Module 1 Solar Energy as a

Resource

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 Overview

• What is Solar Energy

• How Solar Energy is Converted
• How do Solar Panels Work
• Solar Inverters
• Solar Generation in Canada
• Solar Energy Map
• Solar Generation Globally

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 • Solar power refers to energy
from the sun converted into
thermal or electrical energy.
• There are three main ways
to harness solar energy:
• Photovoltaics
• Solar heating and
cooling
• Concentrated solar
power.
• Solar energy is currently the
fastest-growing source of
power1.
What is Solar Energy
Source: International Energy Agency, Renewables Key Findings, 2017
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 How Solar Energy is
Converted
Photovoltaic Systems
• Use sunlight through the ‘photovoltaic effect’ to generate
electricity.
• Produces direct current.
• Not easily capable of storing electricity.
• Cost effective.
• Can be produced easier, at a lower cost and shorter time
interval than CSP.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

• Concentrate radiation of the sun to heat a liquid substance
which is then used to drive a turbine.
• Produces alternating current (which can directly feed into
the grid).
• Capable of easily storing thermal energy (not electricity).
• Cost-prohibitive.
• Capable of producing much more electricity than
photovoltaics.

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 How Do Solar Panels Work? • When conductors are
attached to the positive and
negative sides of a cell, it
forms an electrical circuit.
• When photons hit a solar
cell, they knock electrons
loose from their atoms.
• When lose electrons flow
through such a circuit,
they generate Direct
Current.
• An inverter converts the
electricity from Direct
Current to Alternating
Current.

Source: Pingo, 2018. How Solar Panels Work.

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 Understanding Different Types of Solar PV
• SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS: A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY
• THIN FILM SOLAR PANELS: A FLEXIBLE SOLAR SOLUTION

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 Solar Inverters
Battery backup • Basic function of the inverter
Micro
is to change the variable DC
output of the solar panels into
AC.
• Inverters required both when
electricity is sent to the grid or
used internally.

Off-grid
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 State of Solar
Generation in Canada
• As prices drop, macro trends favored
continued growth despite fluctuations in
regional policy.
• BC and Saskatchewan
• Net metering programs are ending in both
provinces
• BC Gov introduced a 7% tax exemption on
renewable and SaskPower paid $85 million
to First Nations for 20 MW of new solar
projects
• Alberta
• Government cancelled the financial rebate
program but municipalities made up for the
shortfall.
• A 400 MW solar project was just approved
representing the largest solar project in
Canada (2.5 million panels installed)
• Atlantic Canada
• Solar Homes project recently approved 1200
projects (11 MW).
• Federal Government signed an Mou to bring
online 100 GWh of renewable energy for
federal buildings
• 1100 solar power jobs expected in Nova
Scotia by 2030.
Classification: Protected A Source: CanSIA, TransCanada Solar Surge, 2019
 Alberta Overview
National Overview

Solar Map: Canada

Source: EnergyHub.org datasheet based on photovoltaic and solar resource maps from Natural Resources Canada. 2018
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 Global Solar Map
Source: World Bank Group, Global Solar Atlas. 2018
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