HOW SOLAR PV SYSTEMS WORK

by Chrispin Gogoda (Doctoral Researcher -UK)

Mzuzu University

A solar photo voltaic (PV) system is a technology that converts energy from the sun into
electricity that can be used to power electrical appliances such as a home radio. Energy
from the sun is a renewable source of energy that is locally available in abundant supply for
the Malawi case. The major components of a solar PV system are the solar modules/panels,
charge controller, batteries, inverter and loads. Each component plays a vital role in the
operation of the system.

A Solar PV System

Solar panels or modules are responsible for conversion of energy from the sun into direct
current (DC) electricity, which can be directly used to power DC loads, as is the case with
many pumps for solar water pumping. Alternatively, the electricity is used to charge batteries
that are used to deliver power when there is no sunshine in the night or low sunshine, say on
a cloudy day. The solar modules are made of solar cells whose configuration determines the
output voltage and current. The rating of a solar PV module for example 300W, is done
under standard test conditions (STC) which means when put into use chances are it will
deliver less than the rated power because sunshine intensity, temperature, angle of
incidence and air mass would in most of the cases be different from the STC conditions. To
get a higher output, several modules are connected in either series or parallel.

A solar PV system can comprise a single module to millions of modules producing a solar
farm when installed for use. In Malawi, the largest farm is currently the one at Kamuzu
International Airport (KIA) with a generation capacity of 830KW. The largest in the world is
currently in China with a generation capacity of 850MW at the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park
with 4 million solar modules.

Figure 1 Solar Farm

KIA Solar Farm in Lilongwe

For the best results, solar PV modules are supposed to be positioned facing north for Malawi
and tilted at an acceptable angle of orientation depending on location however, between 15
to 30 degrees is an acceptable approximation for Malawi case. As much as possible also
avoid shading from trees, dust, birds droppings and any other nearby objects such as
buildings.

Batteries are used to store electrical energy so that when there is low or no power
generation from the panels due to low sunshine say on a cloudy day or during the night,
there should still be power available for the user. Some systems may run without batteries
such as the KIA grid-connected and in many solar water-pumping systems that do not
require night pumping. Batteries require good ventilation to avoid their rapid degradation.

Charge controller is a component designed to protect the battery from damage due to
possible overcharging or over discharging. This is because sometimes there will be too
much current from the panels than the battery needs for charging. This situation makes the
controller to cut off the charge current to the batteries. During the night or when there is low
sunshine as on a cloudy day, appliances may draw more power from the batteries beyond a
certain safe state of charge of the batteries. This would result in over discharging the battery
that reduces its life span and even damaging it completely. The charge controller cuts power
supply to the load when the battery state of charge goes below the required level to protect it
from these negative effects. This exemplifies the concept of electricity load shading.

Sometimes the appliances use alternating current (AC) similar to that from ESCOM. In order
to use such appliances then an inverter is fitted to convert the DC electricity from the
batteries or solar modules into AC electricity that can be used to power appliances such as a
television or radio in the home.

Solar PV systems can be used without being connected to the national grid. This is called a
standalone solar PV system. This is what is widely used in many installations in Malawi for
home or institutional use.

Sometimes the solar PV system is used together with wind power or min hydropower or a
generator. In this context, the arrangement is termed a hybrid system.

If the system is not standalone, then it is called grid-connected PV system which means
that the solar PV system is connected to the national electricity grid for example the
installation at KIA, which supplies power to the airport as well as the excess power to the
main grid. This is what is defined as distributed power generation. Grid connection requires
specialised equipment to ensure standards compliance and appropriate approvals need to
be sought from relevant authorities.

Alternatively, the system is designed to supply power to several users usually separate from
the main grid. This is what is called a min-grid system such as Chigunda, a solar village in
Nkhotakota.

Solar PV systems can be used in many ways including home use, water pumping, at
institutional level or even national level.