
sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and
oxygen.
The term is commonly used to refer to any scheme for capturing
and storing the energy from sunlight in the chemical bonds of a
fuel (a solar fuel).
Solar power helps to slow/stop global warming. Global warming
threatens the survival of human society, as well as the survival
of countless species.
Luckily, decades (or even centuries) of research have led to
efficient solar panel systems that create electricity without
producing global warming pollution.
Solar power is now very clearly one of the most important
solutions to the global warming crisis.

Solar power saves you money. Putting solar PV panels on your
roof is likely to save you tens of thousands of dollars. The
average 20-year savings for Americans who went solar in 2011
were projected to be a little over $20,000.
In the populous states of New York, California, and Florida, the
projected savings were over $30,000. In the sunny but
expensive paradise known as Hawaii, the projected savings were
nearly $65,000!


Solar power provides energy reliability. The rising and setting of
the sun is extremely consistent. All across the world, we know
exactly when it will rise and set every day of the year.
While clouds may be a bit less predictable, we do also have fairly
good seasonal and daily projections for the amount of sunlight
that will be received in different locations. All in all, this makes
solar power an extremely reliable source of energy.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) directly converts solar energy into
electricity using a PV cell; this is a semiconductor device. The
global total of solar PV was roughly 67 GW at the end of 2011, to
be compared with just 1.5 GW in 2000.
Over the past five years, solar PV has averaged an annual growth
rate of over 50%. Growth has been mostly concentrated in a few
countries, where PV generates today a few percent of total
yearly electricity production.
So the problem is not with the amount of land or conversion rate
of solar energy, its the number of panels that have to be
produced, and its massive cost!

There are a total of 84 solar panels around the school compound
in Hwa Chong Institution. Three solar panel inverters changes
direct current to alternating current through an electrical
process. Each of these inverters convert the current for 28
solar panels.
Every day, Hwa Chong saves around 70kWh a day, and 2100kWh
in a month, which translates to approximately 25 550kWh in a
year, which would again translate to around $7200 in a year.
Most importantly, carbon emissions are reduced by a whopping 8
tons in a year.

During daytime, the photovoltaic modules will provide energy to
grid inverter which converts the solar energy to AC energy. At
night, the grid inverter will stop to operate at standby mode.
During main failure, the inverter will stop to generate power to
Grid to avoid islanding.
By using solar energy as a renewable source, Hwa Chong
Institution is reducing their carbon footprint, and helping to slow
down global warming. This in turn contributes to the well-being
of the environment.



One of the most fundamental barriers to the widespread
adoption of renewable energy has been the inconvenient truth of
planetary rotation. Solar power has advanced enormously over
the past few decades but panel efficiency and solar
concentration plants are of limited assistance when during the
night.
Now, researchers think theyve found a partial solution to that
problem by combining the known properties of one substance
with everyones favourite technological advance: carbon
nanotubes.

One thing the average person rarely thinks about is how many
windows there are in the modern world. Without clear glass, life
as we know it would be impossible. Yet, up till now, there has
been no way to incorporate solar cells into a see-through
material.
That has changed, however, thanks to researchers in Columbia,
Maryland who have invented a clear spray that gives transparent
glass energy-generating properties. With an estimated 85 million
commercials windows in the US, the potential of this new
innovation is staggering.

One problem with extracting energy from any device is the heat
thats generated in the process. A similar problem has
traditionally existed with solar energy, where excess heat from
the sun could cause panels to break down in a short period of
time.
V3Solar has come up with an ingeniously simple solution to this
problem. The company has created a three-dimensional panel
that rotates under its own power. This unusual design sucks as
much as 20% more energy from the suns rays than traditional
layouts, with no overheating. This development promises to
reduce the costs of solar power to a level below that of energy
generated by means such as coal and hydro-electric.

Solar panels do not operate at a high efficiency. Even with the
latest technological breakthrough, current technology only allows
approximately 43% of total sunlight received to be converted
into electricity. A relatively small amount of energy is generated.
Hence, providing 100% of the energy required by a first world
country home, would require a considerably large array of solar
panels.
Not only is this impractical, it's very costly. Even if the solar
panels were to be purchased, an inverter would still be required
to produce electricity. Even if you were to build your own solar
panel the costs would still be a challenge for many homeowners.
Storage is required, adding extra costs. It IS possible to use the
solar energy generated from your panels directly. (and even sell
it to the grid)

HOWEVER, since the sun does not shine onto the Earth 24
hours a day, every day, then the solar energy needs to be stored
in batteries for later use.

Otherwise one would need to be connected to the grid as
backup, or own a generator.

Access to direct sunlight is best. Often, commercial installations
of solar panels will read just during the day to maintain an angle
that provides them with direct sunlight.

However, most homeowners simply mount solar panels in a rigid,
fixed position, which means that the panels only have access to
direct sunlight for a limited amount of time each day.

Solar panels must be kept clean to operate at their highest
efficiency. Keeping the panels clean and free of dust, dirt, and
debris can be extremely tedious.

And while panels often last 25 years or so, repairs can be
required from time-to-time. Furthermore, the solar panels and
batteries are hard to dispose of by conventional means due to
the chemicals used in their production.

One solution to increase the efficiency of using solar energy is
for international efforts to be made towards greater funding
and manpower towards the research and development of solar
cells.

Through greater funding, more technological breakthroughs
can be made, and the efficiency of solar panels can be
increased.
Another solution is to promote the use of commercial
installations of solar panels through the use of incentives such
as discounts and such.

This would increase the use of commercial solar panels, which
are more efficient in harnessing solar energy.

Even so, the usage of solar panels would still cost a great deal
of money, as well as manpower. This is something that cannot
be helped unless scientific breakthroughs are made.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

http://www.extremetech.com/electronics/180697-
breakthrough-could-help-solve-solars-biggest-problem

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/0
6/three-amazing-solar-energy-breakthroughs-that-could-
change-everything

http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/what-are-the-limits-
of-solar-power.shtml