Week 2:

Introduction to Solar Energy

Solar Energy- Introduction
Gr een Ski ll s A cademy - 2024
 Recap…
• What is the largest source of energy on Earth?

• Name two forms of energy that can be used to supply energy to us.

• How is electricity traditionally generated?

• What is the primary energy conversion process in an electricity generator?

Solar Energy - Introduction

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Solar Energy - Introduction
Green Skills Academy , Capital City College Group
 What is Solar Energy?

• Energy generated by the sun, which

can be captured as:

Solar Thermal

Solar Power

Solar Energy - Introduction

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Solar Thermal
Technologies that harness the sun's heat for various applications.
Building design

Systems that do not rely on

Passive Solar Thermal
mechanical devices to move Materials that store heat
Systems
heat.

Natural convection
Types of Solar Thermal
Systems

Solar water heaters

Systems that use mechanical
Active Solar Thermal
devices (like pumps or fans)
Systems
to distribute heat.
Solar air heaters
Solar Energy - Introduction
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 Passive Solar Thermal Systems
Examples: Passive solar design in buildings, Greenhouse, Ovens,…

Solar Energy - Introduction

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Solar thermal collectors can be part of an active or passive system:

Passive Solar Water Heaters

• Rely on gravity, water pressure, and

convection.

• No moving parts, making the system

simpler.

• Easier and cheaper to maintain due to

the lack of mechanical components.

Solar Energy - Introduction Passive type solar water heater system Active type solar water heater system
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 Active Solar Thermal Systems
Heat Heat Transfer Utilisation
Absorption

Heat Absorption: Absorbing sunlight and converting it

into heat through solar thermal collectors.

Heat Transfer: The absorbed heat is transferred to a

working fluid (water or antifreeze solution).

Utilisation: The heated fluid is used for water heating,

space heating, or other applications, depending on the
system design.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar Thermal Collectors
1. Flat Plate Collector
Function:

• Sunlight heats the absorber plate.

• Heat is transferred to a fluid (water or

antifreeze) flowing through tubes.

• Heated fluid is circulated through a heat

exchanger or directly to a storage tank.

Applications:

• Commonly used in residential and commercial

water heating systems.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar Thermal Collectors
2. Evacuated Tube Collectors
Function:

• Sunlight passes through the outer glass tube,

heating the absorber plate or heat pipe.

• Heat is transferred to a fluid inside the heat

pipe or a separate circulating fluid.

• The heated fluid is used for water or space

heating, similar to flat-plate collectors

Applications:

• More efficient in colder climates.

• Commonly used in residential and commercial

Solar Energy - Introduction systems where higher temperatures are required.
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 Solar Thermal Collectors
3. Integral Collector-Storage (Batch Collector)

Function:

• Sunlight heats the water directly in the tanks or

tubes.

• Warmed water is either drawn directly from the

unit or transferred to a separate storage tank.

Applications:

• Ideal for mild climates where freezing is rare.

• Used in residential systems where water in the

collector is directly exposed to the elements.
Solar Energy - Introduction
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 How Solar Thermal Systems Generate Electricity?
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP):

• Mirror Configuration: Concentrates solar

energy onto a receiver to convert it into heat.

• Heat Conversion: Heat is used to generate

steam, which drives a turbine to produce
electricity.

• Energy Storage: Thermal energy storage

systems allow power to be stored and used
during periods of minimal sunlight.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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Solar Energy - Introduction
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Solar Photovoltaic
Solar PV is a technology that converts
sunlight into electricity using solar cells.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Photovoltaic
Light Electricity

Discovery of the Photovoltaic Effect

1839 Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect (electricity generation when light hits a material).

First Practical Solar Cells

1954 Bell Labs developed the first silicon-based solar cells, capable of converting sunlight into electricity.

Solar Cells in Space

1958 Solar cells were first used in space on the Vanguard I satellite.

Modern PV Manufacturing Begins

1970s PV manufacturing expanded, driven by the energy crisis and the need for remote electricity.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV in Today's World
Technological Maturity:

• Solar photovoltaic technology has matured with advancements in inverters and standardized
components, making it fully compatible with modern electrical grid systems.

Widespread Adoption:

• Significant investments are driving the electrification of remote and rural areas.

• Solar PV is increasingly used to make homes and businesses self-sufficient in energy.

Cost and Efficiency:

• The cost of solar PV continues to decrease.

• Efficiency is improving, thanks to advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar Cell Solar Module/Panel Solar Array

Solar PV
Construction

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 Solar PV Construction
1. Solar Cell Basic Unit:
• The fundamental building block of a photovoltaic (PV) module or
panel.

Electricity Production:
• Typically produces around 0.5 to 0.6 volts.
• Current output can range from 5 to 9 amps, depending on cell size
and sunlight conditions.

Structure:
• Equipped with front and back contacts.
• Front contacts consist of a grid of fine lines, connected by larger
contacts to efficiently conduct electricity.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Construction
2. Solar Panel Formation:

• Solar panels, also known as modules, are

typically created by connecting solar cells in
series to form a series string.

Voltage:

• The total voltage of a solar panel is the sum

of the voltages of individual cells (each cell
produces approximately 0.5 to 0.6 volts).

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Construction
2. Solar Panel Cell Count:

• A typical solar panel contains 60 to 72 solar

cells.

Construction:

• The series of cells is laminated to a backing

material, sealed in a weatherproof plastic
coating.

• A cover glass is placed on top, usually framed

with aluminium for durability and protection.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Construction
3. Solar Array Formation:

• A solar array is created by connecting multiple solar modules

(panels) together, either in series, parallel, or a combination
of both.

Voltage and Current:

• In a series string, the total voltage of the array is the sum of

the voltages of each connected module, while the current
remains the same as that of a single module.

• When modules are connected in parallel, the total current

increases while the voltage remains the same as that of a
single module.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Construction - Calculation

Question 1: Single Solar Panel Calculation

The solar panel in the provided image produces 0.5 volts and 8 amps per cell
Calculate the total voltage and current output of a single solar panel.

Question 2: Solar Array Calculation

You have 10 identical solar panels as shown in the image. These panels are
wired together in a series-parallel configuration with 5 panels in each series
string, and two of these series strings connected in parallel. Calculate the total
voltage and current output of the entire solar array.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Materials
Silicon as the Primary Material:
• The most common photovoltaic cells are made from silicon.

Abundance of Silicon:
• Silicon is the Earth’s most prevalent semiconductor and the second most
abundant element in the Earth's crust, after oxygen.

Natural Occurrence:
• Found in forms like silica (sand), quartz, and various minerals such as
amethyst and agate.

• Makes up about 25% of the Earth’s crust by weight.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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Solar PV Materials
There are different types of silicon used in
photovoltaic cells, which affect the overall
cost of production and efficiency.

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 Solar PV Materials
1. Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)

Efficiency: 5% – 7%

Characteristics:
• Non-crystalline, thin-film technology.

• Has a flexible and lightweight design.

Cost: Generally the cheapest.

Applications:
• Often used in small electronic devices and specialty applications.

• Less common in large-scale commercial PV systems due to lower efficiency.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Materials
2. Polycrystalline Silicon (Poly-Si)

Efficiency: 15% – 17%

Characteristics:
• Made from silicon crystals melted together.
• Distinctive, flaky appearance.

Cost: More affordable option for PV panels.

Applications:
• Commonly used in residential and commercial PV systems.
• More cost-effective for large-scale applications compared to the other
type.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Solar PV Materials
3. Monocrystalline Silicon (Mono-Si)

Efficiency: 15% – 22%

Characteristics:
• Made from a single, pure silicon crystal.
• Uniform, sleek appearance.

Cost: Generally more expensive.

Applications:
• Widely used in high-performance residential and commercial PV systems.
• Known for higher efficiency and durability.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Materials Beyond Silicon in PV Production
1. CIGS (Copper, Indium, 2. Gallium Arsenide 3. Cadmium Telluride 4. Dye-Sensitized Solar 5. Perovskite Solar Cells 6. Multijunction Solar Cells
Gallium, Diselenide) (GaAs) (CdTe) Cells (DSSC)

Efficiency: 22% (lab Efficiency: 29% (lab Efficiency: 22% (lab Characteristics: Efficiency: 22% (lab Efficiency: Highest
efficiency)] efficiency) efficiency) •Translucent and flexible, efficiency) efficiency among all PV
Characteristics: making them suitable for technologies.
Characteristics: Characteristics: •Thin-film technology. innovative applications Characteristics:
Performs better in cloudy •Extremely high efficiency, •Accounts for the largest like building-integrated •Potential for low-cost, Characteristics:
conditions compared to ideal for space market share among non- photovoltaics (BIPV). high-efficiency solar cells. •Stack multiple layers of
traditional silicon. applications. silicon PV materials. •Rapidly advancing different materials to
•More expensive, limiting Market: Still in technology with potential absorb various parts of
Market: Used in specialized its commercial use. Market: A small share of development stages with for future commercial use. the light spectrum.
applications with growing the overall PV market but niche applications. •Currently the most
interest. significant in the non- efficient but also the most
silicon segment. expensive, typically used
in high-value applications
like space.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Materials Beyond Silicon in PV Production
Increased Efficiency = Increased Cost

• Higher efficiency PV materials generally come with higher production costs, influencing their commercial
use.

Silicon Dominates the Market

• Silicon remains the primary material in PV production, leading the industry.

• Polycrystalline Silicon: While monocrystalline silicon is gaining market share, polycrystalline silicon still
constitutes a significant portion of the silicon PV market, known for its balance between efficiency and
cost.

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 Generation of Electricity in Solar Cell
1. Silicon as a Semiconductor

• Function: Silicon is used as a semiconductor material because it

can conduct electricity when its electrons are excited.

2. Doping Process

• Purpose: Impurities are introduced to alter the electrical

conductivity of the silicon.

• Types of Dopants:
• Phosphorus: Adds extra electrons, creating an N-type (negative)
layer.

• Boron: Creates a deficit of electrons, forming a P-type (positive)

layer.

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 Generation of Electricity in Solar Cell
Light Photon Electron Completing Electricity
Interaction Absorption Flow the Circuit Generation

Light Interaction: When sunlight strikes the solar cell, photons

(light particles) are absorbed by the silicon.

Electron Movement: Absorbed photons generate electron-hole

pairs in the N-type layer. Electrons move from the N-type layer
through the external circuit towards the P-type layer.

Completing the Circuit: Electrons return to the P-type layer,

completing the circuit and allowing the flow of electric current.

Result: This flow of electrons generates direct current (DC)

electricity, which can be used to power electrical devices or systems.
Solar Energy - Introduction
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Solar Energy - Introduction
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 Review
• How can solar thermal energy be used to generate electricity?

• Which solar thermal collector is best suited for cold climates?

• How many cells are typically found in a solar panel?

• What voltage does a solar panel produce if it contains 72 cells, each generating 0.6 volts,
wired together in series?

• What is the most common material used in PV production?

• Why does silicon dominate the market in PV production?

• Briefly explain how electricity is produced in solar cells.

Solar Energy - Introduction

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 Ideas For Presentation?
• How to become a solar panel installer in the UK?

• More about Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer!

• What does a Solar PV Field Sales Rep do?

References:
• National Careers Service

• Universal Skills Courses

Solar Energy - Introduction

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