TITLE: SOLAR ENERGY PROBLEMS

AND SOLUTIONS

NAME: Victor Bauri

ROLL: 35000721008
DEPT.: ME
Executive Summary :
Solar Energy is the prime important source of energy,
and it has continued to gain popularity globally. As of 2018, about 486 GW of
solar PV was installed worldwide. One of the key requirements for
socioeconomic improvement in any nation of the world is the provision of
dependable electricity supply systems. Recently, there is a massive growth in
access to solar electricity in several Africa countries, notably South Africa, Egypt,
Morocco, and Algeria. As a result, it decreases the global population without
access to electricity with an appreciable value. This paper review the present
state of solar energy capacity in the world also identifies vital approaches of
improving their functionality, reliability, and affordability as well as the essential
method that policymakers may implement in the future. The result shows that
there is a recurrent growth in solar energy annually and as at the end of 2018
Asia with the largest capacity of 56.58%, while Central America and the
Caribbean have the lowest installed capacity of 0.36%. As the request for an
uninterrupted supply increases in different regions, progressive builders are
embracing solar photovoltaics (PV) renewable energy as an option for their
customers.
Content :-
• Basic Components Of Solar Power
• How Solar Power System Works
• Advantages &Disadvantages
• Future Of Solar Power In India
Introduction:-
Recently, the need for a clean and environmentally friendly energy
source has given Solar energy a massive growth due to both technological
improvements resulting in cost reductions and government policies
supportive of renewable energy development and utilization. The solar energy
system is the transition of sunlight into electricity, it can be achieved directly
using photovoltaic (PV) panels or indirectly with the aid of concentrated solar
power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems with a total of 5,469 MW
installed capacity worldwide which amour to 1.13% of the total solar energy
installed globally. Solar Energy has an estimated world-wide average power
potential of 24W/m2 of the earth's surface [2]. As at the end of 2018 the
solar power was about 486 GW globally. According to the International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report, (2019) Nigeria with 19MW, South
Africa 2959MW, Egypt 770MW, Morocco 735 MW, Algeria 435MW out of
6093 MW Solar Energy Installed Capacity in Africa 2018.
Body Of The Report :-
• Basic Components Of Solar Power :-

There are four basic components of a solar power system: Solar Panels,
Charge Controller, Batteries, Power Inverter. a) Solar panels: are composed of
individual solar cells that are connected to form a solar module and multiple
solar modules are connected to form a solar array, it can be connected in series,
parallel or series-parallel combination for maximum power output. b) Charge
Controllers: Charge Controllers are used to preventing overcharge of the battery
by preventing high voltage that damages the batteries. The minimum charge
controller for home uses a technology called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM),
but the best charge controllers use Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
technology. c) Batteries: Deep Cycle Batteries are needed for the storage of
electricity, but more specialized batteries such as Tubular batteries are also
gaining popularity for larger applications like powering your home. d) Power
Inverters: The electricity produced by the PV panel is Direct Current (usually
12V, 24V, or 48V, etc.), which is then converted to Alternating Current (AC).
However, Fig. 1.0 shows that DC load can be connected to the charge
controller and battery storage system respectively, it is essential to
incorporate a circuit breaker in between the charge controller and the battery
storage system to prevent excess current to flow to the battery in case of short
circuit. Which can be replicated at all the necessary points.
 • How Solar Power System Works :-
Solar power is harnessed using Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) technology that converts sunlight (Solar radiation) into
electricity by using semiconductors. When the sun hits the semiconductor
within the PV cell, electrons are freed and bus bars collect the running electrons
which results in electric current. When we place Solar panels connected in a
calculated manner in the sunlight, they start producing current and voltage in
the form of Direct current (DC) but in most of the countries in the world
appliances and equipment runs on Alternative current (AC) so we need to
connect to all Solar panels to an Inverter which then converts DC into AC for
home use.
1:On-grid Solar Power System / Grid interactive System
> This type of system is used when you want to reduce your electricity bill > In
this type of system you will save the per unit amount multiplied by units
generated by Solar system (known as net metering, involves govt. approvals) >
When your house’s electricity consumption is low and solar generation is high
your Solar system will feed the excess energy into the grid/electricity company.
> When your electricity consumption is high and solar generation is low your
Solar system will take the excess energy from the grid/electricity company and
feed into your home.
2: Off-grid Solar Power System / Standalone System
> This system is used when electricity/grid is not present or someone required
backup to safeguard against power cuts. Also, in some cases, if someone wants
to generate his own green energy! (No govt. involvement is required in this
case) > This is a battery based system, so energy generated from the solar panel
is stored in the batteries which are connected with this system.
• Advantages & Disadvantages :
• Advantages Of Solar Energy :-
1. Renewable Energy Source
Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar
energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the
world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike
some of the other sources of energy.
Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight
will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the
sun is going to die.
2. Reduces Electricity Bills
Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your
solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on
your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or
heat usage.
For example, if you are a business using commercial solar panels this switch can
have huge benefits because the large system size can cover large chunks of your
energy bills.
Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but there is also a
possibility to receive payments for the surplus energy that you export back to
the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). If you generate more
electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel system is connected
to the grid).
3. Diverse Applications
Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity
(photovoltaics) or heat (solar thermal). Solar energy can be used to produce
electricity in areas without access to the energy grid, to distil water in regions
with limited clean water supplies and to power satellites in space.
Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings. Not
long ago Sharp introduced transparent solar energy windows.
Solar Energy Benefits

4. Low Maintenance Costs

Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only
need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year
will do the job. If in doubt, you can always rely on specialised cleaning
companies, which offer this service from around £25-£35.
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 (solar PV
vs. solar thermal). Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to
ensure your solar power system runs at maximum efficiency.
So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little
spending on maintenance and repair work.
5. Technology Development
Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and
improvements will intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and
nanotechnology can potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and
double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power systems.
 • Disadvantages Of Solar Energy:-
1. Cost
The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. This includes paying
for solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring, and the installation. Nevertheless,
solar technologies are constantly developing, so it is safe to assume that prices
will go down in the future.
2. Weather-Dependent
Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the
efficiency of the solar system drops. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to
effectively gather solar energy. Therefore, a few cloudy, rainy days can have a
noticeable effect on the energy system. You should also take into account that
solar energy cannot be collected during the night.
On the other hand, if you also require your water heating solution to work at
night or during wintertime, thermodynamic panels are an alternative to
consider.
3. Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive
Solar energy has to be used right away, or it can be stored in large batteries.
These batteries, used in off-the-grid solar systems, can be charged during the
day so that the energy is used at night. This is a good solution for using solar
energy all day long but it is also quite expensive.

In most cases, it is smarter to just use solar energy during the day and take
energy from the grid during the night (you can only do this if your system is
connected to the grid). Luckily your energy demand is usually higher during the
day so you can meet most of it with solar energy.
4. Uses a Lot of Space
The more electricity you want to produce, the more solar panels you will need,
as you want to collect as much sunlight as possible. Solar PV panels require a lot
of space and some roofs are not big enough to fit the number of solar panels
that you would like to have.
An alternative is to install some of the panels in your yard but they need to have
access to sunlight. If you don’t have the space for all the panels that you
wanted, you can opt for installing fewer to still satisfy some of your energy
needs.
5. Associated with Pollution
Although pollution related to solar energy systems is far less compared to other
sources of energy, solar energy can be associated with pollution. Transportation
and installation of solar systems have been associated with the emission of
greenhouse gases.
There are also some toxic materials and hazardous products used during the
manufacturing process of solar photovoltaic systems, which can indirectly affect
the environment.
• Future Of Solar Power In India :-
Solar power in India is a fast developing industry as
part of the renewable energy in India. The country's solar installed capacity was
57.705 GW as of 30 June 2022. The Indian Government had an initial target of
20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved four years ahead of schedule. In
2015 the target was raised to 100 GW of solar capacity (including 40 GW from
rooftop solar) by 2022, targeting an investment of US$100 billion. India has
established nearly 42 solar parks to make land available to the promoters of
solar plants. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had stated that a
further 36.03 GW (as of January 31, 2021) of solar projects are under various
stages of implementation and 23.87 GW are in the tendering process.
Rooftop solar power accounts for 2.1 GW, of which 70% is industrial or
commercial.In addition to its large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV)
initiative, India is developing off-grid solar power for local energy needs. Solar
products have increasingly helped to meet rural needs; by the end of 2015 just
under one million solar lanterns were sold in the country, reducing the need for
kerosene. That year, 1,18,700 solar home lighting systems were installed and
46,655 solar street lighting installations were provided under a national
programme;just over 14 lakh (1.4 million) solar cookers were distributed in
India.
During 2010-19, the foreign capital invested in India on Solar power projects
was nearly 20.7 billion US$.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), proposed by India as a founder member, is
headquartered in India. India has also put forward the concept of "One Sun One
World One Grid" and "World Solar Bank" to harness abundant solar power on
global scale.
Conclusion:-
It is apparent that concerns about greenhouse effect and
unavailability of constant conventional energy source have made renewable
energy sources an alternative energy source to be adopted, solar energy been
one of the fastest-growing renewable energy source as shown in the result
with a recurrent growth should be embraced owing to the benefits associated
with it, from the total solar energy installed worldwide Asia has the largest
installed capacity of 56.58%, while Central America and the Caribbean has
the lowest installed capacity of 0.36%. As the request for an uninterrupted
supply increases in different regions, progressive builders are embracing solar
photovoltaics (PV) renewable energy as an option for their customers,
moreover, if all the suggestions and recommendations stated in the paper is
implemented, solar energy will be more functional, reliable and affordable
which will also help the deployment on a large scale.
Reference :-
1.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338690154_A_Review_Of_Solar_Energy

2.https://www.luminousindia.com/blog/post/how-solar-power-system-
works.html

3.https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/08/5-advantages-and-5-
disadvantages-of-solar-energy

4.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India