1. Solar Training Module

2. “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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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)

8. Utility Solar Diagram
Source: Tennessee Valley Authority

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. Complete Solar Energy Solution

18. SunGen: Available Products

19. SunGen: Available Products

20. 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