Solar Energy Systems

EEE01 – Technical Elective 1

07 November 2021
Solar Energy
Energy comes from the sun. Energy derived by capturing radiant energy from
sunlight and converting it into heat or electricity.
Production involves the use of Solar Thermal Power Plants or Photovoltaic
cells.
1. Solar thermal power plants are electricity generation plants that utilize energy from the
Sun to heat a fluid to a high temperature. This type of generation is essentially the same
as electricity generation that uses fossil fuels, but instead heats steam using sunlight
instead of combustion of fossil fuels. Example: Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
2. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are composed of one or more solar panels combined with
an inverter and other electrical and mechanical hardware that use energy from the Sun to
generate electricity. Example: Solar PV Arrays

While a Solar PV arrays use sunlight to generate electricity, CSP panel uses both light and heat to
generate power.
Advantages
• Renewable and free
• Clean source of energy
• Low maintenance and operating costs
• Modular construction

Disadvantages
• Intermittent energy source
• Vary by location
• High investment costs
• Need lot of space
Concentrated Solar Power How Does a CSP System
Work?
1. The mirrors or lenses reflect
sunlight and trap it in one
place.
2. Concentrated sunlight falls
on a receiver connected to
the mirrors.
3. This receiver has a fluid that
is a conductor of heat, such
as molten salt or oil.
4. The trapped sunlight heats
the fluid in the pipe which in
turn flows towards the
turbine.
5. This heats water in another
container which converts into
steam.
6. The stream flows towards
CSP plants operate independently and without backup fuel sources the turbine, which converts it
much like a conventional power plant. into electricity.

Sources: https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/concentrating-solar-power-could-provide-flexibility-and-reliability-us-electric-grid
https://www.insightsoftechnology.com/types-of-concentrated-solar-power-systems/
 The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System
is a concentrated solar thermal plant in the
Mojave Desert. It is located at the base of
Clark Mountain in California with capacity of
392 MW.

The Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is a

concentrated solar power plant in California,
United States with capacity of 354 MW.
Solar Photovoltaic System
A Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system is composed of one or more solar
panels combined with an inverter and other electrical and
mechanical hardware that use energy from the Sun to generate
electricity.

The photovoltaic effect is a process that generates electricity in a

photovoltaic cell when it is exposed to sunlight.
Solar Photovoltaic System
Concepts:
Solar Radiation Measurements
Irradiance is the measurement of the sun
radiation at the moment it strikes a given area
of a surface. It is measured in watts per
squared meter (W/m2).

𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝐼𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

Insolation is the quantity of solar radiation

received at the Earth’s surface at a period of
time. Also referred to as Sun Hours and
measured as watt-hour per squared meter (W-
hr/m2).
The Philippines’ annual insolation is between
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 1400-1600 kWh / sq. meters. That is around
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 3.8 –4.5 sun hours per day.
Solar Radiation Measurements
Irradiance intensity of solar energy
Insolation quantity of solar energy

Sources: https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/properties-of-sunlight/average-solar-radiation
Solar Radiation Measurements
Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) is the amount of solar
radiation received per unit area by a surface that is always
held perpendicular (or normal) to the rays that come in a
straight line from the direction of the sun at its current
position in the sky.

Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI) is the amount of

radiation received per unit area by a surface (not subject
to any shade or shadow) that does not arrive on a direct
path from the sun, but has been scattered by molecules
and particles in the atmosphere and comes equally from
all directions

Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) is the total amount of

shortwave radiation received from above by a surface
horizontal to the ground. This value is of particular interest
to photovoltaic installations and includes both Direct
Normal Irradiance (DNI) and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance
(DHI).
Solar Radiation Measurements

Global Horizontal (GHI) = Direct Normal (DNI) * cos(θ) + Diffuse Horizontal (DHI)

Where: θ is the Solar Zenith Angle

Note: 90 - θ is the Solar Altitude Angle or Solar Elevation Angle

Solar Radiation Measurements
Pyranometer used to measure diffuse radiation (DHI)
or global radiation (GHI)

Pyrheliometer used to measure direct

radiation (DNI) from sun

Sources: https://circuitdigest.com/tutorial/solar-radiation-measurement-methods-using-pyrheliometer-and-pyranometer
Types of Solar PV Systems
Based on System Configuration

Solar PV
Systems

Grid-
Stand Alone Hybrid
connected

With Battery With Battery With Wind

(smart grid (e.g. for houses
concept) and industries)
Turbines

Without Battery Without Battery With Hydro

(large scale (e.g. for water
production) pump)
Turbines

With Fuel Cell

or other
sources
Types of Solar PV Systems
Based on System Configuration

Hybrid
Types of Solar PV Systems
Based on Installation Type

Solar PV
Systems

Ground
Rooftop Floating
Mount

Flat Roof Fixed Tilt Single-Axis Tracker

(Vertical, Horizontal)

Tilted Roof Dual-Axis Tracker

Types of Solar PV Systems
Based on Installation Type
Types of Solar PV Systems
Based on Installation Type

a) b)

c) d)

Illustration of the PV tracker. a Fixed mounted orientation, b single-axis, horizontal axis PV

tracker, c ) single-axis vertical axis PV tracker, and d) Dual-axis PV tracker
Comparison of Solar Panels
Solar Panels are devices that convert light into electricity. It is like a DC energy generators.

1. Monocrystalline is the most widely used type of panel for residential use.
2. Polycrystalline panels are typically less efficient than monocrystalline and are often used for commercial buildings.
3. Thin film is more flexible, has a shorter life-span and is typically used in small solar installations.

Sources: https://www.gosunpro.com/are-solar-panels-worth-it/