RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

(KOE 074)

Dr Ajay Pratap Singh

Mechanical Engineering Dept.
 The 2-degree increase in global average surface temperature that has occurred since the pre-industrial era
(1880-1900) might seem small, but it means a significant increase in accumulated heat. That extra heat is driving
regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reducing snow cover and sea ice, intensifying heavy rainfall, and
changing habitat ranges for plants and animals—expanding some and shrinking others.
Greenhouse gases
• include water vapour,
carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, ozone and
some artificial
chemicals such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
The absorbed energy
warms the atmosphere and
the surface of the Earth.
Effects of global warming
• More frequent and severe weather. Higher temperatures are
worsening many types of disasters, including storms, heat
waves, floods, and droughts. ...
• Higher death rates. ...
• Dirtier air. ...
• Higher wildlife extinction rates. ...
• More acidic oceans. ...
• Higher sea levels.
Our Participation
• Human activities, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels, are altering
the climate system.
• Human-driven changes in land use and land cover such as deforestation,
urbanization, and shifts in vegetation patterns also alter the climate,
resulting in changes to the reflectivity of the Earth surface (albedo),
emissions from burning forests, urban heat island effects and changes in
the natural water cycle.
• Because the primary cause of recent global climate change is human, the
solutions are also within the human domain.
• Transparency about the causes of climate change allows for effective
solutions to be developed and deployed.
Right Participation
1. Speak up!
• “Talk to your friends and family, and make sure your
representatives are making good decisions,” H. By voicing your
concerns—via social media or, better yet,
directly to your elected officials—you send a message that you
care about the warming world.
2. Power your home with renewable energy.

• Choose a utility company that generates at least half its power from
wind or solar and has been certified by Green-e Energy, an
organization that vets renewable energy options. If that isn’t possible
for you, take a look at your electric bill; many utilities now list other
ways to support renewable sources on their monthly statements and
websites.
• 3. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize.
• “Building heating and cooling are among the biggest uses of energy,”. Indeed,
heating and air-conditioning account for almost half of home energy use. You
can make your space more energy efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring it’s
adequately insulated. You can also claim federal tax credits for many energy-
efficiency home improvements.
• 4. Invest in energy-efficient appliances.
• Since they were first implemented nationally in 1987, efficiency standards for
dozens of appliances and products have kept 2.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide
out of the air. That’s about the same amount as the annual carbon pollution
coughed up by nearly 440 million cars. “Energy efficiency is the lowest-cost
way to reduce emissions,”
• 5. Reduce water waste.
• Saving water reduces carbon pollution, too. That's because it takes a
lot of energy to pump, heat, and treat your water. So take shorter
showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and switch to
WaterSense-labeled fixtures and appliances.
• The EPA estimates that if just one out of every 100 American homes
were retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, about 100 million
kilowatt-hours of electricity per year would be saved—avoiding
80,000 tons of global warming pollution.
• 6. Actually eat the food you buy—and make less of it meat.
• Approximately 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing,
processing, packaging, and shipping food—about 40 percent of which
just winds up in the landfill. “If you’re wasting less food, you’re likely
cutting down on energy consumption,”
• And since livestock products are among the most resource-intensive to
produce, eating meat-free meals can make a big difference, too.
• 7. Buy better bulbs.
• LED lightbulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional
incandescents. They’re also cheaper in the long run: A 10-watt LED
that replaces your traditional 60-watt bulb will save you $125 over the
lightbulb’s life.
• 8. Pull the plug(s).
• Taken together, the outlets in your home are likely powering about 65
different devices—an average load for a home in the U.S. Audio and
video devices, cordless vacuums and power tools, and other electronics
use energy even when they're not charging.
• This "idle load" across all U.S. households adds up to the output of
50 large power plants in the U.S.
• So don't leave fully charged devices plugged into your home's outlets,
unplug rarely used devices or plug them into power strips and timers, and
adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power down to the
lowest power mode when not in use.
• 9. Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle.
• Gas-smart cars, such as hybrids and fully electric vehicles, save fuel
and money. And once all cars and light trucks meet 2025’s clean car
standards, which means averaging 54.5 miles per gallon, they’ll be a
mainstay.
• For good reason: Relative to a national fleet of vehicles that averaged
only 28.3 miles per gallon in 2011, Americans will spend $80 billion
less at the pump each year and cut their automotive emissions by half.
• 10. Rethink planes, trains, and automobiles.
• Choosing to live in walkable smart-growth cities and towns with quality
public transportation leads to less driving, less money spent on fuel, and less
pollution in the air.
• Less frequent flying can make a big difference, too. “Air transport is a major
source of climate pollution,”. “If you can take a train instead, do that.”
• 11. Shrink your carbon profile.
• You can offset the carbon you produce by purchasing carbon offsets, which
represent clean power that you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of
power from fossil fuels. But not all carbon offset companies are alike.
Do your homework to find the best supplier.
Total Installed Capacity (As on 30.04.2020)
Source : Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
Sector wise MW and % of Total
• Central Sector 93,477 i.e 25.2%
• State Sector 103,322 i.e 27.9%
• Private Sector 173,549 i.e 46.9%
Total 3,70,348MW
Renewable Energy Resources (KOE 074)

 Introduction:
Various non-conventional energy resources- Introduction,
availability, classification, relative merits and demerits.
 Solar Cells:
Theory of solar cells. Solar cell materials,
solar cell array, solar cell power plant, limitations.
Renewable Energy v/s Non-renewable
Energy
Renewable Energy v/s Non-renewable Energy (Conventional Energy)

Renewable energy is a type of energy
that is refilled naturally over the
course of time. It is also known as
green energy.
This energy is generated naturally
from sunlight, wind, tides, heat and
rain.
Nonrenewable energy on the other hand, is a type
of energy which cannot be refilled or takes a long
time to restock.
Fossil fuels, natural gas, coal, petroleum and
uranium come under the category of
nonrenewable energy. It comes out of the ground
as solid, liquid or gaseous form.
TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

1.Solar energy from the sun

2.Wind energy from wind
3.Tidal energy from the ocean waves
4.Geothermal energy is the energy of the earth.
5.Biomass energy is from agriculture and food waste.
TYPES OF NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

1. Petroleum also known as liquid fossil fuel formed within the underground
sedimentary rocks.
2. Coal is deposit of yesteryears plants which are found deep within the
ground which when burnt produces huge amount of heat energy.
3. Natural gas is found in deep rock beds along with coal and also the
byproduct of petroleum.
4. Crude oil is found deep underground within the sedimentary rocks.
ADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

 Renewable source : the main highlight of renewable source like solar energy, wind
energy, tidal energy, biomass and geothermal energy is that it is renewable and can be
replenished easily. The more the use, the more it is reproduced.
 Easily available : another advantage of renewable resource is that it is easily available
on a regular basis.
 Not polluting : the renewable resources does not cause any pollution. No green house
gases are being released in the process. Renewable resources are environment friendly.
 Low cost : since the availability of these natural green resources is abundant, it can be
procured at a very low cost. This increases the saving and profit.
 Improves health : the eco-friendly renewable source improves the health of the
population as it causes no pollution. The ozone layer gets protected in the process.
 Stability : these renewable resources provide stability in prices because of it readily
available.
DISADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

 Reliability : one of the major disadvantages of renewable energy is that it is

not reliable. It depends upon the climate, temperature, geographical
location, humidity, speed of wind and so on. So the functioning of these
natural resources depends upon a lot of factors and cannot be completely
relied on.
 Limited location : this is another major disadvantages of renewable energy.
The plants and the industry cannot be set up anywhere. It can be only setup
as per its availability.
 Misuse : since the availability is in plenty, it is more likely to be misused by
mankind.
 High capital investment : huge money is needed in building up of
industries that use these natural resources as raw materials.
Biomass is fuel that is developed from organic materials, a
renewable and sustainable source of energy used to
create electricity or other forms of power.

Renewable Energy Resources (ROE 086)

Introduction:
 What is Energy?

 The energy of a body is its capacity to do work. It is measured the total amount of work that the body
can do.

 Energy is the primary and most universal measure of all kinds work by human beings and nature.
Everything what happens the world is the expression of flow of energy in one of its forms.

 The Energy sources available can be divided into three types:

 Primary Energy sources
 Secondary fuels
 Supplementary sources
Introduction:

Different forms of energy: The different forms of energy are:

 Mechanical energy (kinetic and potential)

 Thermal (or) Heat energy

 Chemical energy

 Electrical energy

 Nuclear energy

 Electromagnetic energy

 Gravitational energy
Energy Sources and their Availability:
Today every country draws its energy needs from a variety of sources. We can broadly
categorize these sources as commercial and noncommercial. The commercial sources include
the fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), hydro-electric power and nuclear power, while the
noncommercial sources include wood, animal waste and agricultural wastes.

Types of Energy Sources:

 Conventional sources energy: These are accumulated in nature over a long span of time
and cannot be quickly replenished when exhausted. These are known as non-conventional
energy resources. i.e. Coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear fuels like uranium and
thorium.

 Non-conventional sources energy: These sources of energy can be used again in an

endless manner. These can be generated continuously in nature and are inexhaustible. Eg.
Solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy.
Non-Conventional Energy Sources:
 Using energy from sources which cannot be used up – sun, wind, water and waves – supports
sustainable development by reducing carbon emissions. This contributes to increasing energy and
climate security for many communities across the world.

 Renewable energy comes from sources which cannot be used up, such as wind, sun, water and waves,
rather than from fossil fuels such as oil and coal. To Sum Up in Brief:
 Wind
 Biomass
 Solar
 Hydroelectric
 Geothermal
 Wave and Tidal
Conventional Energy Sources:
 Energy is used for heating, cooking, transportation and manufacturing. Energy can be generally
classified as non-renewable and renewable.

 Over 85% of the energy used in the world is from non-renewable supplies. Most developed nations
are dependent on non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and nuclear power.

 These sources are called non-renewable because they cannot be renewed or regenerated quickly
enough to keep pace with their use.

 Conventional energy sources are:

 Fossil fuel energy
 Hydraulic energy
 Nuclear energy
Wind Energy- Introduction & Availability :
 Wind power is usually generated by wind turbines situated either onshore or offshore. Kinetic energy
of wind is measured as cubic proportion to its velocity, and is being use foe centuries in water
pumping, wind mills, irrigating fields and navigation.

 Wind energy is utilized by means of wind mill. Many projects on the wind mill systems foe water
pumping and for production of small amount of electrical power have been taken up in our country.
Following are some of the developments.
 CAZRI wind mill at jodhpur (Rajasthan).
 WP-2 water pumping wind mill by NAL Bangalore.
 MP-1 sail wind mill at NAL Bangalore.
 Wind mills at central salt and Marine chemicals Research Institute Bhavnagar (Gujarat).
 12PU 500 wind mill at NAL Bangalore.
 Madurai wind mill at Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
 Tayabji wind mill at Tilonia near Ajmer (Rajasthan)
Wind Energy- Introduction & Availability :
Wind Energy- Relative Merits & Demerits
 Merits of wind energy:
 Abundance availability for no price.
 Useful at remote places also for electricity generation.
 Non polluting and eco-friendly
 Can be utilized for end user also such as hybrid energy sources e.g. wind-photovoltaic etc.
 Suitable for power supply at off-shore and on-shore (such as hilly regions) sites.
 Cheaper installation cost and almost negligible recurring expenses.
 Demerits:
 Less favorable in city locations as the wind is available at higher locations.
 It is unreliable and intermittent. It is not available regularly.
 Flow of wind is not guaranteed throughout the year. Therefore, its use for continuous supply
power station is not feasible.
 Due to fluctuating nature of wind blowing, the produced mechanical energy has to be stored by
some means e.g. battery storage.
 Present day wind energy systems are source of immense noise pollution.
Solar Energy - Introduction & Availability

 Solar energy is a clean and abundantly available renewable energy.

 The total radiant energy of the sun is vast, out of which only small fraction gets incident on the
outside of the earth atmosphere 30% of it is directly reflected back to the outer space in the
short wave radiation, 47% is directly converted to heat that is lost to the outer space in the
long wave radiation and major portion of the rest 23% causes evaporation, precipitation and
circulation of water in the hydrologic cycle of the earth.

 Sun radiates its energy in all directions of the universe. Sun light received during day hours
and clear sky has power density between 0.5%kw/m2 and 1 kw/m2. Solar energy varies with
season, geographical location, day/night etc.
Solar Energy - Introduction & Availability
Solar Energy- Relative Merits & Demerits
 Merits of Solar energy:

 Noiseless operation

 Occupies less space on floor as there is no need of storage vessels.

 Cheaper initial cost and no need of containers to store the fuels.

 In most of the equipment, the maintenance cost is negligible.

 In most of the equipment's do not require any serious attention during their working. For
Example food will be cooked simply by putting a solar cooker in sunlight.

 Demerits:

 Solar equipment's fail to work in nights cloudy day or rainy season.

 Larger space is required for the collection of solar energy at a useful rate.
 Solar Cell
 A structure that converts solar energy directly to DC
electric energy. – It supplies a voltage and a current to a
resistive load (light, battery, motor).
 It is like a battery because it supplies DC power.
 It is different from a battery in the sense that the voltage
supplied by the cell changes with changes in the
resistance of the load.
 Solar cells are those which comprises of two or more
especially prepared layers of semiconductors materials
processed with an additive that causes the device to
become photosensitive.
 When photons strike the surface of solar cell, electron
hole pairs are released, generating s flow of electricity.
 Thus a solar cell is a transducer which converts the solar
radiation directly into electricity.
 Solar Cell
 Solar cells are composed of various semiconducting
material silicon (Si). The amount of electricity
generation throughout the day varies from maximum
during the peak sunshine hours to zero during the
night. Therefore, some energy applications functions
satisfactorily during sunshine. So continuous supply
of electricity it is requited storage, eg. Battery..

 The efficiency of conversion of solar radiation

depends on following factors:
 Reflectivity of the surface.
 Absorptivity of the material.
 Rate of generation and recombination of
charge carrier.
 Solar Cell

 The single solar cell constitute the n-type layer

sandwiched with p-type layer.
 The most commonly known solar cell is
configured as a large-area p-n junction made
from silicon wafer.
 A single cell can produce only very tiny amounts
of electricity
 It can be used only to light up a small light bulb
or power a calculator.
 Single photovoltaic cells are used in many small
electronic appliances such as watches and
calculators
 Solar Cell
 Conductor: It has no forbidden gap between Conduction band and valance band. Also the
energy (Conduction and Valance band) are same, so that it is easy for a valance electron to
become a conduction electron. In conductor enough number of conducting electrons is present
which are able to conduct electric current without the need of applied energy, such as light or
heat.

 Insulator: In insulator, the forbidden energy band (gap between valance band and conduction
band) is very large. Thus it is not possible for the electrons in the valance band to reach the
conduction band; hence there is no conduction of current. In an Ideal insulator, all the level of
valance bands are occupied by electrons and the conduction band is empty; therefore there is
no conduction of current.

 Semiconductor: In semi conductors, the forbidden energy band is much smaller than that of the
insulator but larger than that of the conductor. Since it has small forbidden gap, the electron in
valance band may acquire energy sufficient enough for them to cross forbidden band. Therefore,
at room temperature, semiconductors are capable of conducting some electric current.
 Solar Cell
Semiconductors are of two types,
Intrinsic semiconductors are extremely pure, where the number of free electrons is always equal to the
number of holes. On another side, to increase the conductivity of the semiconductor we mix some
impurity; this type of semiconductor is called extrinsic type.

Extrinsic semiconductors are of two types:

 N type: Semiconductors in which we mix pentavalent impurity, such as Arsenic, antimony, or

phosphorous. When a pentavalent impurity is added to silicon, the impurity atom form covalent
bonds with silicon atom, but since intrinsic semiconductor atom have only four electron and four
holes in their valance shells, one spare electron so produced for each impurity atom added.
Majority carrier – Electron Minority carrier – Holes

 P type: When a small amount of trivalent impurity, such as boron, gallium, indium or aluminium is
added to a pure semiconductor material during crystal growth, the resulting crystal is called P-type
semiconductor.
 Solar Cell

Photovoltaic effect :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEbpqLPfFJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ8XW9AgUrw
 Solar Cell

Types of Solar Cell :

Based on the types of crystal used, soar cells can be classified as,

1. The Monocrystalline silicon cell is produced from pure silicon (single crystal). Since the
Monocrystalline silicon is pure and defect free, the efficiency of cell will be higher.

2. In polycrystalline solar cell, liquid silicon is used as raw material and polycrystalline silicon was
obtained followed by solidification process. The materials contain various crystalline sizes. Hence,
the efficiency of this type of cell is less than Monocrystalline cell.

3. Amorphous silicon is obtained by depositing silicon film on the substrate like glass plate. The layer
thickness amounts to less than 1µm – the thickness of a human hair for comparison is 50-100 µm.
The efficiency of amorphous cells is much lower than that of the other two cell types. As a result,
they are used mainly in low power equipment, such as watches and pocket calculators, or as
facade elements.
 Solar Cell Array
 If photovoltaic solar panels are made up
of individual photovoltaic cells
connected together, then the Solar
Photovoltaic Array, also known simply
as a Solar Array
 Solar Array is a system made up of a
group of solar panels connected
together.
 A photovoltaic array is therefore
multiple solar panels electrically wired
together to form a much larger PV
installation (PV system) called an array,
and in general the larger the total
surface area of the array, the more solar
electricity it will produce.
Solar Cell Array
 Solar Cell Array
 A solar cell is the basic building block of a solar module.
Each cell produces approximately 1/2 a volt and a solar
module can have any number of solar cells. A solar module
designed for charging a 12 volt battery will typically have
36 solar cells while the typical residential grid connected
system uses solar modules with 60 solar cells. For large
commercial and utility scale solar systems, solar modules
will have typically 72 solar cells. By increasing the number
of solar cells the module voltage and wattage increases.

 Most solar cells manufactured today are approximately 6″

by 6″. Small custom solar modules will contain solar cells
that are cut to smaller sizes. For example if a full size solar
cell produces 10 amps and it is cut ion half it will now only
produce 5 amps. As the solar cell is cut in half, its typical
voltage remains unchanged at 1/2 a volt.
 Solar Cell Array

 The size of a photovoltaic array can

consist of a few individual PV modules or
panels connected together in an urban
environment and mounted on a rooftop,
or may consist of many hundreds of PV
panels interconnected together in a field
to supply power for a whole town or
neighborhood

 The flexibility of the modular photovoltaic

array (PV system) allows designers to
create solar power systems that can meet
a wide variety of electrical needs, no
matter how large or small.
Solar Cell Array
 Solar Cell Array

The Electrical Characteristics of a Photovoltaic Array :

 It is important to note that photovoltaic panels or modules from different manufacturers should
not be mixed together in a single array, even if their power, voltage or current outputs are
nominally similar. This is because differences in the solar panels I-V characteristic curves as well
as their spectral response are likely to cause additional mismatch losses within the array, thereby
reducing its overall efficiency.

 The electrical characteristics of a photovoltaic array are summarized in the relationship between
the output current and voltage. The amount and intensity of solar insolation (solar irradiance)
controls the amount of output current ( I ), and the operating temperature of the solar cells
affects the output voltage ( V ) of the PV array.
 Solar Cell Array
Solar Array Parameters :

 VOC = open-circuit voltage: – This is the maximum voltage that the array provides when the
terminals are not connected to any load (an open circuit condition). This value is much
higher than Vmax which relates to the operation of the PV array which is fixed by the load.
This value depends upon the number of PV panels connected together in series.

 ISC = short-circuit current – The maximum current provided by the PV array when the output
connectors are shorted together (a short circuit condition). This value is much higher than
Imax which relates to the normal operating circuit current.

 Pmax = maximum power point – This relates to the point where the power supplied by the
array that is connected to the load (batteries, inverters) is at its maximum value, where Pmax
= Imax x Vmax. The maximum power point of a photovoltaic array is measured in Watts (W)
or peak Watts (Wp).
deally, the series resistance should be as low as
possible to minimise voltage losses, while the
shunt resistance should be as high as possible
to minimise leakage of photocurrent.
 Solar Cell Array
Solar Array Parameters :

 FF = fill factor – The fill factor is the relationship between the maximum power that the array can
actually provide under normal operating conditions and the product of the open-circuit voltage
times the short-circuit current, ( Voc x Isc ) This fill factor value gives an idea of the quality of the
array and the closer the fill factor is to 1 (unity), the more power the array can provide. Typical
values are between 0.7 and 0.8.

 % eff = percent efficiency – The efficiency of a photovoltaic array is the ratio between the
maximum electrical power that the array can produce compared to the amount of solar
irradiance hitting the array. The efficiency of a typical solar array is normally low at around 10-
12%, depending on the type of cells (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous or thin film)
being used.
 Solar Cell Array
Photovoltaic Array Connections

 Photovoltaic I-V characteristics curves provide the

information designers need to configure systems that can
operate as close as possible to the maximum peak power
point.

 The peak power point is measured as the PV module

produces its maximum amount of power when exposed to
solar radiation equivalent to 1000 watts per square meter,
1000 W/m2 or 1kW/m2.

 Consider the circuit;

 Solar Cell Array
Photovoltaic Array Connections
 This simple photovoltaic array above consists of four
photovoltaic modules as shown, producing two parallel
branches in which there are two PV panels that are
electrically connected together to produce a series
circuit. The output voltage from the array will therefore
be equal to the series connection of the PV panels, and
in our example above, this is calculated as: Vout = 12V
+ 12V = 24 Volts.

 The output current will be equal to the sum of the

parallel branch currents. If we assume that each PV
panel produces 3.75 amperes at full sun, the total
current ( IT ) will be equal to: IT = 3.75A + 3.75A = 7.5
Amperes. Then the maximum power of the photovoltaic
array at full sun can be calculated as: Pout = V x I = 24 x
7.5 = 180W.
 Solar Cell Array
Photovoltaic Array Characteristics
The PV array reaches its maximum of 180 watts in full sun because the maximum power output of each
PV panel or module is equal to 45 watts (12V x 3.75A). However, due to different levels of solar radiation,
temperature effect, electrical losses etc, the real maximum output power is usually a lot less than the
calculated 180 watts. Then we can present our photovoltaic array characteristics as being,
 Solar Power Plant

What is a solar power plant?

 A solar power plant is any type of facility
that converts sunlight either directly, like
photovoltaics, or indirectly, like solar
thermal plants, into electricity.

 They come in a variety of types, with each

using discretely different techniques to
harness the power of the sun.
 Solar Power Plant

What is a PV solar power plant?

Photovoltaic power plant use large areas of photovoltaic cells, known as PV or solar cells, to
convert sunlight into usable electricity. These cells are usually made from silicon alloys and
are the technology most people have become familiar with - chances are you may even
have one on your roof. The panels themselves come in various forms:

1. Crystalline solar panels:

 As the name suggests these types of panels are made from crystalline silicon. They can
be either monocrystalline or polycrystalline (also called multi-crystalline).

 As a rule of thumb monocrystalline versions are more efficient (about 20% or above) but
more expensive than their alternatives (which tend to be 15-17% efficient) but
advancements are closing the gap between them over time.
 Solar Power Plant
2. Thin-film solar panels:

• These types of panels consist of a series of films that absorb light in different parts of the
EM spectrum. They tend to be made from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride
(CdTe), cadmium sulfide (CdS), and copper indium (gallium) selenide.

• This type of panel is ideal for applications as flexible films over existing surfaces or for
integration within building materials like roofing tiles.

• These types of solar power panels generate electricity that is then, usually, directly fed into
the national grid or stored in batteries.
 Solar Power Plant
2. Thin-film solar panels:

Power plants using these types of panels tend to have the following basic components:

 The solar panels convert sunlight into useful electricity.

 They tend to generate DC current with voltages up to 1500V

 These plants need invertors to transform the DC into AC

 They usually have some form of a monitoring system to control and manage the plant

 They are often directly connected to an external power grid of some kind. If the plant
generates in excess of 500 kW they will usually also employ step-up transformers.
 Solar Power Plant
How does a solar PV power plant work?
 Solar PV power plants work in the same manner as smaller domestic-scale PV panels.
 As we know that, most solar PV panels are made from semiconductor materials, usually
some form of silicon. When photons from sunlight hit the semiconductor material, free
electrons are generated which can then flow through the material to produce a direct
electrical current.
 This is known as the photoelectric effect. The DC current then needs to be converted to
alternating current (AC) using an inverter before it can be directly used or fed into the
electrical grid.
 PV panels are distinct from other solar power plants as they use the photo-effect directly,
without the need for other processes or devices. For example, they do not use a liquid
heat-carrying agent, like water, as in solar thermal plants.
 PV panels do not concentrate energy, they simply convert photons into electricity which is
then transmitted somewhere else.
 Solar Power Plant
What is a solar thermal power plant?

 Solar thermal power plants, on the other hand, focus on or collect sunlight in such
a manner as to generate steam to feed a turbine and generate electricity.

 Solar thermal power plants can also be subdivided into a further three distinct types:
 Linear
 Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal
 Solar Dish Power plants

 The most common forms of a solar power plant are characterized by their use of fields of
either linear collectors, parabolic trough collectors, or solar dishes.

 These types of facilities tend to consist of a large 'field' of parallel rows of solar collectors
 Solar Power Plant
Parabolic trough systems
 These kinds of solar thermal power plants work by
focusing sunlight from long parabolic mirrors onto
receiver tubes that run the length of the mirror at their
focal point.

 This concentrated solar energy heats up a fluid that

continuously flows through the tubes.

 This heated fluid is then sent to a heat exchanger to

boil water in a conventional steam-turbine generator to
generate electricity.

 Much like their parabolic mirror cousins, linear

concentrating systems collect solar energy using long,
rectangular, U-shaped mirrors. Unlike parabolic
systems, however, linear Fresnel reflector systems
place the receiver tube above the mirrors to allow the
mirrors greater mobility in tracking the sun.
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Parabolic trough systems
 Parabolic troughs use parabola-shaped reflectors
that are able to focus between 30 and 100 times
normal sunlight levels on to the collector.

 The method is used to heat a fluid, which is then

collected at a central location to generate high-
pressure, superheated steam. These systems tilt to
track the sun throughout the day.

 Much like their parabolic mirror cousins, linear

concentrating systems collect solar energy using
long, rectangular, U-shaped mirrors. Unlike parabolic
systems, however, linear Fresnel reflector systems
place the receiver tube above the mirrors to allow the
mirrors greater mobility in tracking the sun.
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Linear concentrating systems
 Linear concentrating systems, sometimes called Fresnel reflectors, also consist of large 'fields' of sun-
tracking mirrors that tend to be aligned in a north-south orientation to maximize sunlight capture. This setup
allows the banks of mirrors to track the sun from east to west throughout the day.

 Today there are currently nine operating SEGS plants on the site with a combined capacity of around 354
MW net (394 MW gross) installed capacity - this makes it one of the largest solar energy thermal electric
power projects in the world

 The longest-operating solar thermal plant in the world, the Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) in the
Mojave Desert, California, is one of these types of power plants.

 The first plant, SEGS 1, was built in 1984.The last plant built, SEGS IX, with an electricity generation
capacity of 92 megawatts (MW), began operation in 1990.

 These types of systems use the Fresnel lens effect that allows for the use of a large concentrating mirror
with a large aperture and short focal length. This setup allows these kinds of systems to focus sunlight
approximately 30 times the normal intensity.
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 Solar Power Plant

Solar Dishes and engines

• Solar dishes also use mirrors to focus the sun's energy onto a collector. These tend to
consist of dishes like oversized satellite dishes that are clad in a mosaic of small mirrors
that focus energy onto a receiver at the focal point.

• Like the parabolic and linear systems, the dish-shaped, mirror-clad surface directs and
concentrates sunlight onto a thermal receiver at the dish's focal point. This receiver
then transfers the heat generated to an engine generator.

• The most common type of heat engine used in dish/engine systems is a type of Stirling
engine. Heated fluid from the dish receiver is used to move pistons in the engine to
create mechanical power.

• This mechanical power then runs to a generator or alternator to generate electricity.

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 Solar Power Plant

Solar Dishes and engines

 Solar dish/engine systems always point straight at the sun and concentrate the solar
energy at the focal point of the dish. A solar dish's concentration ratio is much higher than
linear concentrating systems, and it has a working fluid temperature higher than 749
degrees Celsius.
 Power generating equipment can either be directly mounted at the dish's focal point (great
for remote locations) or collected from an array of dishes and electrical generation
occurring at a central point.
 The U.S. Army is currently developing a 1.5 MW system at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah
using 429 Stirling engine solar dishes.
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Solar Power Towers

 Solar power towers are an interesting method in which hundreds to thousands of flat,
sun-tracking mirrors (heliostats) reflect and concentrate solar energy onto a central
tower. This method is able to concentrate sunlight as much as 1,500 times what would
normally be possible from direct sunlight alone.
 One interesting example of this kind of power plant can be found in Juelich, North-Rhine
Westphalia, Germany. The facility is spread over an area of 18,000 square km and
houses more than 2,000 heliostats that focus sunlight onto a central 60-meter high tower.
 The U.S. Department of Energy and other electric utility companies built and operated
the first demonstration solar power tower near Barstow, California, during the 1980s and
1990s.

 The concentrated solar energy is used to heat the air in the tower up to 700 degrees
Celsius. The heat is captured in a boiler and is used to produce electricity with the help
of a steam turbine.
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 Solar Power Plant
Solar Power Towers
 Today, in the U.S., three solar power tower plants have been constructed. These are
the 392 MW Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in Ivanpah Dry Lake California, the 110
MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Nevada (which is not currently in operation),
and the 5 MW Sierra Sun Tower in the Mojave Desert, California (which has been shut
down).

 Some towers also make use of water as the heat-transfer fluid. More advanced systems
are currently being researched and tested that will use nitrate salts because of their higher
heat transfer and storage properties compared to water and air. The thermal energy-
storage capability allows the system to produce electricity during cloudy weather or at
night.
 These kinds of solar power plants are ideally suited for operations in areas with adverse
weather conditions. They're used in the Mojave Desert in California and have withstood
hailstorms and sandstorms. However, two of the plants that have been built so far have
been found to be too expensive to run
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Solar Pond

 Solar pond solar power plants make use of a pool of saltwater that collects and stores
solar thermal energy. It uses a technique called salinity-gradient technology.
 Solar ponds use a large body of saltwater to collect and store solar thermal energy.
Saltwater naturally forms a vertical salinity gradient, known as a halocline, with low-
salinity water on the top and high-salinity water at the bottom.
 Salt concentration levels increase with depth and, therefore, density also increases from
the surface to the bottom of the lake until the solution becomes uniform at a given depth.
 The principle is fairly simple. Solar rays penetrate the pond and eventually reach the
bottom of the pool. In a normal pond or body of water, water at the bottom of the pond is
heated, becomes less dense, and rises setting up a convection current.
 Solar ponds are designed to impede this process by adding salt to the water until the
lower levels become completely saturated.
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 Solar Power Plant
Solar Pond
 As the high-salinity water doesn't mix easily with low-salinity water above it, convection
currents are contained within each discrete layer and minimal mixing between them
occurs.
 This process concentrates thermal energy and reduces heat loss from the body of water.
On average, the high-salinity water can reach 90 degrees Celsius with low-salinity layers
maintaining around 30 degrees Celsius.

 This hot, salty water can then be pumped away for use in electricity generation, through
a turbine, or as a source of thermal energy.
 This technique creates a thermal trap within the pond where energy generated can either
be used directly or stored for later use. This kind of power plant was in use in Israel at
the Beit HaArava Power Plant between 1984 and 1988. Other solar ponds have been built
in Bhuj, India (this is no longer in operation), and El Paso, Texas.
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Profiling the five largest solar power plants in India
 India has placed high hopes on solar power delivering a large portion of its 450-gigawatt
renewable energy target by 2030 as the nation aims to reduce its fossil-fuel reliance India
has ramped up its solar energy capacity in recent years and the nation is now home to
some of the largest power plants.
 The South Asian nation has placed high hopes on the technology delivering a large
portion of its 450-gigawatt (GW) renewable energy target by 2030 as it aims to reduce its
fossil-fuel reliance.
 India currently stands third in Asia and fourth in the world in terms of solar power
production across its plants, with solar accounting for about 38% of its total renewable
energy capacity.
 The country’s National Solar Mission was launched in 2010 – when just 10 (megawatts)
MW of solar power was installed on the grid – with a target of 20GW set for 2020. But due
to significant activity within the solar power sector over the following years, India raised its
target to achieve 100GW of solar capacity by 2022.
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1. Bhadla Solar Park – 2,250MW
 The Bhadla Solar Park, which is the largest solar
power plant in the world, is based in Bhadla
village, in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district.

 Spanning 14,000 acres, the fully operational

power plant has been installed with a capacity
of 2,250MW

 The huge solar power plant was developed by

multiple entities, such as Rajasthan Solar Park
Development Company Limited, Saurya Urja
Company, and Adani Renewable Energy Park
Rajasthan.

 Rajasthan’s current solar power consumption is

10% of the state’s total power usage.
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2. Shakti Sthala solar power project – 2,050MW
 The Shakti Sthala solar power project in
Tumakuru district, Karnataka, is now the second-
largest solar power plant in India, having
previously been the largest of its type in the
world.

 The 2,050-MW plant was developed by the

Karnataka Solar Park Development Corporation
Limited (KSPDCL), with help from the National
Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). It spans
more than 13,000 acres of land.

 The 14,800 Indian Rupees crore ($2.1bn)

development has reportedly benefited 2,300
farmers, who previously fell victim to the region
being located in a semi-arid tract that attracts
very little rainfall.
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3. Ultra Mega Solar Park – 1,000MW
 Based in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh – another
leading Indian state for solar power – the 1,000-MW Ultra
Mega Solar Park spans an area of more than 5,932 acres
and is the third-largest solar power plant at a single
location.

 The plant was set up within two years by Andhra Pradesh

Solar Power Corporation through a joint venture with Solar
Energy Corporation, Andhra Pradesh Generation
Corporation and New and Renewable Energy
Development Corporation, at an investment of more than
Rs7,143 crore ($943m).

 A 1,500-MW solar park is set to become operational in the

adjacent district of Kadapa, accompanied by two more
large-scale solar power plants, which could raise the
state’s solar energy capacity by an additional 2,750MW.
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4. Rewa Solar Power Project – 750MW

 The 750-MW Rewa Solar Power Project is spread over an

area of 1,590 acres in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is
operated by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd.

 Developed by Mahindra Renewables, Solengeri Power and

ACME Solar Holdings, the Rewa solar power plant is one of
the major power suppliers to the Delhi Metro – a mass rapid
transit system in India’s capital city.

 Rewa is the country’s first and only solar project until now to
be funded from the Clean Technology Fund and also India’s
only solar power plant to obtain a concessional loan from the
World Bank’s International Finance Corporation.

 With an investment of Rs2,800 crore ($370m), the

commissioning of the plant has reportedly saved Delhi Metro
about Rs1,400 crore ($185m) over its project life.
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5. Kamuthi solar power plant – 648MW
 The Kamuthi solar power plant in Ramanathapuram
district, Tamil Nadu, is the fifth-largest plant of its kind in
India.

 Dedicated to the nation by Adani Green Energy, the 648-

MW solar power plant, which consists of 2.5 million solar
panels, while covering an area of 2,500 acres, was set up
in 2016 with an investment of about Rs4,550 crore.

 Kamuthi was set up by 8,500 workers over eight months

and is connected to Tamil Nadu Transmission
Corporation’s 400KV Kamuthi substation, which
distributes power to about 265,000 homes.

 The plant is cleaned by every day a robotic system that

has its own solar panels to charge it. The state
government’s target is to achieve an installed capacity of
3,000MW.
Thank You