Solar Training Module

“Within 6 hours, deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year!”   Dr. Gerhard Knies, Co-Founder of TREC, The Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation

History of Solar Power 1767 Swiss scientist, Horace de Saussure builds the world’s first Solar Collector 1816 Robert Stirling invented the heat engine, later used in the dish/Stirling system, a solar thermal electric technology that concentrates the sun’s thermal energy in order to produce power 1954 Photovoltaic (PV) was born in the US when Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gordon Pearson developed the silicon PV cell at Bell Labs 1963 The company Sharp commercializes PV modules Source: US Department of Energy

History of Solar Power 1972 Institute of Energy Conversion (U of Delaware) is established for thin-film and solar thermal research 1977 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is launched by the Department of Energy (DOE) 1982 The first 1-megawatt (MW) capacity PV power station goes on-line in Hisperia, California 1986 ARCO releases the first commercial thin-film module Source: US Department of Energy

History of Solar Power 1998 2000 2000 PV Demand Flexible solar shingles are invented by Subhendu Guha 2000 First Solar builds the largest PV factory in Perrysburg, Ohio with an estimated capacity of producing enough solar panels each year to generate 100 megawatts of power 2000 Sandia Labs develops PV specific inverters PV Demand 1.382 GW 2005 (110 MW USA) 6.035 GW 2009 (450 MW USA) 30% growth YoY Source: US Department of Energy

Solar Power Explained Photovoltaic Panels (PV) PV panel turns sunlight directly into electricity Each panel generates between 120-230W depending on physical size and efficiency Used in residential, commercial and utility applications

Two Unique Solar Markets Centralized Generation Utility Scale Solar Large Scale Projects consuming thousands of panels and many acres of land Distributed Generation Residential Solar Commercial Rooftop Solar Utility (solar panel on a utility pole)

Utility Solar Diagram Source: Tennessee Valley Authority

Solar Power Explained Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Uses reflective mirrors, or heliostats, to direct sunlight (Parabolic troughs, Heliostat towers, Sterling engines, and Compact linear Fresnel lenses) that heats liquid or molten solids to fuel steam turbines More effective than PV in hot desert areas with large open spaces Used for utility applications only

Solar Power Explained THE PV SYSTEM Photovoltaic Cell (Solar Cell) Sunlight hits solar cell and excites electrons Excited cells jump back and forth creating electricity Typical PV cell produces 1 or 2 watts of power (0.5 volts) Solar Module To boost the power output of the single PV cells, individual PV cells are wired together to form modules Individual cells are placed into a protective frame and covered with glass EX. Solar/PV Modules: 48 cells is approximately 175 watts 60 cells is approximately 225 watts Solar Array Multiple solar panels wired in parallel to increase voltage Solar Panel Modules connected to form larger units called panels

Solar Power Explained PV TECHNOLOGY EXPLOSION * Market Leader c-Si (Poly or Multi-Crystalline) * Market Leader Inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) Power String Technology Monocrystalline Pluto PERL Technology BIPV (Building Integrated PV) CIGS – copper, indium, gallium and selenium on plastic, glass or metal a-Si (Amorphous Silicon thin film) Tandem-Junction thin film Cadmium Telluride thin film Hyper-pure polycrystalline silicon

Solar Power Explained WIRING METHOD PARALLEL STRINGED/SERIES There are two wiring methods used when designing a PV system. The methods are determined by the application, original equipment manufacture (OEM) and end users PARALLEL STRINGED/SERIES

Solar Power Explained Combining PV Modules PV Modules can be wired in combination of series and parallel circuits to increase the voltage and current capacity required Advantage of using a higher output voltage at the PV modules = smaller wires can be used to transfer electrical power PV modules produce direct current (DC) electricity Inverters main function = convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC)

Solar Power Explained Combiner Box Instead of having one inverter for the entire array, a combiner box could be installed on every few panels The use of combiner boxes close to the PV modules allows for improved efficiency Combiner box

Solar Power Explained SOLAR POWER GENERATION Used by Utilities Systems offer businesses ability to generate affordable, clean electricity to stave off rising cost

Solar Products: SunGen General Cable has specifically designed its SunGen suite of cabling products to effectively and efficiently link solar PV panels to the grid while being able to withstand the harsh operating environments of solar power applications. SunGen cables offer the following advantages: Resistant to UV/sunlight, ozone and H2O absorption Stable electrical properties over a broad temperature range (-40° to 120°C) Excellent flexibility even in sub-zero conditions Mechanically rugged construction resists tearing and abrasions Deformation-resistant at prolonged high temperatures Halogen-free, fire-retardant, and low corrosive gas emission for safety UL and TÜV* approved for solar PV panels *Pending Approval

Complete Solar Energy Solution

SunGen: Available Products

SunGen: Available Products

DC Wire Types for PV Applications in US   Applications Standards Max Volt Insulation Jacket Conductor Sizes Direct Burial Building Wire USE-2 General purpose Underground Service Entrance Cable UL854 600V EPR/CPE or XLPE Cu or AL 14 AWG to 1000kcmil Yes to 600V RHH/RHW-2 General purpose Installation in conduit or raceway UL44 2kV To 1000kcmil No, but often dual rated for USE-2 PV Wire Photovoltaic Applications UL 4703 UL1581-W1   600V 1kV Cu 18 AWG to 4/0 Yes to 2KV Not Allowed THHN/THWN General purpose Installation in conduit or raceway UL83 PVC/ Nylon 18 AWG to 1000kcmil No RWU-90 Canadian Standard RWU 90 1000V CU Yes AC/DC Feeder to 600V AC/DC Feeder to 2kV in conduit Array wiring + AC/DC feeder to 2kV direct burial