By,

N Venkata Srinath,
MS Power Systems.
Introduction
Solar energy is a very large, inexhaustible source of energy. The power
from the sun intercepted by the earth is approximately 1.8 X 1011 MW
which is many thousands of times larger than the present consumption
rate.

Thus, in principle, solar energy could supply all present and future
energy needs of the world on a continuing basis.

However, there are many problems associated with its use. The main
problem is that it is dilute source of energy.

The second problem is that its availability varies widely with time. The
variation in availability occurs daily because of the day-night cycle and
also seasonally because of the earths orbit around the sun.
(requirement of storage)
Radiation
Energy radiated by the sun as electromagnetic waves of which 99
percent have wave lengths in the range of 0.2 to 4.0 micrometers.

Solar energy reaching the top of earths atmosphere consists of about 8

percent ultraviolet radiation (short wavelength, less than 0.39
micrometer), 46 percent of visible light (0.39 to 0.78 micrometer), and
46 percent of infrared radiation (long wave length more than 0.78
micrometer).

The rate at which solar energy arrives at the top of the atmosphere is
called the solar constant. This is the amount of energy received in unit
time on a unit area perpendicular to the suns direction.

The NASA standard value for the solar constant is:

1.353 kilowatts per meter square of 1353 watts per meter square.
 Wavelength() 0-0.38 0.38-0.78 0.78-4.0
Approx.
energy(W/sq.m) 95 640 618

Approx.% of total 7 47.3 45.7

energy.
 Radiation received at the earth surface is entirely different due to the
various reasons.

Solar radiation that has not been absorbed or scattered and reaches the
ground directly from the sun is called direct radiation or beam
radiation.

Diffuse radiation is that solar radiation received from the sun after its
direction has been changed by reflection and scattering by the
atmosphere. Because this scattering takes place in all directions,
diffuse radiation comes from all parts of the sky.

Ultra violet radiation is absorbed by oxygen and ozone, some energy in

the infrared region is absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Insolation:- the total solar radiation received at any point on the earths
surface is the sum of direct radiation and diffuse radiation.
Solar Energy Collectors
Utilization of solar energy requires solar collectors.

Solar collector is a device which collects solar radiation and transfer the
energy to a working fluid passing in contact with it.

These are of two types:

1. Non concentrating or flat plat type solar collectors.
2. concentrating(focusing) type solar collectors.
Non Concentrating or Flat-Plate Collectors
These are used, where temperatures upto 90 deg C are
adequate.

They are generally used for space and water heating.

They are made in rectangular panels of about 1.7 to 2.9

sq.m in area and are relatively simple to construct and
erect.

Flat plates can collect and absorb both direct and

diffuse solar radiation, they are consequently partially
effective even on cloudy days.

These are of two types:

Liquid heating collectors are used for heating water
and non freezing solutions(Eg: ethylene glycol).
Air or gas heating collectors are employed as solar air
heaters.
 The majority of the flat plate collectors have five main components and
are as fallows:

A transparent cover which may be one or more sheets of glass or

radiation transmitting plastic film or sheet.

Tubes, fins, passages or channels are integral with the collector absorber
plate or connected to it, which carry the water, air or other fluid.

The absorber plate, normally metallic or with a black surface materials

can be used.

Insulation, which should be provided at the back and side to minimize

the heat losses.

The casting or container which enclose the other components and

protects them from weather.
Concentrating or focusing collectors
Focusing collectors is a device to collect solar energy with high intensity
of solar radiation.

Focusing collectors generally use optical system in the form of reflectors.

As a result of the energy concentration, working fluids can be heated to

temperature of 500 deg C or more.

Types of concentrating collectors:

Parabolic trough collector.
Dish type collector.
Power tower.
Parabolic trough collector
Dish type collector
Power tower
Application of solar energy
Solar water heating
Space heating
Solar distillation
Solar pumping
Industrial process
Solar furnace
Solar cooking
Solar LED lights
Solar energy: Thermal Electric Conversion
Solar energy: Photovoltaic Electric Conversion.
Solar energy: Thermal electric conversion
In a solar thermal power production system the energy is first collected
by using a solar pond, a flat plate collector or a focusing collector.

This energy is used to increase the temperature of the working fluid.

Then, turbine generator set is operated by these working fluid.

Thermal electric conversion is of four types

Low temperature cycle using flat plate collectors or solar pond.
Concentrating collectors for medium and high temperatures
Power tower
Distributed collector system
Low temperature cycle
Power tower
Distributed collector system
Solar energy: Photovoltaic Electric Conversion.
The direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by means of
the photovoltaic effect, that is conversion of light into electricity.

The photovoltaic effect is defined as the generation of an electromotive

force as a result of the absorption of ionizing radiation.

Energy conversion devices which are used to convert sunlight to

electricity by the use of the photovoltaic effect are called solar cell.

Combination of such cells, designed to increase the electric power

output is called solar module or solar array.
PV principle
The base unit of many semiconductor devices is a semiconductor body, in
which two different dopants directly adjoin one another. This is called a
p-n junction if a p-doped area merges into an n-doped area within the
same lattice.
The interface between these two layers contains an electric field and is
called a junction.

Photons with energy greater than Band gap energy are absorbed and
excite some of the electrons. (valence to conduction).

When light (photons) hits the solar cell, some of the photons are
absorbed in the region of the junction, freeing electrons in the silicon
crystal.

If the photons have enough energy, the electrons will be able to overcome
the electric field at the junction and are free to move through the silicon
and into an external circuit.
Indian scenario
India is located in the equatorial sun belt of the earth, thereby receiving
abundant radiant energy from the sun.

In most parts of India, clear sunny weather is experienced 250 to 300

days a year.

India receives solar energy equivalent to over 5,000 trillion kWh per year.

The daily average solar energy incident over India varies from 4 -7 kWh
per square meter depending upon the location.
 The utilization of solar energy in the country is regularly increasing,
however, the high initial cost of the solar energy systems is a barrier in
its large-scale utilization.

A total of 33 grid interactive solar photovoltaic power plants have been

installed in the country with financial assistance from the Government.
These plants, with aggregate capacity of 2.125 Megawatt peak are
estimated to generate about 2.5 million units of electricity in a year.

In addition, around 14.5 lakh decentralized off-grid solar photovoltaic

systems aggregating to about 125 Megawatt capacity have been installed
in the country, which is capable of generating about 150 million units in
a year.

Further, a collector area of about 2.15 million square meter has been
installed for solar water heating applications.
 For projects approved and commissioned by 31st December, 2009, the
Ministry will provide generation based incentive up to Rs.12 per kWh
for solar photovoltaic power and Rs.10 per kWh for solar thermal
power after taking in to account the tariff provided by the State
Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

Indias first solar powered village is Rampura village in Jhansi of 8.7KW

installed by the help of Scatac solar of Norway with an investment of
31.5lakhs serving to 69 houses of that village.
Manufacture
Manufacture Place
Ammini Solar Pvt. Ltd. Trivandrum
Bharat Electronics Limited Bangalore
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Bangalore
EMMVEE Solar Systems Pvt Ltd. Bangalore
Maharishi Solar Technology Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
Microsol Power P Ltd. Hyderabad
Moser Baer Photovoltaic Ltd New Delhi
Photon Energy Systems Hyderabad
Rajasthan Electronics Instruments Ltd. Jaipur
Tata BP Solar India Ltd. Bangalore
Reference
Books
G.D.Rai Non-Conventional energy sources Khanna publishers.
John & Tony Renewable energy resources Taylor & Francis group.

Websites
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <www.mnre.gov.in>
Ministry of Power Government of India < www.powermin.nic.in>
Solar India online <www.solarindiaonline.com>
Trade India <www.tradeindia.com>