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Solar Energy Potential Non-Electric Solar Power

Technologies Implications for Energy Independence

Solar Generated Electricity

Technologies Distribution Approaches Implications for Energy Independence

As of February 2006, Photovoltaic technology accounted for less than 1% of worldwide electricity generation. The amount of solar energy that reaches the Earths surface every hour is greater than humankinds total demand for energy in one year

Solar Water Heating Passive Solar Heating/Lighting

Advantages Replacing or supplementing other water heating methods: natural gas, electricity Disadvantages More expensive in cooler climates

Passive solar heating can use overhangs to shield the home from the sun in the summer, and warm the home when the sun is lower in the winter sky

Lowered Energy Consumption Broadening of Energy Portfolio Reduced Need for Fossil Fuel Imports

Concentrating Solar Power Photovoltaic (PV) Cells

Sunlight focused on heat transfer fluid (HTF), which then runs steam turbine

Image of parabolic trough power plant in Kramer Junction, CA, which supplies power for the greater Los Angeles area. This plant, in conjunction 4 other parabolic trough plants in California, can produce as much as 354MW of electricity.

Basic process by which a photovoltaic cell converts absorbed sunlight into electricity Photons knock electrons free from the silicon structure, freeing them to enter electric current and power a load (like a light bulb)

Centralized (CSP)
Advantages and Disadvantages

Distributed (PV Roof Installations)

Advantages and Disadvantages Distributed PV Generation & Energy Independence

Advantages
Traditional model of distribution No fuel costs

Disadvantages
Non-Constant Power Vulnerability

This PV Array is part of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, generating 3.2 MW, enough for 2,200 homes.

Advantages
Net-metering
Grid Storage

Disadvantages
Cost
Extensive Individual Investment Low Conversion Efficiency

Flexibility Reduced vulnerability to terrorist attack Almost no maintenance Negligible environmental impact Domestic Production (?)

Intermittency

Peak generation from PV occurs during the day Net-metering allows users to bank electricity they generate, and credit it against the electricity they use
Most states wont pay users if they generate more electricity than they use, but they can zero-out their accounts

Stand-Alone
Water pumps Fans

Hybrid
Remote applications

Battery Backup
Isolated Areas

Grid Connected
Grid storage

Generator Backup

Utility Scale
Easy & Quick to build

The ultimate in Energy Independence selfsufficiency Consumers becoming producers

Price
Efficiency

Community Associations CCRs Intermittency

Still not price-competitive with traditional sources of electricity

If you don't include the environmental costs of coal-fired electricity when comparing them with solar, it becomes very difficult. [Saving money] is not what motivates me and if that's all that motivates the consumer, then perhaps solar isn't for them.
Dr. Richard Corkish, University of New South Wales, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering

Paying for Itself

Ability of a PV system to pay for itself depends on the size of the installation, electricity demands it is meeting. Residential PV system may pay for itself within first half of its estimated lifespan (30 years)

Conversion Efficiency the percentage of solar energy shining on a device that is converted into electrical energy Typical Efficiencies
Single Crystalline Silicon = 14% Thin Film = 7%

Obviously, solar power requires sunlight to generate power This means that:
However, PV will still work with overcast skies

No power is can be generated at night Power generation may be reduced by cloud cover Generation techniques requiring direct sunlight (CSP) are ineffective w/o optimum conditions Generators, Batteries, Hybrid Facilities Hydrogen

Solutions:

Lessen Reliance on Fossil Fuel Stabilize Energy Costs Re-conceptualize Distribution of Energy
End-user production Distributed system lessens large-scale vulnerability

Production Method for Hydrogen Economy