Module 1/7: Solar Technology Basics

Module 1 : Solar Technology Basics Module 2: Solar Photo Voltaic Module Technologies Module 3: Designing Solar PV Systems ( Rooftops) Module 4: Designing Solar PV Systems (Utility Scale) Module 5: Financial Analysis Module 6: DPR (Detailed Project Report) & EPC Module 7: The present Solar industry scenario and the future

Solar Panels: An eco-friendly electric generator The Definition: A collection of individual silicon cells that generate electricity from sunlight. The physics: The photons (light particles) produce an electrical current as they strike the surface of the thin silicon wafers. The bright side: Generating free power from the sun by converting sunlight to electricity with – no moving parts zero emissions no maintenance

Technology Options for Solar power Thermal PV Low Temperature <100°C. Med Temp <400°C. Focusing Parabolic High Temp. >400°C. Technology Production Process Solar Water Heating (FP/ET) Parabolic Dish Mono Crystalline Silicon Wafer Solar Chimney Central Tower. Polycrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Pong Amorphous Silicon

Solar Photo Voltaic

Electricity Generation Photovoltaic cells directly convert sunlight Into electricity. Current is produced based on types of silicon (n- and p-types) used for the layers. Since there are no moving parts, there is no wear. Lifespan is about 20-25 years.

First generation PV System: Second Generation PV Systems: Solar PV technologies are usually classified into three generations, depending on the basis material used and the level of commercial maturity. First generation PV System: Use of wafer based crystalline silicon (c-Si) either single crystalline or multi-crystalline. Second Generation PV Systems: Based on the thin-film technology and generally includes: Amorphous silicon Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and Copper Indium – Selenide (CIS) & Copper Indium Gallium Di-Selenide (CIGS) Third Generation PV Systems: Concentrating Solar PV (CPV), Desensitize PV, Polymer cells etc. are still in demonstration or have not yet been commercialized widely.

Single/mono-crystalline silicon solar cell Pure and hence more efficient. Most efficient solar cell technology till date, having a module efficiency of 15-19%.

Multi-Crystalline silicon solar cell (poly-Si or mc-Si) Multiple layers of silicon and hence the name. These cells have module efficiency of around 12-15%.

Thin film cell technology Multiple thin layers of photovoltaic materials are imposed on a low cost substrate to form solar thin films. Different types of thin film solar cells available are: Amorphous silicon (Efficiency: 5-7%) Copper indium di-selenide (Efficiency: 9-11%) Cadmium telluride (Efficiency: 8.5%) Dye- sensitized (Efficiency: 5-12%)

THIN FILM POLYCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELL These are the new generation solar cells that contain multiple thin film layers of just 1 micron thick of photo voltaic materials.

Solar Thermal

SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS Convert solar energy in the form of heat as the main energy source. Main application: 1. Cooking 2. Water heating 3. Refrigeration 4. Electric power generation The heart of a solar thermal system is solar collector. It absorbs solar heat, and transfers it to the system. There are different design concepts for collectors such as flat-plate collectors, evacuated flat-plate collectors, evacuated-tube collectors and concentrating collectors.