A

GROUP PROJECT REPORT

ON

“Technological Aspects of the Solar Energy Sector”

Submitted to

SCHOOL OF PETROLEUM MANAGEMENT (SPM)

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

At

PANDIT DEENDAYAL PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY PDPU - GANDHINAGAR

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Dr. Kaushal Kishore

(Assistant Professor)

Submitted by

Asif Ahmed (20181006)

Ayushi Tiwari (20181008)

Arpan Barooah (20181010)

Bhavesh Kourani (20181023)

Ronak Modi (20181029)

Pallash Mukharjee (20181031)

MBA TRIMESTER II (Batch: 2018-20)

December 2018
 STUDENTS’ DECLARATION

We, undersigned, declare that the Group Project titled “Technological Aspects of the Solar (Energy &
Infrastructure) Industry/Sector/Domain” submitted by us for the partial fulfillment of the requirements of
the Degree of Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is the record of project work carried out by us
during the second trimester under the guidance of Dr. Kaushal Kishore and has not formed the basis for the
award of any degree, diploma, fellowship, titles in this or any other University or other institution of higher
learning. We further declare that the material obtained from other sources has been duly acknowledged in
the report. The plagiarism check was carried out before submission and the similarity percentage was 3 %.
However, we will be solely responsible for any plagiarism issues or other irregularities, if notices in the
report.

Date: Name and Enrollment No. SIGN

Place: Gandhinagar Asif Ahmed
(20181006)

Ayushi Tiwari
(20181008)

Arpan Barooah
(20181010)

Bhavesh Kourani
(20181023)

Ronak Modi
(20181029)

Pallash Mukharjee
(20181031)
PLAGIARISM REPORT BY URKUND
 CERTIFICATE BY GUIDE

This is to certify that the project work reported in the Group project titled “Technological Aspects of the
Solar (Energy & Infrastructure) Industry/Sector/Domain” was carried out by the students of SPM (batch
2018-20) under my supervision and guidance. To the best of my knowledge: (i) the students have not
submitted the same project work to any other institution for any degree/diploma, Fellowship or other similar
titles (ii) the project report submitted is a record of original work done by the students during the
second/third trimester under my supervision.

Date: Name and Signature of Faculty Guide

Place: Ahmedabad Dr. Kaushal Kishore ( )
Assistant Professor
 PREFACE

Our Earth is made up mostly of iron, rock, water, and various other elements. Unlike Earth, the Sun is made
up primarily of hydrogen gas. But there is one similarity between them and that is their cores, which is
their hottest part. There is huge amount of pressure at the Sun’s core and because of that the vast amount
of hydrogen atoms present in the core are compressed and fused together. This reaction is known as
nuclear fusion and this reaction converts hydrogen atoms into helium. And because of this huge amount of
energy gets released and radiates towards the surface of the Sun and beyond it. This outward pressure
created by the fusion process is balanced by the inward pressure created by the gravitational force of the
gases which edge the core. This way a huge amount of energy is generated by the Sun. This exorbitant
amount of energy reaches the earth.
Solar power now accounts for around 1% of the world's electricity generation, up from a negligible amount
of solar capacity only a decade ago. According to one of the report named Energy Transition Outlook 2018,
solar electricity production could grow 65-fold by 2050, eventually making solar one of the largest sources
of energy in the world. Solar and wind power together are projected to provide two-thirds of all electricity
in 2050. According to BP Energy Outlook 2018, by 2040 non-fossil fuels—which include renewables, nuclear
and hydro would make up 26% of the world’s energy mix—the same percentage as natural gas but just
below oil at 27% and above coal at 21%. And renewables’ share of global primary energy consumption
could skyrocket from 234 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MMtoe) in 2010 to 2,527 MMtoe in 2040.
Thus understanding and gauging the importance of Solar Energy - in these times when carbon emissions,
GHGs, and other noxious gases are blighting, polluting and hurting the environment and world is eagerly
looking for cleaner and greener sources of energy - our project will be focused on - understanding the
different technologies involved to harness Solar Energy and the evolution of such technologies, future of
Solar Power technologies and comparative study of Solar Power market of India and China.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It is often said that life is a mixture of achievements, failures, experiences, exposures and efforts to make your
dream come true. There are people around you who help you realize your dream. I take this opportunity with
much pleasure to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of all the people who have helped me through the
course of my journey in successful completion of this project.

It is my pious duty to thank Oil India Limited (OIL) for giving me an opportunity to undertake my summer
internship in learning and challenging environment.

I am thankful to my project guide Mr. Kailas. B. Gaikwad, Deputy Chief Engineer, Reservoir at Oil India Limited
(OIL), Noida. Without his guidance, this project would not have been possible. I owe whatever I have learnt and
I am deeply obliged to them for providing me the impetus and the support of their abstruse knowledge and
experience.

I am highly obliged to my faculty guide - Dr. Asit Acharya, Associate Professor for his continuous support and
guidance throughout the tenure of Internship. I am also thankful to all other faculty members, for their
continuous support and guidance. I am beholden to School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal
Petroleum University, Gandhinagar for granting me the permission to undertake my summer training in a very
conducive working environment at Oil India Limited (OIL).

Mr. Asif Ahmed

1st Year (MBA)
School of Petroleum Management
Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................1
SOLAR HEAT FOR INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES....................................................................................2
Processes of Solar Heating Technologies....................................................................................................................................2
Key Drivers..................................................................................................................................................................................3
Barriers........................................................................................................................................................................................3
Petroleum derivative pricing........................................................................................................................................................3
Open awareness...........................................................................................................................................................................3
Scaling issues...............................................................................................................................................................................4
SOLAR PANELS.................................................................................................................................................6
BATTERY SYSTEM...........................................................................................................................................6
CHARGE CONTROLLER.................................................................................................................................6
INVERTER..........................................................................................................................................................7
NET METER.......................................................................................................................................................7
SOLAR CELLS....................................................................................................................................................8
SILICON..............................................................................................................................................................8
THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS.......................................................................................................................8
ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS.........................................................................................................................9
CONCENTRATION PHOTOVOLTAICS.........................................................................................................9
SOLAR CELL PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY.....................................................................................9
SOLAR SKIN DESIGN.....................................................................................................................................11
SOLAR POWERED ROADS............................................................................................................................11
WEARABLE SOLAR........................................................................................................................................11
SOLAR BATTERIES........................................................................................................................................12
SOLAR TRACKING MOUNTS........................................................................................................................12
SOLAR THERMAL FUEL (STF).....................................................................................................................12
SOLAR WATER PURIFIERS..........................................................................................................................13
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS...........................................................................................................................14
FRESNEL FOCAL............................................................................................................................................14
FLOATING SOLAR..........................................................................................................................................14
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................17
SOLAR ENERGY POLICY IN CHINA...........................................................................................................17
SOLAR ENERGY MARKET IN CHINA.........................................................................................................17
SOLAR ENERGY POLICY IN INDIA.............................................................................................................17
SOLAR ENERGY MARKET IN INDIA...........................................................................................................18
FUTURE OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY............................................................................................................22
 LIST OF TABLES

Table 6.1. Solar Energy Policies in India and China ………………………………………………………

20
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Solar Panels…………………………………………………………………….......................... 06

Figure 3.2 Battery………………………………………………………………………….......................... 06
Figure 3.3 Inverter…………………………………………………………………………………………. 06
Figure 3.4 Controller………………………………………………………………………………………. 07
Figure 3.5 Net Meter………………………………………………………………………………………. 07
Figure 4.1 Solar Cells……………………………………………………………………………………… 08
Figure 4.2 Thin Film Photovoltaics………………………………………………………………………... 09
Figure 4.3 Organic Photovoltaics………………………………………………………………………….. 09
Figure 4.4 Concentration Photovoltaics…………………………………………………………………… 09
Figure 5.1 Solar Skin Design……………………………………………………………………………… 11
Figure 5.2 Solar Powered Roads…………………………………………………………………………... 11
Figure 5.3 Wearable Solar…………………………………………………………………………………. 11
Figure 5.4 Solar Batteries………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Figure 5.5 Solar Tracking mounts…………………………………………………………………………. 12
Figure 5.6 Flow Chart of Solar Thermal Fuel…………………………………………………………….. 13
Figure 5.7 Solar Water Purifier……………………………………………………………………………. 13
Figure 5.8 Solar Concentrator………………………………………………………………………………14
Figure 5.9 Fresnel Focal…………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Figure 5.10 Floating Solar…………………………………………………………………………………. 15
Figure 6.1 Installed Solar Capacity of India & China……………………………………………………... 20
Figure 6.2 Average Contract Price of Auctioned Solar Energy…………………………………………… 20
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1. AC – Alternating Current
2. AEA – Association for Energy Affordability
3. CAES – Compressed Air Energy Storage
4. CDTE – Cadmium Telluride
5. CIGS – Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
6. CNREC – China National Renewable Energy Centre
7. DC – Direct Current
8. ESCO – Energy Service Company
9. ESTIF – European Solar Thermal Industry Federation
10. ETC – Evacuated Tube Collectors
11. ETSAP – The Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program
12. FIT – Feed in Tariff
13. FPC – Flat Plate Collectors
14. FYP – Financial Year Plan
15. IEA – International Energy Agency
16. IRENA – International Renewable Energy Agency
17. LED – Light Emitting Diode
18. MIRARCO – Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and 
Applied Research Corporation
19. MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
20. MNRE – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
21. MOP – Ministry of Power
22. NAPCC – National Action Plan of Climate Change
23. NEA – National Energy Administration
24. NSM – National Solar Mission
25. NVVN – NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited
26. PPA – Power Purchase Agreement
27. PV – Photovoltaic
28. REC – Rural Electrification Corporation
29. RET – Renewable Energy Target
30. SERI – Solar Energy Research Institute
31. SHC – Solar Heating and Cooling
32. SHIP – Solar Heat for Industrial Process
33. SME – Small and Medium Measure Enterprise
34. SP2 – Submerged Photovoltaic Solar Panel
35. STF – Solar Thermal Fuel
36. UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme
37. UV – Ultra Violet
 ABSTRACT

The Sun is an extremely powerful energy source, and sunlight is by far the largest source of energy received
by Earth. The potential for solar energy is enormous since about 200,000 times the world’s total daily
electric-generating capacity is received by Earth every day in the form of solar energy. This Solar energy is
nothing but a radiant light and heat from the Sun and can be converted either into thermal energy (heat) or
into electrical energy using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar
thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants, and artificial photosynthesis.

The global power sector is witnessing a gradual transition from conventional thermal power-generating
sources toward clean energy technologies. The renewables share was 8.6% in the global energy mix in 2010
of which solar PV’s contribution was paltry 8.7% and is expected to increase to 22.5% in 2020 with the
significant contribution of solar PV to the tune of 39.6% as per a recent thematic research report Renewable
Energy by Global Data. Solar power in India is a fast developing industry and in the last decade the demand
of power in India has increased manifold, therefore Government has announced the National Solar Mission
of generating 100 GW of solar power up to 2022 and country's solar installed capacity has already reached
26 GW.

Thus understanding and gauging the importance of Solar Energy - in these times when carbon emissions,
GHGs, and other noxious gases are blighting, polluting and hurting the environment and world is eagerly
looking for cleaner and greener sources of energy - our project will be focused on - understanding the
different technologies involved to harness Solar Energy and the evolution of such technologies, future of
Solar Power technologies and comparative study of Solar Power market of India and China.
CHAPTER – 1 OVERVIEW
 INTRODUCTION
Our Earth is made up mostly of iron, rock, water, and various other elements. Unlike Earth, the Sun is made
up primarily of hydrogen gas. But there is one similarity between them and that is their cores, which is their
hottest part. There is huge amount of pressure at the Sun’s core and because of that the vast amount of
hydrogen atoms present in the core are compressed and fused together. This reaction is known as nuclear
fusion and this reaction converts hydrogen atoms into helium. And because of this huge amount of energy
gets released and radiates towards the surface of the Sun and beyond it. This outward pressure created by the
fusion process is balanced by the inward pressure created by the gravitational force of the gases which edge
the core. This way a huge amount of energy is generated by the Sun. This exorbitant amount of energy
reaches the earth.

Along the way some rays are reflected into space or scattered by clouds which results into significant loss of
energy. It is observed that about one third of the sun's energy makes it through the atmosphere. About 40%
of remaining warms the Earth and around 24-25% is used by water cycle. About 1% is absorbed by Oceans
and winds, while all the plants on the Earth use only 0.023% for photosynthesis! And the amount of energy
that is absorbed by the earth in one hour is more than humans may use in entire year.

The history of harnessing the energy of sun spans centuries with the seminal applications dating back to 7 th
century B.C. when magnifying glass was used to focus sun’s rays to kindle fire and to burn ants. Then over
the time, numerous scientific advancements and discoveries have changed the way we harness and utilize the
solar energy in contemporary times. We have breadth of applications of Solar Energy nowadays which range
from Solar Heat for Industrial Process (SHIP) to innumerable applications of solar panels such as monolithic
solar power plants and ‘solar powered houses’ which will help reduce carbon foot print, solar power plane
‘Solar Impulse’ which shows the zest and grit towards continuous development, solar pumps which has the
potential to change the face of irrigation in India etc.

1
CHAPTER – 2 SOLAR HEATING TECHNOLOGIES
 SOLAR HEAT FOR INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Solar heating technologies gather warm vitality from the sun and utilize this warmth for drying purposes, for
space heating/cooling or to give process warm. Warmth in the lower temperature extend (<80 degree) can
undoubtedly be given frameworks economically accessible, for example, flat plate collectors (FPC) and
evacuated tube collectors (ETC). For medium temperature forms, new propelled gatherer plans has been
effectively created. Ultra-high vacuum FPC or ETC with concentrators can likewise create temperatures of
up to 200°C. Solar concentrators like parabolic dish collectors, parabolic trough collectors and Linear
Fresnel collectors can generate compressed steam with temperatures of up to 400°C.

Processes of Solar Heating Technologies

Solar heating and cooling technologies gather the sun's warm vitality and transfer it into a heat transfer fluid.
In the event that the heat transfer fluid is water or air, the warm water or warm air can be straightforwardly
utilized or channelled to a capacity tank. In aberrant frameworks, the heat transfer fluid goes through a heat
exchanger to warm the procedure fluid. On account of solar cooling, the warmed fluid is utilized in a gadget
called an ingestion chiller to drive the cooling of process fluids. 99% of solar heating and cooling
technologies is utilized to give warm water or space heating in private homes (IEA-SHC, 2013), however it
can likewise be utilized to give process heat to industrial processes.

In the last case, the technologies are like those utilized in private applications with three special cases: 1) the
measure of heat and cooling required in industrial processes is a lot bigger;

2) Heat and cooling needs are frequently ceaseless (Saygin et al., 2011) so extra complex control
frameworks are required; and

3) The temperature levels required for process heat are regularly higher so concentrators and other cutting
edge innovations are expected to raise the temperature.

The utilization of solar vitality in industrial processes has been considered since the 1970s (SERI, 1980;
Fuller, 2011), yet because of high capital expenses and low expenses for coal and gas for industrial
applications, just constrained sending has occurred throughout the most recent thirty years. Solar process
heat technologies can be sub-partitioned into two expansive innovation territories. Extensive scale solar
dryers are for the most part connected in the nourishment handling industry and utilize either characteristic
flow or constrained convection gear to gather the sun's radiation for drying applications. Solar process heat
gatherers are utilized to give boiling water or space heating in a wide range of industry parts.

Parabolic dishes were already used in antiquity, and consist of a parabolic reflector dish focusing sunlight
onto the point of convergence in front of the dish (Carbon Trust, 2013). The dish can consist of level mirrors
attached to wooden, steel or aluminium outlines. A few dishes are static and need to be manually adjusted
(2-3 times each day) to pursue the sun, while others track the sun naturally. One specific design is the

2
Scheffler dish, which was popularized in India. Another model is the ARUN-160 dish, a two-way tracking
parabolic dish with a gap zone of 160 m2 , weighing around 20 tons and generating 100-120 kg of steam for
each hour (between 80-100 kW of thermal output) (Clique Solar, n.d.).

Parabolic trough gatherers utilize curved glass to concentrate the sunlight on heat recipients (i.e. steel tubes
or evacuated glass tubes) placed on a central line (AEA, 2010; IRENA and IEA-ETSAP, 2013).

Key Drivers
The key drivers for solar heating and cooling technologies in industrial processes are:

1) Reducing dangers associated with increasingly unstable and rising costs for coal, oil and natural gas;

2) Eliminating fuel costs;

3) Reducing carbon emissions;

4) Energy needs due to localized production.

The current expenses of industrial solar thermal frameworks are determined by a generally modest number
of providers of these very sophisticated technologies. In spite of the fact that these technologies are superior
workers, they are generally too exorbitant for the worldwide market. The experience in the Indian market
has shown that equipment manufactured locally reduces capital expenses and makes added esteem and
neighbourhood business opportunities along the inventory network (IRENA, 2014b).

Barriers
High investment expenses and absence of finance options:

All solar procedure heat frameworks involve high initial investments in advance of a practically without cost
harvesting period. In any case, appropriate maintenance is required to ensure that the frameworks work
optimally over their full lifetime expectancy. The in advance expenses especially hamper deployment in
small-and medium-estimate enterprises where financing isn't accessible. For bigger frameworks, the
principal turn-key undertakings are already beginning to show up. The development of market models,
where solar process heating frameworks are installed and maintained by energy benefit companies (ESCOs),
is a conceivable route forward (ESTIF, 2014).

Petroleum derivative pricing

In many countries, energy costs for industrial clients are subsidized or discounted to help industrial
development. This reduces the economic suitability of solar process heating frameworks (Frein, et al., 2014).

3
Open awareness
An important boundary to wider deployment of both solar heat and cooling technologies is the absence of
(technical) information transfer. The number of solar process heat frameworks is exceptionally limited and
most decision creators in the relevant industries do not have much information or direct experience with
solar industrial process heat frameworks. This is likely a key obstruction to wider adoption of solar industrial
process heat technology. In many countries, national development plans consider only centralized solutions.
The economic and practical advantages of solar heat for industrial process heat frameworks need to be
highlighted. Also, the energy framework is often not seen as the centre component of the production
framework. Consequently, businesses often lean toward conventional frameworks that are more
commonplace to them. For instance, following 15 years of operation, two solar process heating frameworks
were removed from a material and poultry processing plant soon after the companies changed owners in
2005 (UNEP, 2010). A conceivable solution for going forward is to mandate an assessment of solar process
heating technologies in energy audits (ESTIF, 2014). A number of studies go for increasing market
awareness of solar cooling and refrigeration with a noteworthy spotlight on improved components and
frameworks concepts (IEA-SHC, 2009).

Scaling issues
In emerging economies with high solar irradiation, small-and medium-measure enterprises (SMEs) are an
interesting market for solar thermal frameworks for three reasons. To begin with, SMEs often depend on
unpredictable and expensive non-renewable energy sources for heat production and solar thermal
frameworks reduce their dependence on petroleum derivatives and contribute to the reduction of operating
expenses of the SMEs. Second, the heat demands per plant are moderately small compared to the energy-
intensive industry, which makes the integration of solar heating frameworks simpler. Third, the sheer
number of SMEs present could result in rapidly declining expenses due to learning-by-doing and more
viable operations by installers. This could make a prudent hover in which, with declining expenses and more
experience, the deployment of solar heating frameworks is accelerated in this market segment (IRENA,
2014b).

Absence of appropriate design guidelines and instruments

There are couple of professionals and research institutes with adequate experience in solar heat for industrial
process heat frameworks. Training and dissemination of existing knowledge and concepts are needed to
defeat this issue.

4
CHAPTER – 3 COMPONENTS
 SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels made from silicon also known as modules, contain photovoltaic cells
that transform incoming sunlight into electricity rather than heat. Photo means light
and voltaic means electricity so electricity from light is known as photovoltaic. A
positive and a negative film of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass in solar
photovoltaic cells. The photons of the sunlight fall on these cells and the electrons
emits from the silicon. Electric voltage is created as negatively charged free
electrons are attracted to one side of the silicon cell. This voltage can be collected
and gathered by wiring the individual solar panels together in series to form a solar
photovoltaic array. A fused array combiner is used for multiple strings of
Figure 3.1 Solar Panels
solar photovoltaic array cables to terminate in one electric box depending
Source: https://bit.ly/2Eq4We4
on the size of installation. The individual module cables are protected by
the fuses of contained within the combiner box. Direct Current (DC) is
produced and it must be converted into Alternate Current (AC) which is
suitable for domestic use or commercial.

BATTERY SYSTEM
Secondary cell or rechargeable electric battery is present in battery system. Two
types of batteries Lead acid and gel-cell-deep cycle batteries are used. The
battery stores power during the daytime, while solar panels generate power and
can be used in night times using an inverter
Figure 3.2 Battery
Source https://bit.ly/2rrfwZW

CHARGE CONTROLLER
To operate the switch on or off of the charging and load, charge controller is
used. It is used to switch the battery function to store power and supply power.
At daytime controller switches the battery to store power generated from the
solar panels and during night times, it supplies power to the load through an
inverter. It is mainly used for protecting the battery from over charge and under
charge conditions.

Figure 3.3 Charge Controller

Source https://bit.ly/2Syfmvo

6
 INVERTER
The inverter is generally placed in an accessible location, as close as practical to the modules. In a domestic
application, the inverter is often mounted to the exterior sidewall of the home near the electrical main or sub
panels. While selecting the location the noise that the inverter makes should be
taken care of. DC electricity generated by the solar panels are converted by
inverter turns into 120-volt AC that can be put to immediate use by connecting
the inverter directly to a dedicated circuit breaker in the electrical panel. The
power produced by solar electric system will be consumed by the electrical
loads currently in operation at first and later the excess produced would be
Figure 3.4 Inverter
passes through your electrical panel and out onto the electric grid therefore the
Source https://bit.ly/2Uwva3B
inverter, electricity net meter, and electricity production meter are connected.
Whenever excess electricity is produced from solar electric system than
immediately consuming requirement, electric utility meter will turn backwards automatically!

NET METER
Electric system is tied to the utility grid, the DC power from the solar array is converted into 120/240 volt
AC power and fed directly into the utility power distribution system of the building. The utility bill also gets
lowered as the power is net metered, that is it reduces demand for power from the utility when the solar array
is generating electricity. If utility power goes offline these grid-tied systems automatically shut off there by
protecting workers from power being back fed into the grid during an outage. These types of solar-powered
electric systems are known as battery-less. Also commonly known as on grid system. Almost 98 % of the
solar power systems installed today are of this kind.

Figure 3.5 Net Meter

Source https://bit.ly/2rq3rEq

7
CHAPTER – 4 COMPOSITION OF SOLAR CELLS AND ITS EFFICIENCY
 SOLAR CELLS
A photovoltaic (PV) cell is an energy generation technology, that converts solar energy into electricity
through a process called the photovoltaic effect.

The photovoltaic effect is a process that generates electric current in a

photovoltaic cell when it is exposed to sunlight. There are two
different type of semiconductors in solar cells which are p-type and n-
type which are joined together to create p-n junction. The benefit of
joining the two sides is that an electric field is formed is formed in the
junction with electrons on the positive of p-side and holes in the. Due

Figure 4.1 Solar Cells to this field the positive particles

move in one direction and negative FSource: igure 4.1 Solar particles move in other direction.
Cells
Light is a simply small bundles of electromagnetic radiation or
energy which is known as photon., Energy from the photon is transferred to an electron of the
semiconducting material when light of a suitable wavelength is incident on these cells causing it to jump to a
higher energy state known as the conduction band. These electrons are free to move through the material
and it is this motion of the electron that creates an electric current in the cell in their excited state in the
conduction band. There are many different semiconductor materials used in photovoltaic cell. Some of them
are as under:

SILICON
Silicon is, by far the most common material used in solar cells, representing 90% of the modules sold today.
It is also the second most abundant material on Earth and the most common semiconductor used in computer
chips. Crystalline silicon cells are made of silicon atom connected to one another to form a crystal lattice.
This lattice provides a well-organized structure that makes conversion of light into electricity or voltage
more efficient.

High efficiency, low cost and long lifetime are the characteristics provided by solar cells made out of silicon.

THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS
A thin film solar cell is made by depositing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material on a material
such as glass, plastic, or metal. There are two main types of thin-film PV semiconductors on the market
today: cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium dieseline. Both materials can be deposited directly onto
either the front or back of the module surface.

8
 The second-most common PV material after silicon and enables low-
cost manufacturing processes is CdTe. This is a cost effective
alternative but rather it does not give the same efficiency as other
types. CIGS cells have favorable electronic and optical properties,
though the complexity involved in combining four elements makes
the transition from lab to manufacturing or challenging. Both of the
above mentioned cells require more protection than silicon to enable
long-lasting operation outdoors.
Figure 4.2 Thin Film Photovoltaics
Source: https://bit.ly/2RLOCr9
ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS
Organic PV, cells are composed of carbon-rich polymers and can be tailored to enhance a specific function
of the cell, such as sensitivity to a certain type of light. Organic photovoltaic has the theoretical potential to
provide electricity at a lower cost than silicon or thin-film technologies.
Organic PV cells are only about half as efficient as crystalline silicon
and have shorter operating lifetimes, but could be less expensive to
manufacture in high volumes. They can also be applied to a variety of
supporting materials, making Organic PV able to serve a wide variety of
uses.
Figure 4.3 Organic PhotoVoltaics
Source: https://bit.ly/2G9CLC4

CONCENTRATION PHOTOVOLTAICS
Concentration PV focuses sunlight onto a solar cell by using
a mirror or. It requires very less PV material as light is
focussed on very small area. PV materials become more
efficient at energy conversion as the light becomes more
concentrated, so the highest overall efficiencies are
obtained with Concentration PV cells and modules.
However, more expensive materials, manufacturing
techniques, and tracking are required, so demonstrating
Figure 4.4 Concentration Photovoltaics
the necessary cost advantage over today's high volume Source: https: amp/www.newsandpr.com/2018/04/

silicon modules has become challenging.

9
 SOLAR CELL PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY
There are many factors that limit the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell and so efficiency is one of the design
concern of the photo voltaic cell. The main factor is that one fourth of the solar energy to the Earth cannot be
converted into electricity by a silicon semiconductor. The physics of semiconductors requires a some
minimum photon energy to remove an electron from a crystal structure which is known as the band-gap
energy. If a photon has less energy than the required energy for band gap, the photon gets absorbed as
thermal energy. The band gap energy required for silicon is 1.12 electron volts. Since the energy in the
photons from the sun cover a wide range of energies, some of the incoming energy from the sun does not
have enough energy to remove an electron in a silicon PV cell. There is still a problem even from the light
that can be absorbed. Heat will be transformed from the energy which will be above band gap energy. The
efficiency is reduced as energy is not used for useful tasks i.e generation of electricity. All the electrons that
are made available will not actually make it to the metal contact and generate electricity. The reason behind
this is some of them will not be accelerated sufficiently by the voltage inside the semiconductor. 33% is the
theoretical efficiency of silicon PV cells. The reasons for this is listed above.

There are ways to improve the efficiency of PV cells which come with an increased cost. By increasing the
purity of the semiconductor using a more efficient semiconducting material such as Gallium Arsenide by
adding additional layers or p n junctions to the cell, or by concentrating the Sun's energy using concentrated
photovoltaics are some of this methods. Additionally PV cells will also degrade, outputting less energy over
time, due to a variety of factors including UV exposure and weather cycles.

Many photovoltaic cells together produce solar electricity for your place

A photovoltaic cell on its own can only produce enough usable electricity for a small electronic gadget.
Solar energy system is created by joining many solar cells to form a panel in order to produce required
energy for homes. 220 to over 400 watts of power is produced by a typical residential solar panel with 60
photovoltaic cells. Property owners will need varying amounts of solar panels to produce enough energy
depending on factors like temperature, hours of sunlight, and electricity use. Regardless, installing a solar
panel system will likely include several hundred solar photovoltaic cells working together to generate
electrical current. You can use the Energy Sage Solar Calculator to get an idea of the savings you might see
from a solar panel installation.

10
CHAPTER – 5 LATEST SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
 SOLAR SKIN DESIGN
One major problem for the solar industry is the fact that a high percentage of homeowners consider solar
panels to be an unsightly home addition. But in recent times many companies came up with a new solution.
Solar market is now flooded with a new concept of aesthetic
enhancement that allows solar panels to have a customized look. One
of the MIT startup has created a “solar skin” product that makes it
possible for solar panels to match the appearance of a roof without
interfering with panel efficiency or production.

Figure 5.1 Solar Skin Design

Source: https://bit.ly/2QJj2gu

SOLAR POWERED ROADS

Solar energy went to a new dimension with the invention of solar
powered roads. The world’s first solar powered road opened in the small
village of Tourouvre-au-Perche in Normandy, France. The road was 1
km long. Since then, there has been plenty of new solar powered roads
being opened across the world. Very recently, the sidewalks along Route
66, America’s historic interstate highway, were chosen as the
Figure 5.2 Solar Powered Roads
testing location for solar-powered pavement tech. These
Source: https://bit.ly/2SBxMeE
roads are acclaimed for their ability to generate clean and
green energy, but they also include LED bulbs that can
enlighten roads at dusk and have the thermal heating capacity to thaw snow during winter season.

WEARABLE SOLAR
Wearable solar devices aren’t voguish because of them being around for couple of years but 2017 saw an
innovation in solar textiles where tiny solar panels can now
be consolidated into the fabric for clothing. The wearable
solar products of the past are generally made with hard
plastic material. This new textile concept makes it possible
for solar to extend into home products like window curtains
and dynamic consumer clean technology like heated car

Figure 5.3 wearable solar (Jackets)

Source: https://bit.ly/2GjqXNo
11
 seats. The credit for this emerging solar technology goes to textile designer Marianne Fairbanks and chemist
Trisha Andrew.

SOLAR BATTERIES
The concepts of off-grid solar and solar plus storage are gaining popularity in
U.S. Tesla’s Powerwall, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery product launched
in 2015, continues to lead the pack for solar batteries. It currently offers two
storage products, the ‘Powerwall’ for residential use and the ‘Powerpack’ for commercial use.

Figure 5.4 Solar Batteries

Source: https://bit.ly/2L5HIdK
SOLAR TRACKING MOUNTS
Ground-mounted solar is becoming a viable clean energy alternative to the
roofs that are less ideal for panels. Solar Trackers allow solar panels to
maximize electricity production as they follow the sun’s movement.
According to one recent research report there is an upward trend in the
popularity of tracking systems. According to same report there will be
Figure 5.5 Solar Tracking Mount approximately 250% yearly increase of PV tracking market this year.
Source: https://bit.ly/2EmDhuF

SOLAR THERMAL FUEL (STF)

There is a little discussion with regards to sunlight based power's definitive downside as a vitality source:
stockpiling. While the previousTh ere is a little discussion with regards to sunlight based power's definitive
downside as a vitality source: stockpiling. While the previous decade has seen extraordinary development of
the PV business, the way ahead for sunlight based includes a reasonable stockpiling arrangement that will
make sun-powered a really supportable vitality source 24 hours every day. In spite of the fact that sun
oriented batteries (referenced above) are a capacity choice, they are as yet not monetarily practical for the
standard. Fortunately, MIT Professor Jeffrey Grossman and his group of analysts have spent a significant
part of a previous couple of years creating elective stockpiling answers for sun-powered, the best one gives
off an impression of being sun based warm fills (STFs).

There is a little discussion with regards to sunlight based power's definitive downside as a vitality source:
stockpiling. While the previous decade has seen extraordinary development of the PV business, the way
ahead for sunlight based includes a reasonable stockpiling arrangement that will make sun-powered a really
supportable vitality source 24 hours every day. In spite of the fact that sun oriented batteries (referenced
above) are a capacity choice, they are as yet not monetarily practical for the standard. Fortunately, MIT

12
Professor Jeffrey Grossman and his group of analysts have spent a significant part of a previous couple of
years creating elective stockpiling answers for sun-powered, the best one gives off an impression of being
sun based warm fills (STFs).

The innovation and process behind STFs are practically identical to a normal battery. The STF can outfit
daylight vitality, store it as a charge and after that discharge it when provoked. The issue with putting away
sun based as warmth, as per the group's discoveries, is that warmth will dependably scatter after some time,

Figure 5.6 Flow Chart of the solar thermal fuel production

Source: https://bit.ly/2rvfe49

which is the reason it is pivotal that sun oriented capacity tech can charge vitality as opposed to catch warm.
For Grossman's group, the most recent STF model is essentially an enhancement of an earlier plan that
enabled sun oriented capacity to be put away as a fluid substance. 2016 saw the development of a strong
state STF application that could be actualized in windows, windshields, vehicle tops, and different surfaces
presented to daylight.

SOLAR WATER PURIFIERS

13
Stanford University analysts teamed up with the Department
of Energy this year to build up another sun-based gadget that
can purge water when presented to daylight. The tiny tablet
(generally a large portion of the span of a postage stamp) isn't
the primary sun-oriented gadget to channel water, however, it
has made real walks in productivity contrasted with past Figure 5.7 Solar Water Purifiers
developments. Earlier plans expected to tackle UV Source: https://bit.ly/2C142CH beams and
required long periods of sun introduction to completely purge water.
On the other hand, Stanford's new item can get to obvious light and just requires a couple of minutes to
create solid drinking water. As the innovation behind sun-based purifiers keeps on enhancing, expect these
chiclet-sized gadgets to come to showcase in view of climbers and campers as a perfect purchaser gathering
of people.

SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
A sun oriented concentrator utilizes focal points, called Fresnel focal points, which takes an expansive
territory of daylight and direct it towards an explicit spot by twisting the
beams of light and centering them. A few people utilize a similar
guideline when they utilize an amplifying focal point to concentrate the
Sun's beams on a heap of fuel or paper to begin fires.
Figure 5.8 Solar Concentrators
Source: https://bit.ly/2QGgIad
FRESNEL FOCAL
Fresnel focal points are formed like a shooting board, with concentric
rings of crystals around a focal point that is an amplifying glass. These
highlights let them center dissipated light from the Sun into a tight shaft.
Sun oriented concentrators put one of these focal points over each sun
oriented cell. This makes considerably more centered light go to each
sun oriented cell, making the cells immeasurably more productive.
Concentrators work best when there is a solitary wellspring Figure 5.9 Fresnel Focal of light and
the concentrator can be pointed comfortable. Source: https://bit.ly/2QGgIad

This is perfect in space where the Sun is a solitary light source. The
sunlight-based concentrators likewise have the favorable position that the sun-based cells can be divided
more remote separated since light can be centered around every cell. This implies less sunlight-based cells
should be made and the boards cost less to develop. Furthermore, architects would now be able to put thick

14
glass or plastic over the sunlight-based board to shield it from micrometeorites, something they would
experience serious difficulties doing on the off chance that they needed to stress over sufficiently enabling
light to achieve the sun-based cells.

Fresnel focal points have been around since Augustin Jean Fresnel imagined them in 1822. Theaters utilize
them for spotlights and beacons utilize them to make their lights noticeable at more noteworthy separations.

FLOATING SOLAR
Floating sunlight based or FPV (Floating photovoltaic), alludes to a variety of sun-powered boards on a
structure that drifts on a waterway, normally a counterfeit bowl or a lake. This innovation has had a fast
development on the sustainable power source showcase since 2016 and in 2017 has defeated the 200 MW of
introduced control. The initial 20 plants, of a couple of dozen KWP, have been worked somewhere in the
range of 2008 and 2014 as announced in the MIRARCO paper that broke down the introduction of this
innovation. The introduced power in 2018 is predicted to be almost 1 GW.

There are a few explanations behind this improvement. They are as per the following:

No land inhabitancies: The primary favourable position of

skimming PV plants is that they don't take up any land, aside
from the restricted surfaces important for the electric bureau and
lattice associations. Their cost is practically identical with land-
based plants, yet they give a decent method to dodge arrive
utilization.

Establishment and decommissioning: Floating PV plants are more conservative than land-based plants, their
administration is easier and their development and decommissioning direct. The central matter is that no
settled structures exist like the establishments utilized for a land-based plant so their establishment can be
absolutely reversible.

Water sparing and water quality: The fractional inclusion of bowls can diminish the water vanishing. This
Figure 5.10 Floating Solar outcome relies upon atmospheric conditions and on the level of
Source: https://bit.ly/2UretX8 the secured surface. In parched atmospheres, for example,
Australia, this is a vital preferred standpoint since about 80% of
the vanishing of the secured surface is spared and this implies in excess of 19,500 m3/year/ha. This is an
extremely helpful component if the bowl is utilized for water system purposes.

Cooling: The gliding structure permits the execution of a basic cooling framework. The cooling instrument
is regular yet can likewise be dynamic by creating a water layer on the PV modules or utilizing a submerged
PV module, the purported SP2 (Submerged Photovoltaic Solar Panel). In these cases, the worldwide PV
15
modules proficiency rises because of the nonattendance of warm float, with a gain in vitality gathering up to
8-10%.

Following a substantial coasting stage can be effectively turned and can play out a vertical pivot following:
This should be possible without squandering vitality and without the requirement for a complex mechanical
contraption as in land-based PV plants. A coasting PV plant furnished with the following framework has a
restricted extra expense while the vitality gain can go from 15 to 25%.

Capacity opportunity: The nearness of water normally proposes utilizing gravity vitality stockpiling for the
most part in the coupling with hydroelectric bowls. Anyway, different potential outcomes have been
investigated and specifically, CAES frameworks have been recommended. Condition control: a parallel
favourable position is the regulation of the green growth blossom, a difficult issue in industrialized nations.
The fractional inclusion of the bowls and the decrease of light on organic fouling just beneath the surface,
together with dynamic frameworks can take care of this issue. This is just a piece of the more broad issue of
dealing with a water bowl created by modern exercises or contaminated by them. See for instance the mining
overseeing.

Effectiveness enhancement: Many examinations guarantee that there is a noteworthy enhancement in

proficiency putting sun powered boards over water. These investigations are not definitive and contrast in
their decision. The vitality increase revealed extend from 5 to 15%.

Condition control: a parallel favorable position is the regulation of the green growth blossom, a difficult
issue in industrialized nations. The fractional inclusion of the bowls and the decrease of light on organic
fouling just

beneath the surface, together with dynamic frameworks can take care of this issue. This is just a piece of the
more broad issue of dealing with a water bowl created by modern exercises or contaminated by them. See
for instance the mining overseeing.

Effectiveness enhancement: Many examinations guarantee that there is a noteworthy enhancement in

proficiency putting sun powered boards over water. These investigations are not definitive and contrast in
their decision. The vitality increase revealed extend from 5 to 15%.

16
CHAPTER – 6 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INDIAN SOLAR MARKET & CHINESE SOLAR
MARKET
 INTRODUCTION
India and China are two of the fastest growing economies in the world which has lead to higher demand of
energy which is currently generate through burning of Coal. However, with global warming at the peak and
resources being exhaustible, world is looking for greener alternatives so is China and India. Both the
countries have become the leaders in green energy.
Therefore, in this this Chapter we have done a comparative study of solar market in India and China on the
basis of government policy and market trend and technology.
It has been observed that China has installed more solar capacity due to stronger solar energy policies.
However, on individual level, India’s Solar Auction policies are much stronger.

SOLAR ENERGY POLICY IN CHINA

The structure of government body in Chinese renewable power sector has alot to do with the formulation,
implementation and assessing of policies and strategies to facilitate the growth. The State Council acts as the
highest level of authority in formulation and development of policies. However, the central government
holds control over policy design. The National Development and Reform Commission is the core body for
policy design. The National Energy Administration (NEA) is the middle level government body in the
hierarchy of policy making but it lacks power. Governance of policy incentives for RETs is done by local
government bodies to encourage decentralised decision making concerning energy sector. However, such a
set up can lead to inconsistency, conflict and policy ambiguity. There are policies to mitigate these drawback
but they are complex and time consuming.

SOLAR ENERGY MARKET IN CHINA

China had an insignificant solar capacity of 5 MW before 11 th Five- year plan came into force during which
Chinese Solar PV industry grew rapidly majorly incited due to international demand. Solar market has
become the most competitive ground for China over the last decade with export of 98% of Chinese Solar
Panels. In 2008, China became the largest manufacturer of Solar Panels in the world accounting for one-
third of the worldwide total shipments (26000 MW peak). China’s manufacturing capacity of PV Modules
attained 37 GW by 2012 accounting for 37% of the world’s total. However, PV Manufacturers in China
faced overcapacity issue in the international market since financial crisis of 2008. This led to the downfall
giant manufacturers like Suntech. This was curbed by the intervention of Germany and other European
countries by setting up Solar incentives and investigating anti-dumping, anti- subsidy and countervailing
against Chinese PVs. This sudden growth in market has been driven by the policies of government and
international market.

SOLAR ENERGY POLICY IN INDIA

Energy policy design India mainly focuses on providing effective energy services, rapid industrial growth
and minimise climate change. The policy making process is shared on two different levels- Federal and State
Government. Six different ministries are involved in policy making with Ministry of Power (MoP; at federal
level) being the largest and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy being the smallest. Several publicly-
owned firms with delegated duties facilitate the functioning of MoP. The monopoly of public sector firms in
Energy market has been broken by the entry of private players and majority of the renewable energy
generation is accounted for by private players. But still public sector operations are still dominant in energy
production, distribution, transmission and deployment. State Department of Energy operates in parallel to
MoPs to regulate energy sector at state level. MNRE is an independent ministry responsible for developing
and deploying RETs to fulfil the energy needs of India. Further, MNRE in coordination with other relevant
ministries handles subsidies, tax breaks and other provisions of renewable energy to encourage the growth.

17
 SOLAR ENERGY MARKET IN INDIA
India’s strategies have been evolving ever since 1990s, encouraging new developments in the market with
the introduction of various fiscal, financial and de-regulatory reforms to increase international participation.
MNRE established Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar mission in 2008 leading to the inception of solar
technology in India. The main objective of NSM is to increase the share of solar energy in the energy mix.
NSM is responsible for proposing and implementing major initiatives to encourage developers and
commissioning of grid connected solar power projects in India. India has a projected solar power potential of
749 GW (MNRE, 2014).
Issues related to infrastructure, policy consistency, investment and domestic content has been a hurdle in
growth of solar energy sector in India. Infrastructure issue can be mainly observed in Deserts where PV
panels gets damaged due to dust and insufficient water supply to clean. Contradicting policies of government
to achieve multiple goals has led to the issue of domestic content and policy inconsistency. Investment issue
arises from higher need of capital for innovation, decreasing price of projects and solar energy auctions.

Year China India

2000
2001 China’s tenth FYP made a commitment
to the development and popularisation
of clean energy resources, which
included solar. The plan targeted a total
installed capacity of 80 MW of solar
PV.
2002 The Township Electrification Program
was launched. The plan targeted 688
towns with inadequate electricity
access, for construction of solar PV
power stations, with a total installed
capacity of 20 MW.
2004 Plans for renewable energy law were set
in motion that identified solar as a key
area.
2005
Under the ninth five-year-plan (henceforth
FYP) the government recognised the
importance of the involvement of the private
sector for the development of the Indian solar
sector. Consequently many of the grid-
transmission hurdles were tackled.
Under the Tenth FYP Village Energy
Security was approved as part of a remote
village electrification program. There were
about 80,000 un-electrified villages in the
country. Of these, 18,000 could not be
electrified through extension of the
conventional grid. Objectives to electrify
more than 4000 of these villages with 5 MW
of solar were planned.
The Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)
is appointed as the nodal agency by the
Ministry of Power. Under schemes set-up by
the REC, 90% of the capital subsidy for the
overall cost of projects in rural areas is
provided by the Government.

18
2006 The eleventh FYP contained objectives
for the vigorous development of the
renewable industry. A Renewable
Energy Law was launched, which
established national targets for
renewable energy and a framework to
promotion of domestic installed
renewable energy.
2007
2008 Energy Performance Standards were
introduced. Overcapacity of
manufacturing capacity becomes a
problem. To resolve this Chinese cities
sign PV plant contracts. The NEA
initiated utilityscale PV Projects with
fixed feed-in tariffs (FiT).
2009 The "Golden Sun" solar stimulus plan is
announced in an attempt to wean solar
PV companies off dependence on
overseas markets. Provincial FiT issued
by Jiangsu provincial DRC. Strategy
developed for PV industry deployment.
The first public bidding for a small solar
project is organised by the NEA under
the Solar PV Concessions Program.
Large-scale PV Power Station
Concession Bidding Projects was
formulated to encourage a large scale
PV market.
2010 Chinese solar PV manufacturing
capacity reaches over 8 GW, accounting
for 53% of total global manufacturing
capacity. FiT introduced by some
provinces. CDB provides more than US
$40 billion in support of the domestic
renewable manufacturer industry further
increasing production capacity.
2011 The twelfth FYP included new policies
that support the solar industry. The plan
outlined a shift in focus for the solar
industry from export-orientated
manufacture towards domestic
orientated. The CNREC is established.
The CNREC assist's China's energy
authorities in researching renewable
energy policy, managing the industrial
sector and coordinating policy, law and
the gird. A national FiT scheme is
The MNRE formulates the NSM. The NSM
is a major initiative that addresses India’s
energy security challenges through
sustainable means.
The Eleventh FYP detailed a National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
NSM is launched under the NAPCC. The
NSM is allocated a budget of US$85 in order
to establish India as a global leader in solar
energy. The NSM attempts to create an
enabling environment of policy conditions
that diffuse solar across the country rapidly.
A Subsidiary of the National Thermal Power
Corporation, Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd
(NVVN), developed guidelines for the
selection of developers for commissioning
grid connected solar power projects. The
NVVN becomes a stakeholder of power
purchase agreements (PPAs). NVVN is the
only Government company in the power
sector engaged in Power Trading. The NVVN
signs PPAs with developers.
Phase one of the NSM is launched. The
MNRE provides 70% subsidies on the
installation cost of a solar photovoltaic power
plants in North-East Indian states and 30
percentage subsidies in other regions. The
Asian Development Bank commits US$400
million to solar projects but project size is
capped at 5 MW. 30 projects are allocated
MNRE encourages research and development
to make the Indian solar industry competitive.
The 5 MW cap on small solar project size is
increased to 20 MW. The Solar Energy
Corporation of India (SECI) is set up under
the supervisory control of the MNRE, as a
non-profit dedicated to the implementation
and facilitation in the solar energy sector.
PPAs are now directly signed with SECI.
PPAs for the first batch of projects were
19
 launched. signed for 610 MW.
2012 The Chinese government sets an annual The development of the NSM becomes a
installation target of 5 GW of major initiative Twelfth FYP. The Indian
distributed solar power generation per Renewable Energy Development Agency
year. Several PV enterprises went commissions thirty-four small Solar Power
bankrupt or were reorganised Projects.
worldwide. The USA and European
anti-dumping, anti-subsidy trade
investigation began.
2013 Start of Carbon Emissions Trading Pilot Phase 2 of NSM initiated, during which
schemes. Introduction of solar capacity will be aggressively scaled up
guidelines to increase quality and
improve research and development
2014 NEA publishes distributed solar PV The NSM sanctions seventy new off-grid
policy. The comprehensive policy solar applications, seventeen of which have
allows distributed projects to be already been completed.
developed at a faster rate. An emphasis
on quality and a planned establishment
of nationwide monitoring and reporting
systems was also outlined
Table 6.1. Solar Energy Policies in India and China
(Source: Zhang & He, 2013; MNRE, 2014a; Spratt, et al., 2014; Zhang, et al., 2014)

Fig.6.1. Installed Solar Capacity of India & China

(Source: government figures)

Fig.6.2. Average Contract Price of auctioned solar energy

20
( Source: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:843846/FULLTEXT01.pdf)

Current Market Scenario

As per the report by IHS Markit, India is ranked as second largest solar pv module market with capacity of
11 GW usurping US. With main focus on distributed PVs, Chinese market has grown by 19% as of 2017.
China is leading with 47% of the market share with a capacity of 53-60 GW. Due to declining performance
of domestic solar industry, Chinese government has brought down the solar tariffs by 6%. This would favour
Indian Solar market with increasing demand by decreasing the PV Cost globally. India imports almost 90%
of the PVs needed. In 2017, 40% of the grid additions were by solar energy.

21
Chapter – 7 Future of Solar Technology
 FUTURE OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
Plummeting cost of solar panels and increasing demand of demand of green energy has paved a bright future
for solar energy. It is estimated that solar energy generation will increase sixteen times between 2016-2040.

There has been discovery of new class of materials called as Perovskites which can revolutionize the solar
industry by enabling the panels to capture energy virtually with any surface facing the sun. Other advantages
of Perovskites include flexibility and ease to produce, can be painted or sprayed on surface from an ink
solution etc. Silicon Solar Panels usually work with efficiency of 20% whereas Pervoskites Solar cells
exhibit the efficiency of 22.7%. Also, Pervoskites can be used on existing solar panels due to its thin size.
However, there is little know about the durability of Pervoskites cells.

Another major innovation is the usage of Solar windows made up of solar panels converting commercial
buildings, towers and skyscrapers into vertical power generators.

Solar transportation has come a long way since it was first introduced by Solar Powered Buses in Australia
in 2013. Even the aviation industry is encouraging green energy as a result of which a new prototype has
been built called Solar Impulse 2 which is a first solar powered airplane with more than 17,000 PV cells.

Solar Fashion is a new innovative manner of using Solar technology. A well known dutch designer Paulin
Van Dongen has created an entire line of clothes incorporating solar technology by embedding flexible solar
panels into the fabric which can produce upto 1 watt of electricity which is enough to charge phones and
other gadgets. Solar powered accessories like jewelleries, sunglasses, watches and bags is open a whole new
world of possibilities for solar industry.

Another major development is the discover of Biological Photovolatics like Alagae which capture solar
energy converting it directly into electricity. These living solar panels can be commercialised in coming time
to reduce the cost and make the solar power generation more eco friendly. Finland has developed prototypes
of Solar power harvesting trees which stores power and can be placed anywhere. Solar Desalination is
another major innovative application of solar technology.

22
Bibliography
 Richardson, L. (2018). Solar Panel Technology: What's the Latest Breakthrough? | EnergySage. Retrieved
from https://news.energysage.com/solar-panel-technology-advances-solar-energy/

 Solar Thermal Power Plants - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy - Energy Information
Administration. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?
page=solar_thermal_power_plants

 How do solar concentrators work?. (2018). Retrieved from

http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/power/1-how-do-solar-concentrators-work.html

23