SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

Programme Code: TU821/2

Module Title: Electrical Energy System

Lecturer Name: Jane Courtney

Student Name(s)

Class Group A

Assignment title
Date of Lab 20/03/2023

Student Number
Solar Energy: A Renewable and Efficient Power Source
Solar energy is one of the most hopeful renewable energy sources available to us today, It is a
sustainable and sufficient source of energy that is taken from the suns UV Rays. As concerns about
climate change increase and the amount of fossil fuels decrease, solar energy has never looked more
enticing to the average person or business over the use of traditional power sources or supplies. In
this essay, we will look at the use of solar energy, how it is turned into electrical energy, typical
electrical outputs, examples of applications, sizing for specific applications, benefits, and
vulnerabilities of the system, comparisons and contrasts with other equivalent systems and current
trends and future developments.

What type of energy is used to power the system?

Solar energy systems use the suns UV rays to create electricity. The sun UV rays create radiation
which is split into two types, visible light, and infrared radiation. The visible light is the light that is
visible to the naked eye while the infrared radiation is the heat that we can feel on our skin. Solar
panels take the visible light and turn it into electrical energy

How is this energy converted to electrical energy?

Solar panels are made from photovoltaic cells, these are usually made from silicon or materials that
are semiconducting like gallium arsenide. When sunlight shines onto the semiconducting cells, the
photons of the light react with the electrons in the materials which creates a current. The current
that is created is direct current, but for this to end up in our outlets it has to be converted to
alternating current by a current inverter. This allows the current to power homes, business and
other appliances.

Typical electrical outputs:

A solar panels electrical output depends on various amounts of factors, these can include the
efficiency and size of the panel, the amount of sunlight available to the panel and the temperature.
A solar panel of good quality will usually produce an average between 250 and 400 watts of
electricity per hour depending on conditions.

Examples of applications:

Solar energy can be used for an array of appliances such as powering small electronic devices such as
phones and laptops to creating electricity for buildings and businesses, some examples of
applications are:

• Residential and commercial buildings: Solar panels are positioned on the roofs of buildings
and homes to capture sunlight and create electricity. This is used as an excellent option for
people and businesses who want to reduce their energy bill while also in turn saving the
environment and saving the world for the next generation.
• Streetlights: Solar powered streetlights are becoming more popular in towns and cities
across the world. They are low maintenance and cost effective. They work by storing energy
throughout the day and when the night comes, they automatically turn out by ways of LDR’S
(light dependant resistors)

• Water Pumping: Solar powered water pumps are used in rural and remote areas where
access to electricity is either limited or non existent at all. This is used to pump water for
drinking, irrigation to feed crops water and other uses. This can be found in countries in
Africa and India.

• Transportation: As technology increases and reaches new heights, there are now solar
powered cars, buses and trains being created, developed and tested around the world.
Although it is still in the early stages of development, there is no doubt that this could be the
next big change. This could soon be as revolutionary as Elon Musk’s Tesla INC.
Sizing for specific applications:

The size of a solar energy system depends on the application or site it is being used for. For buildings
that are used for residential or commercial uses the size of the system will be determined by how
much energy approximately will be need or used. For example and apartment building might not
need as much energy as a corporate building which has multiple floors and multiple appliances
which will be need to be up and running at all hours of the day.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy has many benefits, these include,

• Renewable: Solar energy is a renewable and sustainable source of energy, which means it
can sourced naturally
• Legible: Solar energy does not create or produce greenhouse gases or pollutants, making it a
clean and legible source of energy
• Cost Effective: During the startup of installing a solar energy system it can be an expensive
installation but in the long run it can save money as it will reduce energy bills while also
saving the environment
• Low Maintenance: Solar energy systems require little to no maintenance, making them a
hassle to start up but not that much work in the long run.

As we can see Solar energy has many benefits, but it should be known there are also some
vulnerabilities, these include:

• Dependence on sunlight: Solar panels need sunlight and UV Rays to create electricity. This
in turn means that in areas where sunlight is low, during storms or cloudy days little to no
energy can be created. Also, if dust or debris get onto the panels this can also limit their
ability to create energy.
• Land usage: Large solar energy systems require a large amount of land, which can be a
challenge when dealing with areas where land is limited or where there are conflicts
between land use.

When comparing Solar energy to other renewable energy sources there are always pros and cons to
each. Wind power relies on the strength of wind to generate electricity while hydroelectric power
uses the flow of water to generate electricity. Each of these have their strengths and weaknesses.

In conclusion, solar energy is a promising renewable energy source that has many benefits, such as
being sustainable and cost effective while also having some weaknesses, like its dependence on
sunlight and high upfront costs, but as the technology improves and as the cost continues to
decrease, solar energy is expected to have a bright future