Solar Photovoltaic System:

Challenges and Opportunities

 Course Outcome

• To understand the various perspectives of solar power

generation.
• Application of Photovoltaic energy.
• To aware the various challenges occurs in photovoltaic
conversion system.
• To recognize the opportunity of solar power generation.

 2012 Jim Dunlop Solar Solar Radiation: 2 - 2

SOLAR POWER GENERATION
 Solar energy is one of the most popular sources of energy
and cleanest sources of energy.
 India is fortunate to have abundant sunshine and green
initiative pushing us to embrace solar energy much more
than any other technology.
 This is used to run steam turbines, which coupled with
generator and hence produce electrical energy.
 The panel of solar cells converts solar energy into
electrical energy. This energy is stored in batteries.
 Contd…
• The electrical energy supplied by the batteries is utilized for
the operation of various electronic circuits such as street lights
, watches, satellites, calculators etc.

• Due to adoption of advance technology solar Panel costs are

now 154 times cheaper than they were in 1970. Thus Solar has
improved its cost basis by 5,355 times relative to oil since
1970.
Solar Power Generation System
Power generation using various energy source
S. No Energy Source Power generation
(%)
1 Coal 38.74
2 Natural Gas 27.41
3 Nuclear Electric Power 19.47
4 Renewable Energy 13.19
5 Hydroelectric Pumped 6.32
Storage
6 Petroleum 0.75
7 Other Gases 0.28

Around 13.19 percent of complete energy demands has been fulfill

by renewable energy resources
 Challenges
• Variation in Solar Irradiance
• Poor Conversion Efficiency
• Environmental effect on output
• Earth’s Orbit Around the Sun
 Solar Irradiance
• Solar irradiance is the sun’s radiant power, represented in units of W/m2 or
kW/m2.
• The Solar Constant is the average value of solar irradiance outside the earth’s
atmosphere, about 1366 W/m2.
• Typical peak value is 1000 W/m2 on a terrestrial surface facing the sun on a
clear day around solar noon at sea level, and used as a rating condition for PV
modules and arrays.

One Typical peak value per m2

1m Square 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt
Meter

1m
 Solar Irradiance Variation
For south-facing fixed surfaces, solar power varies over the day,
peaking at solar noon.
Solar Irradiance (W/m2)

Solar irradiance (power)

Solar irradiation (energy) is

the area under the solar
irradiance (power) curve

Sunrise Noon Sunset

Time of Day
 Peak Sun Hours
Solar Irradiance (W/m2)

Peak Sun Hours

1000 W/m2
Solar
Area of box equals Irradiance
area under curve

Solar Insolation

Sunrise Noon Sunset

Time of Day (hrs)
 Poor Conversion Efficiency
• Though the cost for solar power has decreased over the years,
it’s still an expensive investment. According to the National
Academy of Engineering, most solar panels are 10 to 20
percent efficient. In other words, the majority of energy from
the sun’s rays isn’t even captured by solar systems.
• This issue is mainly because most solar panels are stationary
and can’t move to meet the sun’s direct rays. However,
engineers are working to increase the efficiency of solar
panels. As new technologies and improvements hit the market,
solar energy could produce more energy, making it a cheaper
alternative to fossil-fuel generated energy.
 Condition of Partial Shading

• Partial shading is an unavoidable situation, which occurs due

to non-uniform irradiance on PV array.
• Multiple peaks appear in P-V characteristics of photovoltaic
array during partial shading condition.
• Apparently, a photovoltaic system is highly susceptible
to partial shading. During partial shading, the maximum power
of a photovoltaic system can drop drastically, which
significantly reduces the energy yield of the photovoltaic
system
 Environmental Effects

• While solar generation is emission-free, the manufacture of solar

panels and related technologies can involve some
environmentally unfriendly substances.
• Nitrogen tri fluoride is a common byproduct of electronics
manufacture, including those used in solar cells, and it is a
greenhouse gas 17,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
• In addition, many solar cells include small amounts of the toxic
metal cadmium, and the batteries required to store generated
electricity can contain a host of other heavy metals and
dangerous substances.
• As solar technology improves, manufacturers may be able to
move away from these potentially dangerous substances.
 Contd..
• There also are, of course, seasonal radiation variations caused by
the tilt of the earth with respect to the sun.
• Thus, in winter sun provides less than 20% of the summer sun's
energy daily at some locations because it is lower in the sky and
the days are shorter.
• All of these factors affecting the amount of local radiation on earth
have to be taken into account when designing photovoltaic
systems.
• The sun may be a constant source of energy, but at the earth's
surface, the distribution of its energy and the constancy of its
radiation are hardly ideal. A good PV system cannot be designed
without providing for the variations associated with the energy
spectrum and its local availability.
 Earth’s Orbit Around the Sun
Vernal Equinox:
March 20 / 21
Declination = 0°
Summer Solstice:
June 20 / 21
Declination = +23.5°
Ecliptic
Plane

Perihelion: January 2-5

96 million miles 90 million miles
Aphelion: July 3-7 (1.017 AU) (0.983 AU)

Sun

Winter Solstice:
December 21 / 22
Declination = ( -23.5°)

Autumnal Equinox:
September 22 /
23
Declination = 0°
 Contd…
 The earth’s polar rotational axis is tilted at a constant 23.5°
angle with respect to the ecliptic plane.

 During its annual orbit around the sun, the earth's polar axis is
never perpendicular to the ecliptic plane, but it is always
inclined to it at the same angle, 23.5°.

 This results in a constantly varying angle between the earth’s

equatorial plane and the ecliptic plane as the earth orbits the
sun over a year.

 Except at the equinoxes, the earth’s axis is tilted either toward

or away from the sun, causing the change in seasons.
 Opportunity
• Clean and Pollution free Energy
• Freely Available
• Inexhaustible source of energy
• Installation Flexibility
• Low Maintenance Cost
 Clean and Pollution Free Energy

• Electricity produced by solar cells is clean and silent. Because

they do not use fuel other than sunshine.
• PV systems do not release any harmful air or water pollution
into the environment, deplete natural resources, or endanger
animal or human health.
• PV cells were originally developed for use in space, where
repair is extremely expensive, if not impossible. PV still
powers nearly every satellite circling the earth because it
operates reliably for long periods of time with virtually no
maintenance.
• Photovoltaic systems are quiet and visually unobtrusive .
 Abundantly Available Energy Source
• Solar energy is a locally available renewable
resource. It does not need to be imported from other
regions of the country or across the world.
• This reduces environmental impacts associated with
transportation and also reduces our dependence on
imported oil.
• Unlike fossil fuels that are mined and harvested,
solar energy for electricity generation do not deplete.
Thus there is no need of alter the resource.
 Installation Flexibility

• A PV system can be constructed to any size based on

energy requirements.

• Furthermore, the Photovoltaic system can enlarge or

move from one point to another in case of small
power applications based on the requirement.

• Small-scale solar plants can take advantage of unused

space on rooftops of existing buildings.
 Low Maintenance Cost

• Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of

maintenance.
• Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 20-25
years warranty. Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no
wear and tear.
• The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be changed
after 5-10 years because it is continuously working to convert
solar energy into electricity and heat.
Thanking You