Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

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Introduction
 The sun generates approximately 1.1 x 1020
kilowatt-hours every second.
 The earth’s outer atmosphere intercepts about
one two-billionth of the energy generated by the
sun, 1.5 x 1018 kilowatt-hours per year.
 Because of reflection, scattering, and absorption
by gases and aerosols in the atmosphere, only
47% of this, (7 x 1017 ) kilowatt-hours, reaches
the surface of the earth.

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 Introduction
❑ The amount of radiation reaching the earth is less than what
entered at the top of the atmosphere. We classify it in two
categories:
1. Direct (beam) Radiation: radiation from the sun that reaches the
earth without scattering.

2. Diffuse Radiation: radiation that is scattered by the atmosphere

and clouds.

3. Global Radiation: The sum of the beam and diffused radiation is

referred as total or global radiation.
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Introduction
❑ When the sky is clear and the sun is at overhead in the
sky,
➢ direct radiation is around 85% of the total insolation
striking the ground
➢ diffuse radiation is about 15%.
➢ As the sun goes lower in the sky, the percent of diffuse
radiation keeps going up until it reaches 40% when the
sun is 10° above the horizon.
❑ Photovoltaic and solar hot water systems can make use of
both direct radiation and diffuse radiation. Concentrated
solar power, uses direct radiation.

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Introduction
❑ Solar Spectrum: most of the
energy received from the
sun is electromagnetic
radiation in the form of
waves.
❑ The type of electromagnetic
radiation that is pertinent to
solar energy application is
thermal radiation.
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Annual Average Global Solar
Radiation in India

Source:
Jamil, Basharat & T.
Siddiqui, Abid & Akhtar,
Naiem. (2016). Estimation
of solar radiation and
optimum tilt angles for
south-facing surfaces in
Humid Subtropical
Climatic Region of India.
Engineering Science and
Technology, an
International Journal. 19.
1826-1835.

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 Energy Scenario in India

Gross electricity generation in India- 2019-20

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Source: https://cea.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/pdm/2020/12/growth_2020.pdf
Technologies to Capture Solar Energy

❑ Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

❑ Solar Thermal Energy System

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Features of PV systems
 Photovoltaic (PV) modules are solid-state devices that convert
sunlight, directly into electricity without an intervening heat
engine or rotating equipment.
 PV equipment has no moving parts, requires minimal
maintenance and has a long life.
 It generates electricity without producing emissions of
greenhouse or any other gases and its operation is virtually
silent.
 Photovoltaic systems can be built in virtually any size,
ranging from milliwatt to megawatt, and the systems are
modular
 Photovoltaic systems are highly reliable and require little
maintenance.
 They can also be set up as stand-alone systems.
PV Power Generation in India
Photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity by
application (MW)

Total installed
capacity in 2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India 10
Accessed on January 9, 2022.
 PV Power Generation in India
DC peak power
Plant State Commissioned
(MW)

Bhadla Solar Park Rajasthan 2,245 2020

Pavagada Solar Park Karnataka 2,050 2019

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar
Andhra Pradesh 1,000 2017
Park
NP Kunta Andhra Pradesh 978 2021
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Madhya Pradesh 750 2018
Charanka Solar Park Gujarat 690 2012
Ananthapuramu - II Andhra Pradesh 400 2019
Galiveedu solar park Andhra Pradesh 400 2020
Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar
Andhra Pradesh 250 2020
Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India 11
Accessed on January 9, 2022.
Trend in PV Cost Variation
How do Solar PV works?
 A solar cell is made of two types of semiconductors,
called p-type and n-type silicon.
 The p-type silicon is produced by adding atoms—such as
boron or gallium—that have one less electron in their
outer energy level than silicon. It means an electron
vacancy or “hole” is created.
 The n-type silicon is made by including atoms that have
one more electron in their outer level than silicon, such
as phosphorus. Phosphorus has five electrons in its outer
energy level. It bonds with its silicon neighbor atoms,
but one electron is not involved in bonding. Instead, it is
free to move inside the silicon structure.

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 How do Solar PV works?
 A solar cell consists of a layer of
p-type silicon placed next to a
layer of n-type silicon. In the n-
type layer, there is an excess of
electrons, and in the p-type
layer, there is an excess of
holes.
 Near the junction of the two
layers, the electrons on one side
of the junction (n-type layer)
move into the holes on the other
side of the junction (p-type
layer). This creates an area
around the junction, called the
depletion zone, in which the
electrons fill the holes.
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 How do Solar PV works?
 When all the holes are filled
with electrons in the depletion
zone, the p-type side of the
depletion zone (where holes
were initially present) now
contains negatively charged
ions, and the n-type side of the
depletion zone (where electrons
were present) now contains
positively charged ions.
 The presence of these
oppositely charged ions creates
an internal electric field.

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 How do Solar PV works?
 When the sunlight strikes a solar cell,
electrons in the silicon are ejected,
which results in the formation of
“holes”—the vacancies left behind by
the escaping electrons.
 If this happens in the electric field, the
field will move electrons to the n-type
layer and holes to the p-type layer.
 If you connect the n-type and p-type
layers with a metallic wire, the
electrons will travel from the n-type
layer to the p-type layer and then go
through the external wire back of the
n-type layer, creating a flow of
electricity.
 The thickness of the n-type layer in a
typical crystalline silicon cell is about 0.5
16
μm, whereas that of the p-type layer is
about 0.25 mm.
Photovoltaic Effect
References
❖ Wikipedia
❖ Youtube.com
❖ https://www.acs.org/education/resources/highschool/ch
emmatters/past-issues/archive-2013-2014/how-a-solar-
cell-
works.html#:~:text=When%20sunlight%20strikes%20a
%20solar,to%20the%20p%2Dtype%20layer.

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