Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Energy
In general terms, solar energy means all the
energy that reaches the earth from the sun. It
provides daylight, makes the earth hot, and is the
source of energy for plants to grow.
Solar energy is one of the renewable energy
sources that has the most potential. Sunlight can
travel through air, clear glass, and plastic. When
the sun strikes a surface, light energy is either
reflected or absorbed. It is the absorbed light
energy that gets changed into heat and can be
used for power.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 1
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Energy
Passive solar energy systems make use of
solar energy without using special equipment.
For example, a house may be built to direct the
sun onto a thick masonry wall that then stores
the heat for later distribution.
Active solar systems require the use of
mechanical collectors to absorb the heat of the
sun. This energy is then stored or distributed
using fans, pumps, or other equipment.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 2
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Passive and Active Solar
Active
Solar
Passive
Solar
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 3
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Active Solar Applications
Domestic hot water
Space heating (radiant)
Swimming pool and space heating
Commercial and industrial water heating
Solar absorption air-conditioning
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 4
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Domestic Hot Water System
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 5
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Active Solar Space Heating System
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 6
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Swimming Pool Solar Water Heating
System
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 7
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Heat Water System (PV Powered)
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 8
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Active Solar System Components
Collector
Storage tank
Heat exchanger
Pumps
Piping, valves, system controller
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 9
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Collectors
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 10
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Flat-plate Solar Collector
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 11
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Parabolic Trough
Curved mirrors which form troughs that focus the sun's energy on
a pipe. A fluid, typically oil, is circulated through the pipes which
is used to drive a conventional generator to create electricity.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 12
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Dish
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 13
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 14
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 15
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Power Tower
Solar Central Receivers or "Power Towers" consist of
a tower surrounded by a large array of heliostats.
Heliostats are mirrors that track the sun and reflect its
rays onto the receiver, which absorbs the heat energy
that is then utilized in driving a turbine electric
generator.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 16
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Power Tower
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 17
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Comparison of Solar Thermal
Technologies
Power Tower Parabolic Dish Parabolic Trough
Grid-connected Stand-alone small Grid-connected electric
Applicati electric plants; power systems; grid plants; process heat
ons process heat for support for industrial use.
industrial use.
Dispatchable base Dispatchable Dispatchable peaking
Advanta load electricity; high electricity, high electricity;
ges conversion conversion commercially available
efficiencies; energy efficiencies; with 4,500 Gwh
storage; hybrid modularity; hybrid operating experience;
(solar/fossil) (solar/fossil) hybrid (solar/fossil)
operation. operation operation.
[Source: Status Report on Solar Thermal Power Plants. Pilkington Solar International
GmbH: Cologne, Germany,1996]
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 18
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Photovoltaics (PV)
Poly-crystalline Silicon Module
Mono-crystalline Silicon Module
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 19
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
What is Photovoltaics
• Photovoltaics (PV) are solid-state, semi-conductor
devices that produce electricity when exposed to light.
Photo = light, voltaics = electricity.
• photovoltaics actually means "electricity from light."
Many hand-held calculators run off power from room
light, which would be one example of this phenomenon.
Larger power applications for this technology are
also possible.
• Sunlight knocks electrons free in the photovoltaic
material, which flow out of the device as electric
current. The more intense the sunlight, the stronger the
electric current.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 20
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
How Does PV Works
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 21
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV Modules
Click here for PV module video
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 22
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Types of PV Systems
Small stand-alone DC system
Stand-alone AC-DC system
Stand-alone AC system
PV-generator combination
Utility interface
Utility intertie
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 23
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Stand-alone PV Systems
(a) Small stand-alone DC system (b) Stand-alone AC-DC system
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 24
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Grid-connected PV Systems
(a) Utility interface (b) Utility intertie
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 25
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Innovative PV Module Designs
(a) Colour PV modules (b) Semi-transparent PV screens
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 26
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Do you know
what is Building
Integrated
Photovoltaic
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 27
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV)
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 28
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Building Integrated Photovoltaic
• With Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV),
photovoltaic material becomes an integral part of
the building: the walls, roof, and vision glass.
• Sunlight falling on the photovoltaic components
creates electricity. This electricity flows through
power conversion equipment and into the building's
electrical distribution system, feeding electricity to
the building's electrical loads.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 29
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV
Applications
in Hong Kong
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 30
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV Powered Bus-Stop
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 31
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Wanchai Tower
Study Tour: Solar Electricity Generation System at Wanchai Tower
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 32
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Solar Charger
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 33
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
The
End
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 34