Ministry of Higher Education and

Scientific Research
University of Technology
Dep. of Production Engineering and
Metallurgy

TECHNICAL REPORT 2019-2020

Branch: CAD CAM

Subject: thermodynamics

SOLAR ENERGY

‫ ژﯾﮑﺎل ﺑﺎﯾﺰ ﮐﺮﯾﻢ‬:‫اﺳﻢ اﻟﻄﺎﻟﺐ‬

‫ اﻟﺘﺼﻤﯿﻢ و اﻟﺘﺼﻨﯿﻊ اﻟﻤﻌﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﺤﺎﺳﻮب‬:‫اﻟﻔﺮع اﻟﻌﻠﻤﻲ‬
‫ اﻟﺜﺎﻧﯿﺔ‬:‫اﻟﻤﺮﺣﻠﺔ‬
‫ اﻟﺤﺮارة و اﻟﻤﻮاﺋﻊ‬:‫اﺳﻢ اﻟﻤﺎدة‬

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 Solar Energy

ABSTRACT
Solar energy is the energy obtained by capturing heat and light from the Sun. Energy from
the Sun is referred to as solar energy. Technology has provided a number of ways to utilize
this abundant resource. It is considered a green technology because it does not emit
greenhouse gases. Solar energy is abundantly available and has been utilized since long
both as electricity and as a source of heat.

INTRODUCTION
Solar energy in one form or another is the source of nearly all energy on the earth. Humans,
like all other animals and plants, rely on the sun for warmth and food. However, people also
harness the sun's energy in many other different ways. For example, fossil fuels, plant
matter from a past geological age, is used for transportation and electricity generation and is
essentially just stored solar energy from millions of years ago. Similarly, biomass converts
the sun's energy into a fuel, which can then be used for heat, transport or electricity. Wind
energy, used for hundred of years to provide mechanical energy or for transportation, uses
air currents that are created by solar heated air and the rotation of the earth. Today wind
turbines convert wind power into electricity as well as its traditional uses. Even
hydroelectricity is derived from the sun. Hydropower depends on the evaporation of water by
the sun, and its subsequent return to the Earth as rain to provide water in dams.
Photovoltaics (often abbreviated as PV) is a simple and elegant method of harnessing the
sun's energy. PV devices (solar cells) are unique in that they directly convert the incident
solar radiation into electricity, with no noise, pollution or moving parts, making them robust,
reliable and long lasting. Solar cells are based on the same principles and materials behind
the communications and computer revolutions, and this CDROM covers the operation, use
and applications of photovoltaic devices and systems.

SOLAR ENERGY RESOURCES AND AVAILABILITY

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar
energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available, and the U.S.
has some of the richest solar resources in the world. Solar technologies can harness this
energy for a variety of uses, including generating electricity, providing light or a comfortable
interior environment, and heating water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use

-Theoretical Availability
The sun imparts a huge amount of sunlight on the Earth every day, and although about half
of it is reflected by the atmosphere, the Earth absorbs about 3,850,000 exajoules of solar
energy every year. More solar energy is absorbed by the Earth in one hour than the entire

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human population uses in one year, according to a report by Vaclav Smil, a respected
geographer and professor at the University of Manitoba.

-Daytime Availability
Although solar power can seem nearly limitless, the rotation of the earth provides a major
limitation to continuous solar power. Locations close to the north and south poles experience
extended hours of sunlight, but it is only for a portion of the year, and they experience
reduced hours of sunlight at opposite times of the year. Some solar power facilities employ
energy storage systems to store excess power during off-peak periods and to deliver power
during peak periods or overnight.

ECONOMIC ASPECT OF SOLAR ENERGY

1. Solar can mean lower utility bills.
Your local utility rates are probably higher than you’d like. Unfortunately, saving money by
turning off the lights and easing back the AC may only go so far.

3. Net Energy Metering (NEM) can work for you.

Net Energy Metering allows customers who generate their own electricity from solar panels
to sell the excess electricity generated back to the grid. However, not all states have NEM
policies, and these policies vary by state. A reputable solar company can explain the NEM in
your location.

4. Federal and state incentives are available for going solar.

Currently, you can deduct 30% of the cost of your purchased home solar system from your
federal income taxes.Many state and local governments that offer property and sales tax
exemptions, too. Cash rebates can also help you reduce your costs by about 10% to 20%.6
Find out more about federal and state incentives.

5. Your home value may increase with the purchase of a home solar system.
Another reason to go solar is an increase in the value of your home. This makes solar a safe
and wise investment.7 The right size purchased solar installation may increase your home
value by $20,000 or more, if you plan to sell.

6. Renewable energy helps others in times of need.

We need energy to live our daily lives, but we also need energy to help those less
fortunate.9 People all over the world are using solar energy to push through power outages
caused by storms and other natural disasters that can lead to loss of life and property.

7. Solar energy means healthier air.

We all need clean air for survival. But ground-level ozone and other pollutants from cars,
power plants, industrial boilers, refineries and chemical plants can kill. The damage extends
to crops, trees and other vegetation,and the toll on human life is significant. Pollution is so
bad in some parts of the world that people are instructed to stay indoors. The Environmental

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Defense Fund states that pollution is responsible for the deaths of 6.4 million people per
year.

8. Solar creates jobs and supports families.

Like Solar Saves on Gas and fuel

9. The price of sunlight is zero.

The sun is a renewable resource. Unlike fossil fuels, sunlight is never going away. You can
count on it every day.

10. Solar reduces dangerous greenhouse gases from cars.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that new motor vehicles contribute
significantly to greenhouse gases, which endanger our public health and welfare.

INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS
can either be generated from an in-house solar plant (captive model) or through an off-site
solar farm. The solar power thus produced can be used for normal day-to-day operations of
the plant including lighting, ventilation, and equipment power supply. There are certain
industrial firms in India which are meeting close to 30% of their power requirements through
solar energy. The solar power system used by industries can be equipped with a battery
storage system also. The battery storage makes the solar plant even more relevant when it
comes to reducing the electricity cost.

The in-house PV plant can be owned and operated by the industrial firm (CAPEX Model) or
by a 3rd party which owns and operates the plant and sells solar power produced back to
the firm (OPEX Model). It is feasible for big industries with very high load requirements to get
installed captive solar power plants within their facilities. Solar developers in India are
building solar parks in different states for catering to requirements from a group of small
industries operating in the nearby area. Providing solar power for industries has hence
become one of the highest growing segments for solar firms in India.

PRODUCTION ASPECTS
How does solar energy work?
A solar panel (also known as a solar module) consists of a layer of silicon cells, a metal
frame, a glass casing unit, and wiring to transfer electric current from the silicon. Silicon
(atomic #14 on the periodic table) is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to
absorb and convert sunlight into usable electricity. When light hits a silicon cell, the light
causes electrons in the silicon to be set in motion, initiating a flow of electric current. This is
known as the “photovoltaic effect,” and it describes the general functionality of solar panel
tech.

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The science of generating electricity with solar panels boils down to this photovoltaic effect.
It was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel and can be thought of as a property of
specific materials (known as semiconductors) that allows them to create an electric current
when they are exposed to sunlight.

The photovoltaic process works through the following broad steps:

1-The silicon photovoltaic solar cell absorbs solar radiation.

2-When the sun’s rays interact with the silicon cell, electrons begin to move, creating a flow
of electric current.

3-Wires capture and feed this direct current (DC) electricity to a solar inverter to be
converted to alternating current (AC) electricity.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

Advantages:
1-Solar power is pollution free and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted after
installation

2-Reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels

3-Renewable clean power that is available every day of the year, even cloudy days produce
some power

4-Return on investment unlike paying for utility bills

5-Virtually no maintenance as solar panels last over 30 years

6-Creates jobs by employing solar panel manufacturers, solar installers, etc. and in turn
helps the economy

7-Excess power can be sold back to the power company if grid intertied

8-Ability to live grid free if all power generated provides enough for the home / building

9-Can be installed virtually anywhere; in a field to on a building

10-Use batteries to store extra power for use at night

11-Solar can be used to heat water, power homes and building, even power cars

12-Safer than traditional electric current

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13-Efficiency is always improving so the same size solar that is available today will become
more efficient tomorrow

14-Aesthetics are improving making the solar more versatile compared to older models; i.e.
printing, flexible, solar shingles, etc.

15-Federal grants, tax incentives, and rebate programs are available to help with initial costs

16-No trenching is needed since the solar can be close to or at the place of installation

Disadvantages:
1-High initial costs for material and installation and long ROI (however, with the reduction in
cost of solar over the last 10 years, solar is becoming more cost feasible every day)

2-Needs lots of space as efficiency is not 100% yet

3-No solar power at night so there is a need for a large battery bank

4-Some people think they are ugly (I am definitely not one of those!)

5-Devices that run on DC power directly are more expensive

6-Depending on geographical location the size of the solar panels vary for the same power
generation

7-Cloudy days do not produce as much energy

8-Solar panels are not being massed produced due to lack of material and technology to
lower the cost enough to be more affordable (this is starting to change)

9-Solar powered cars do not have the same speeds and power as typical gas powered cars
(this too is starting to change)
Lower solar production in the winter months.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACTS OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC

The increasing presence of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (sometimes referred
to as solar farms) is a rather new development in North Carolina’s landscape. Due to the
new and unknown nature of this technology, it is natural for communities near such
developments to be concerned about health and safety impacts. Unfortunately, the quick
emergence of utility-scale solar has cultivated fertile grounds for myths and half-truths about
the health impacts of this technology, which can lead to unnecessary fear and conflict.
Photovoltaic (PV) technologies and solar inverters are not known to pose any significant

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health dangers to their neighbors. The most important dangers posed are increased highway
traffic during the relative short construction period and dangers posed to trespassers of
contact with high voltage equipment.
This latter risk is mitigated by signage and the security measures that industry uses to deter
trespassing.As will be discussed in more detail below, risks of site contamination are much
less than for most other industrial uses because PV technologies employ few toxic
chemicals and those used are used in very small quantities. Due to the reduction in the
pollution from fossil-fuel-fired electric generators, the overall impact of solar development on
human health is overwhelmingly positive. This pollution reduction results
from a partial replacement of fossil-fuel fired generation by emission-free PV-generated
electricity, which reduces harmful sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine
particulate matter (PM2.5). Analysis
from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, both affiliates of the U.S. Department of Energy, estimatesthe health-related air
quality benefits to the southeast region from solar PV generators to be worth 8.0 ¢ per
kilowatt-hour of solar generation.0 F
1 This is in addition to the value of the electricity and suggests that the air quality benefits of
solar are worth more than the electricity itself.Even though we have only recently seen
large-scale installation of PV technologies, the technology and its potential impacts have
been studied since the 1950s. A combination of this solar-specific research and general
scientific research has led to the scientific community having a good understanding of the
science behind potential health and safety impacts of solar energy. This paper utilizes the
latest scientific literature and knowledge of solar practices in N.C. to address the health and
safety risks associated with solar PV technology. These risks are extremely small, far less
than those associated with common activities such as driving a car, and vastly outweighed
by health benefits of the generation of clean electricity.

CALCULATION OF ONE KILOWATT OF ENERGY PRODUCED

FROM SOLAR ENERGY USING SOLAR PANELS
When the intensity of solar radiation =1400𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡/𝑚2

𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 × 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙
Assume that the area of the solar cell =29𝑚2

𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 1400 × 29 = 40,600 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡

𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 1000 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡
𝔶 = 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦
𝔶 =𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦× 100%
𝔶 =1000/40600 × 100%
𝔶 = 0.024%

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∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 1000 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 =29𝑚2 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠 1400𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡/𝑚2

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