solar energy and its use

the next big thing

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Published by

Pratik Agarwal

Pratikpp_cal@yahoo.co.in

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Praxis Business School

Assignment No_01

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 Solar Energy And its Commercial Use

A report

submitted to

Prof. Prithwis Mukerjee

In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the course

BIS

On 07/11/2010

By

Pratik Agarwal

(B10016)

Abstract:
Solar Energy is the next big and the most efficient source of energy. As the resources of energy are
decreasing day by day,solar energy is the only sorce of energy which will never decrease as it is
derived from the sunlight.
Solar energy, heat and radiant light that emanates from the sun have been controlled by humans
beginning the ancient periods using a wide range of evolving technologies. Solar radiation, together
with secondary solar powered resources like biomass, wind, wave and hydroelectricity are
accountable for majority of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a small fraction of the
available solar energy is utilized.

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Introduction:
Solar energy is very important nowadays and can become the most valuable and the most efficient
source of energy which a human being can always cherish. Solar energy can be used for generating
electricity,solar heaters.solar cell and many more types of ideas and innovations that can fulfil a
human beings needs and wants.
Solar powered electrical generation depends on photovoltaics and heat engines. The uses of solar
energy are only limited by human ingenuity. Some of the other uses of solar energy include space
cooling and heating via solar architecture, solar hot water, solar cooking, potable water via distillation
and disinfection, daylighting and high temperature process heat for industrial functions. Solar panels
are one of the most effective and basic ways to gather solar energy.

History:
When people talk about solar energy , a lot of people think of certain solar energy sources that are
pretty common to them, such as wood and even dried animal droppings. Aside from these possible
sources of solar energy, people also associate the concept of solar energy as one of the possible
causes for global warming.
One of the more common and more popular roles that the sun or solar energy played during the
ancient times is that of a force that is able to sustain life based on its ability to give renewable energy.
This is probably the main and the most important reason as to why people of those days especially in
native south and north America as well as in other parts of the world worshipped sun. Ancient Greece
built temples devoted to worshipping their sun deties namely Helio and Apollo. Also the use of solar
energy were not limited to religious purposes as they even used the solar energy system to
incorporate passive solar design in the construction of their houses.

Solar Energy Today:

Nowadays in our technologically advanced times solar energy has now garnered a lot of new interest
and focus specially since solar energy has now become more affordable to what it was earlier and
also now its uses have also increased and its application in our day to day needs have also
increased. Solar energy cells are actually being used in a lot of business houses and homes today
and are also responsible for powering most household appliances, office equipments, and are also
used to power cars.

Heat and Solar Energy:-

Solar heating systems incorporate several principles on the conversion of solar energy into solar
thermal energy as well as the physical behaviour of heat. The primary principle that a person need to
know about the solar energy include solar home heating which involves getting solar energy and
transforming it into heat.

Collection Process:-
Solar energy is collected by devices called collectors.
A solar energy collector gets the radiant energy from the sun to be converted into heat. Solar collector
transforms solar energy into heat by taking advantage of the green house effect. Solar energy will go
through a layer of glazed glass and then be absorbed by the material underneath. The solar energy
will excite the molecules in the material beneath leading to heat. The glass glazing will keep the heat

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from escaping and then it will capture the heat effectively. As soon as the heat is captured a person
can use the energy for his use.

Heating Principles:-
Heat is described as a form of energy that is related to the movement of molecules. Once the
electromagnetic waves that come out from the sun, when hit an object these molecules of the object
excite trigerring the movement. The movement of the molecules is then referred to as heat. Heat is
constantly moving from high to low temperatures until it becomes even. The process is known is
HEAT TRANSFER.

Example:- If a person puts two objects i.e. (one is cold and the other is warmer object) next to each
other, the warmer object will start to cool down as the heat is transferred to the cooler object and the
cooler object will warm upwards. The transfer of heat is triggered by the difference in the the
temperature of the objects. The rate of heat transfer is proportional to the difference in temperature.
The bigger the difference in temperature between the objects the heat movement will be faster.

Assessment of the Heat Movement:-

Passive solar energy applications use a lot of heat movement. The three common physical ways in
which the heat moves include convection, conduction and radiation.
Conduction is the transfer of heat via a solid material or from a single material to another where the
surfaces are in contact with each other. heat is conducted quickly via a solid material compared to
layers.
Convection is a process in which heat transfers by a moving fluid such as water or air.
Radiation is the direct transfer through space via electromagnetic waves coming from a warmer
object to a cooler object

Choosing the application:-

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Knowing the various types of ways in which the heat gets transferred will help in choosing the ideal
application that will ultimately become beneficial for home or office use.

Solar Panels:-

What are solar panels:-

The solar panel is the most basic element of a solar system. It primarily functions to gather sunlight
during certain periods of the day to power different devices and structures depending on the size that
solar panels can power anything from RVs to huge plants. It is important to understand the working of
the panels and where it can be applied in order to get the most out of it.

Solar energy starts from the sun. Solar panels are also known as photovoltaics and are primarily used
to convert light from the sun. These are made of energy particles called photons that are changed into
electricity to power various electrical loads. Light from the sun is considered as a renewable source of
energy that gives clean energy. Solar panels can be used for different applications like remote power
systems for cabins, remote sensing, telecommunication equipment and also to produce electricity for
both commercial and domestic use.

Solar panels are now widely used all over the world and in several homes and commercial buildings
and also many vehicles which rely mainly on solar panels to generate electricity.

Benefits of solar panels:-

If we choose solar panels for our use then we can produce electricity that can power various
applications. For people living in areas where there is no supply or inadequate supply of electricity,
solar panels are the most essential and important source to produce electricity. A solar panel has
nowadays become very cheaper and is easily available. It is a system which is less expensive and
can give you power for up to 25 years if we maintain it well.
Solar power is a renewable source of energy which makes it very clean and eco friendly.

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Types of Solar Energy:
Solar energy is present in different types and they are as follows:

First Category:
The first way to view solar energy is how the energy is transformed into useful energy. There are a
couple of types in this category- passive solar energy and active solar energy.
Passive: it describes the harnessing of the energy of the sun without the use of mechanical devices.
Using the windows facing the south direction helps in getting natural light as well as heating the room.
Active: solar energy involves the use of mechanical devices in collecting, storing and distributing solar
energy at home pumps etc. Active solar energy water heating systems helps to circulate the water
through the system.

About the energies:-

solar thermal energy is the energy made by transforming solar energy into heat. There are plenty of
solar applications that a home owner can use to get the benefits of this energy such as solar space
heating, water heating and thermal cooling. Photovoltaic(PV) power is described as the energy made
by converting solar power into electricity via PV solar cells.

Types of solar electric systems:-

Electric systems have been created because of the rise of solar power as a reliable and a cheap
source of energy. There are now different techniques, methods and systems that depend on solar
power to run plants houses and offices respectively. The different types of systems are as follows:

The Stand Alone System:

There are small stand alone electric systems that are very good at giving electricity at an economical
rate. These systems are mainly used to power lighting, backup power systems and cabins. The size
of the array of the PV or the number of solar panels as well as the battery will rely on the individual
power requirements. The solar panels charge the battery during daylight periods and the battery will
provide power to the inverter whenever required.

Grid-Tie Solar System:

The grid tie solar system is very useful for homes that are already linked to the utility grid. The primary
advantage of this kind of system is the cheap price of utility. The system needs to be wired with an
inverter that creates wave electricity which is needed for linking to the utility grid.

The full stand alone:

The complete or full stand alone system is very useful for complete independence from electricity
companies and fossil fuels. The benefit of the system is the capacity to provide power away from the
utility as well as creating a measure of self independence. The complete stand alone home solar

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system will usually have a couple of inverters to supply the AC house current needed to power loads
like air conditioners.

Uses of Passive Solar Energy:-

On Orientation: There are a number of principles that we have to keep in mind in order to take the full
advantage of passive solar energy. The applications will rely on the specific location and climate we
belong to. Orientation refers to the positioning of the home so that we get most of the sun’s rays to
heat and minimize the impact of cooling. Shading is vital in managing the natural light natural
temperature of the home.

Passive Solar Heating: Passive solar heating belongs to the category of solar space heating. The
heating process can be done by orienting the home well so that most of the windows face to the south
direction. The windows should be sized properly so that optimal heat gain is attained. The home has
to be insulated to reduce loss of heat. Passive cooling is a kind of solar cooling. The main idea behind
passive cooling is to reduce the impact of the sun by orienting the landscape and the house so that
we get the most benefits out of it.

On Daylighting: It is a kind of solar energy. It is describes as the use of natural light to illuminate the
house. Good daylighting provides the right light to all the rooms and also minimises the costs of
electricity. We can day light the house well by sizing and positioning the windows so that natural light
freely enters the home.

Passive solar energy is considered as the natural and the most cost effective way to maintain the
home. We can save a lot in the long run and expect to have the right light and temperature inside the
home for the years to come.

Active Solar Energy:-

Active solar energy is used by several homes, offices and other structures today as it has many
benefits. Generally, active solar energy is described as the use of mechanical devices to gather, store
and distribute solar energy inside the home.

The Advantages: Active solar energy can provide people with many benefits. It can be used in the
current place where we stay now regardless of the design. It can produce a lot more solar energy
compared to passive solar energy. The heat energy created can be easily used all throughout the
house.

The Components: there are three main components in active solar energy.
First: Collection of solar energy which involves the use of solar collectors. The most basic collector is
the flat plate collector, this is an insulated box covered with glass. Inside the box there are black
absorber plates that absorb solar energy and transform it into heat. The heat energy is moved to fluid,
air or water that will flow through the collector. This will ensure if the system is air based or liquid
based.
Solar energy storage can be done by using thermal mass or water tanks for liquid based systems. Air
based systems will have to rely on rock bins to contain the heated air. Solar energy distribution is the
third component which is based on this kind of system.
There are three types of active solar applications that can be used in home namely active solar pool
heating, active solar space heating and active solar water heating.
Active solar space heating can heat the air inside the house by using pumps, blowers and fans that
will distribute and gather heat. The systems can be either air based or liquid based. Air based
systems use rock bins or thermal mass while liquid based uses thermal mass or water tanks.

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The third type: active solar pool heating involves the use of pumps to properly circulate the water in
the pool via solar collectors to heat and then return to the pool. The pool becomes a storage medium
for heated water so you do not need any more water storage tanks. If you use active solar pool
heating you can extend the swim periods of the family and reduce the heating costs of maintaining the
pool.

Pros and Cons of Solar Power:-

The advantages of solar energy continue to grow with more pros and cons and experts learning more
about the process and features. There are also a lot number of consequences for a person who do
not about the devices much. We should consider the things we need to power, the location and the
budget.
The good thing about the solar energy is that it can be used anytime and as long as the sun exists.
We can get the power we need day in and day out. Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that
means we do not have to keep changing the parts to get the desired results.

The disadvantage is that we will not be able to access the solar energy when there is no sun. We
cannot rely on solar energy at night or in places that tend to be very cloudy for several months.
People living in tropical or desert regions can rely on it.

Nowadays solar energy can power variety of objects such as homes, office, cars, small light fixtures,
calculators etc. Another disadvantage to the solar energy is that the power may tend to fluctuate
depending on the sunlight available. Some devices may not work as well as desired if the energy
acquired is insufficient.

Advantages of Solar Energy:-

Thousands of people are beginning to invest in solar powered devices and panels because of its
several known benefits. It helps the environment and maximises the potential of the energy source by
using solar power instead. We have to know about the availability types and features of it. We should

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also know the source better so that we can get the best. We can expect to continue getting power and
energy from the sun for several decades without having to recharge or keep purchasing new parts for
it. The solar energy will always be available as long as the sun is there and is shining brightly. On the
other side oil is not considered as a renewable source of energy. Oil can take millions of years to
form. At present oil reserves are being depleted at a very fast rate as compared to its time of
development. We will have to prepare ourselves for the consequences and will have to look for further
alternatives and start implementing them so that we get familiar to it.

Helping the Environment:

Solar energy is non polluting, this means that we can save the eco system and keep green house
gases from forming. We can further expect cooler and cleaner surrounding by investing in solar
powered devices.

Cheap and Easy:

People do not have to keep maintaining solar cells because a panel can last for more than 30 years if
it is well maintained. Solar cells can also be made from very cheap materials and we ourselves can
construct it. We can also purchase ready to build solar cell panels over the internet. Even though the
solar panels are very expensive to purchase in the beginning but the total amount of savings on that
in the years to come will be much higher when compared with the investment.

Easy Installation:
We can always expect to have our own solar panels in just a matter of hours or days. It takes a day to
construct our own solar panel and installing it in the solar panel cells. With the help of many books
that are readily available in the market or through online purchases where from we can get the
knowledge and power to yield the maximum.

Risks of Solar Energy:-

When we talk about solar energy, all we talk about is how much this alternative form of energy is a
great source for power and electricity and how this energy can help us save a lot on our bills.
However there are certain aspects that we should discuss since solar energy is now being integrated
in constructing modern day houses and structures and are also now becoming viable source of power
and electricity.

Known Dangers:
Solar energy is actually produced from a process that occurs within the sun known as nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fusion is actually the very same process that is involved in nuclear power plants, and actually
employs the same basic nuclear laws that applies to atomic bombs. This is definitely a major cause
for alarm for most people. Aside from that the fact is that the main energy source for solar energy is
actually hydrogen which is a form of gas that is highly explosive and that is definitely what we should
be aware of. Hydrogen is a tremendously destructive component that is found in H-bombs and also
produces dangerous fall out for those exposed. These known dangers can be a great risk for the
health of the people.

Solar Energy Radiation:

This is the radiation subjected to the sun’s background which can be dangerous if the exposure
exceeds beyond a certain level. There is really nothing which can be done to prevent being exposed
to such background radiation other than to simply avoid the sun’s exposure. Since solar energy
harnesses the power of the sun by concentrating the sunlight and using its energy to light up the bulb
can very well be irradiating the entire home which can even cause skin cancer.

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Solar Energy Fire Hazards:
Since most collectors basically concentrate the sunlight that they are able to collect from the sun, it
can be a fire hazard since fire can easily start there if there are very high concentrations and levels of
solar energy. These high and dangerous levels of solar concentrations could easily ignite combustible
materials making it a fire hazard for any home.

Solar power generation:-

Solar power can be generated in many ways, it is important to know about the available types and the
devices that can generate energy efficiently. There are already solar power generators available in the
market.

The Basics:
Solar energy is a very promising source of energy because it is renewable. The sun provides a large
amount of energy that artificial units cannot give, the small part of the power stems through to the
earth in the form of sunlight. The rays that deliver the energy of the sun gives both heat and power
that can be efficiently used and can be effectively gathered and changed to other types of energy
such as electricity. Solar steam generators use solar power generation, the power of the sun to heat
water and create steam to let electrical turbines work.
Another popular method of solar power generation is through PV devices. The devices are made to
use PV cells or solar cells to transform solar energy intro DC electricity. There are plenty of ways to
collect solar energy such as through parabolic troughs, solar panels , solar dishes and solar power
towers that have reflecting mirrors.

Concentrating and non- concentrating :

The concentrating gatherers use panels that are angled the right way to absorb the prime point of the
direct rays of the sun.
Non-concentrating gatherers are ideal for regions that have lower amounts of direct sunlight and
absorb the energy rays of the sun from direct and various reflecting angles. Solar power generation is
under heavy research for ideal materials and processes of collecting the sun’s energy and utilizing
solar generators to create both heat and electricity.

The Applications:

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Solar power can give several applications for businesses, homeowners and companies. Present solar
power plants are not yet very rampant, but there is a growing population as the technology and supply
for energy that is both clean and safe becomes more available. Energy systems are now widely
available to help utility companies and used by people for various electrical applications is used all
over the world. Solar panels can be used to heat and power different appliances in the house. Solar
panels can also be used to convert sunlight into electricity to power heating systems lights and air
conditioning systems.

The Cost:
The cost of a solar power generator will vary depending on the size, materials and applications where
it will be used for. Big power plants will have to spend millions to get the desired effect. Small
households can only pay a few hundred dollars for the right setup.

Solar Energy Figures and Statistics:-

Solar energy is fast becoming one of the most promising alternative forms of energy sources that is
available today. The main reason behind this is probably the fact that its main source of energy which
is the sun. Sun provides over 10000 times more than the energy that our planet is able to produce.
This helps us to show that solar energy is one of the best alternative energy that is available for the
future.

Viability:
One of the main things that we look when it comes to alternative sources of energy is whether it is
financially viable or not?
Getting a solar energy system for home or office will actually help us in save money annually. We will
be able to recover the total cost within 5 years of installation.

Reducing Cost of Energy Consumption:

Studies have shown that using certain solar energy systems do reduce the total cost of energy
consumption that our home or office might incur. If we properly setup the panel then we might save up
to 80% of the annual bills.

Area that a solar power plant needs:

Solar power plants require a certain stretch of land area in order to house all the solar panels that
these power plants need to have in order to properly harness and collect sunlight and solar energy.
Depending on the size of the power plant and the solar energy output needed each solar power plant
land area would vary from 250000 square meters of solar panels in the United Kingdom to the 93
million square meters of solar panel in China.

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Concentrating Solar power:-
solar power is described as the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Sunlight could be changed
straight into electricity with the use of PV. It can also be indirectly converted using CSPs. There are
now several devices and structures which are created to focus and concentrate solar power in various
ways depending on the need.

On Concentration:
Solar power is concentrated in many ways. Solar troughs are the most common and visible. CSPs or
concentrating solar power systems make use of mirrors, lenses and track systems to focus on a wide
area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is used as a source of heat for the power
plant.
Parabolic trough is the most developed way of concentration. Other structures made include the
Stirling dish, the linear Fresnel reflector and the solar power tower.

The Parabolic Trough:

It is created from a linear reflector that concentrates light right onto a receiver, placed along the focal
line of the reflector. The receiver is described as a tube positioned right over the middle of the
parabolic mirror and filled with a working fluid. The reflector is created to follow the sun during the day
light hours by tracking right along a lone axis.

The Stirling Solar Dish:

It is also called a dish engine system which is made of an independent parabolic reflector that tends to
concentrate light right onto a receiver placed at the focal point of the reflector. The reflector then
keeps track of the sun along an axis or two. It provides the best results over the other technologies.
The benefits of the Stirling solar over PV cells are the higher conversion efficiency from sunlight into
electricity .

Power Tower:
It includes a wide array of heliostats or tracking reflectors that focus light on a central receiver over a
tower. Power tower are considered to be the most cost efficient and they provide better energy
storage and higher efficiency when compared to other CSP technologies.

Solar Energy in Years to come:-

At present it is easy and safe to say that solar energy is very quickly becoming part of our daily life. It
is being used more commonly nowadays in many homes and offices. As it is growing at a rapid pace
it is also becoming more viable and because of this more and more applications are being developed
for the future.

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Though the future for the solar energy seems to be very bright and clear a lot of people still speculate
about what the future really has in store for it. However in order to be able to understand and properly
predict the future of solar energy lets see what it is now.

Solar Energy Today:

In today’s world solar energy is being used for a number of reasons and for certain purposes such as
providing home with an alternative source for energy and electricity thereby allowing people to greatly
reduce the cost of the energy and electric consumption by a considerable amount. Certain solar
energy systems provide different advantages and benefits depending on the use of an individual.

Solar Energy Benefits:

The main advantages and benefits of using solar energy is that it uses one of the best sources for
renewable and clean energy that is the sun. There is no real shortage on viable solar energy that we
can use in the future as the sun produces 10000 times the energy that Earth produces.

Solar Energy in the Future:

The future of the solar energy appears to be gearing towards the better specially since there is a lot of
research and developments going on all over the world and many researchers and scientists are
focused on finding the ways to improve alternative energy systems and technology. They are also
trying to find out the ways in which solar energy can be made economical and hence it becomes a
solution to the world’s current energy and power crisis.

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Top players in the field:-
 Polar Photovoltaics, China
 JS solar, China
 Amplesun Solar, China
 Risen Energy, China
 Singfo solar energy, China
 TD solar, China

References:-
http://www.google.co.in/images

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell

www.NEED.org

www.google.com

http://www.enf.cn/database

Thank you!

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