it is the process of converting solar energy into electrical energy.

1. By ,
I.AFFRIN,
Ladydoak college,
Madurai.

2. WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY
HARVESTING?
 It is the process of
capturing and storing
solar energy which is
radiated from the sun.
Then it is converted
from light or heat
energy to electrical
energy by suitable
method.

3. WHY DO WE NEED SOLAR
ENERGY HARVESTING?
Solar energy is free and rather available in
many parts around the world.
 In just 1 year, the sun can provide the earth
with 15,000 times more energy than the
atomic and fuel energy actually needed
during the year.
 If the fossil fuel resources are consumed at
the present rate, all the fossil fuels will
exhaust. This will create an unprecedented
energy crisis on the earth.

4. METHODS OF SOLAR ENERGY
HARVESTING
 SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS which is a heat-
absorbing panels and a series of attached
circulation tubes to generate electricity.
 CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER that uses
mirrors or lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays to
heat the fluid and produce steam which drives a
turbine and generate power.
 PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY

5. PHOTO VOLTAIC
TECHNOLOGY(PV)
Photo voltaic solar
cells
Produces electricity
from the sun’s
radiation
By photovoltaic
effect
 The term photo stands
for light and voltaic
stands for generating
potential difference.
 When sunlight hits a
cell the energy knocks
electrons in outermost
of atom,allowing them
to flow through
material to produce
electricity.

6. CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELLS
 A device which directly converts
solar energy into electric energy
is a called a SOLAR CELL.
 These solar cells are usually
made from semiconductors.
 Examples: silicon,germanium
etc..,
 When sunlight falls on a
semiconductor with impurity, a
potential difference is created.

7. NANOSTRUCTURED
SOLAR CELLS
 Based on dye sensitized
colloidal titanium dioxide
film.
 Anode-transparent electrode
catalytic conductor- platinum
electrode.
 Electrolyte- between films
and platinum electrode.
 charge separation takes place
at the interface between
titania and dye molecules
thus leading to an increase of
light harvesting

8. RECENT RESEARCH IN SOLAR
ENERGY HARVESTING

9. “MAKING BETTER SOLAR PANELS BY
MIMICKING BUTTERFLY POSTURE”
Experts from the
University of Exeter has
examined new techniques
for generating
photovoltaic (PV) energy
which converts light into
power

10. White butterflies as solar photovoltaic
concentrators
The team of scientists had investigated how to replicate
the wings to develop a new, lightweight reflective
material that could be used in solar energy production
They showed that by mimicking the v-shaped posture
adopted by Cabbage White butterflies to heat up their
flight muscles before take-off,
by replicating the simple mono layer of scale cells in
wing-structure, the power-to-weight ratio of the overall
solar energy structure is increased 17-fold, making it
vastly more efficient.

11. German Architect Andre Broessel and his company has
created a spherical sun power generator prototype
called the beta.ray
 It gives twice the yield of a conventional solar panel
in a much smaller surface area.
The beta.ray comes with a hybrid collector to convert
daily electricity and thermal energy at the same time.
 At night time the Ball Lens can transform into a high-
power lamp to illuminate simply by using a few LED’s.
The station is designed for off grid conditions as well as
to supplement buildings’ consumption of electricity
and thermal circuits like hot water.

12. APPLICATIONS
OF
SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING

13. Scott Brusaw, a former electrical engineer, has figured an
innovative solar panels in hexagons that can connect to
create a road way.
A project called Solar Roadways which can generate
power and can use its power to light up the road at night
time or to send driving alerts to drivers who are on the
road. It can be used to keep roadways cleaned and melt
the snow that falls on them.
He launched a highly successful campaign which raised
over 2 million dollars. These roadways will be seen soon
in U.S.A.

14. Beta.ray which is used to
recharge electric car

15. USES OF SOLAR CELLS.
Solar cells are used
 to mainly provide electric energy to the satellites
and space probes.
 to provide electricity for street lights, T.V,
electronic calculators and wrist watches.
 to provide electricity to off shore oil rigs and light
houses.
 In agriculture, photovoltaics are used to pump water,
power lighting.

16. IMPACTS OF SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is the cleanest form of energy. It
causes absolutely no environmental
pollution. Its use should be encouraged by all
the governments of world.
 so appropriate technology should be
installed to harvest solar energy.

17. REFERENCES
K. Jones, Colorado State University
Extension,Harvesting Energy from the Sun Solar
Photovoltaics.mht
 Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Volume 26,Solar
energy harvesting with the application of
nanotechnology.
Making better solar panels by mimicking butterfly
posture. watts Up With That.mht
The Roadways Of The Future Will Be Made Out Of
Solar Panels.mht

18. THANK you