presentation on solar energy and acid rain combined..
both the presentations are independent from each other....so you can delete the slides you don't want...hope you like it... (y)
This is a presentation I did recently to Secondary School Children as part of the Singapore Science festival. Realized that its both easy and also difficult to explain the technology and benefits of solar energy to school children.
Solar Energy Introduction PowerPoint Presentation Slides SlideTeam
As there is much focus of science on alternative energies so we offer you solar energy introduction PowerPoint presentation slides which are very useful to convey your message about increasingly demand of solar energy to students, your customers and employees. Let this PPT theme of solar energy introduction to illustrate how this alternate energy is high in demand, economical to use and can be easily transported to every part of the earth. You can do much with this Solar Energy Introduction PPT template starting from how solar energy works, what are the benefits of solar energy? What all things can be done by solar power, cost to generate it and futuristic vision to empower human kind as this generates no pollution. This Solar Energy Introduction presentation slide can be used to inform uses of solar power, its advantages, disadvantages, comparison of current state of electricity versus solar empowerment, its application guide and your future state of this source. Our Solar Energy Introduction Powerpoint Presentation Slides are the essential beat of your lilting melody. Adorn them with your tuneful thoughts and top the charts.
It is a presentation as a part of our course project. We have analyzed two solar power plants -
1. Welspun solar power plant in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Solar power plant installation in the permanent campus of IIT Hyderabad.
Hydro Photovoltaic Technology- A new approachRupal Jain
A brief description about hydro photovoltaic technology- PV panels on water bodies to improve their efficiency and to reduce water evaporation losses. A government scheme on this technology in Khandwa district MP state
presentation on solar energy and acid rain combined..
both the presentations are independent from each other....so you can delete the slides you don't want...hope you like it... (y)
This is a presentation I did recently to Secondary School Children as part of the Singapore Science festival. Realized that its both easy and also difficult to explain the technology and benefits of solar energy to school children.
Solar Energy Introduction PowerPoint Presentation Slides SlideTeam
As there is much focus of science on alternative energies so we offer you solar energy introduction PowerPoint presentation slides which are very useful to convey your message about increasingly demand of solar energy to students, your customers and employees. Let this PPT theme of solar energy introduction to illustrate how this alternate energy is high in demand, economical to use and can be easily transported to every part of the earth. You can do much with this Solar Energy Introduction PPT template starting from how solar energy works, what are the benefits of solar energy? What all things can be done by solar power, cost to generate it and futuristic vision to empower human kind as this generates no pollution. This Solar Energy Introduction presentation slide can be used to inform uses of solar power, its advantages, disadvantages, comparison of current state of electricity versus solar empowerment, its application guide and your future state of this source. Our Solar Energy Introduction Powerpoint Presentation Slides are the essential beat of your lilting melody. Adorn them with your tuneful thoughts and top the charts.
It is a presentation as a part of our course project. We have analyzed two solar power plants -
1. Welspun solar power plant in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Solar power plant installation in the permanent campus of IIT Hyderabad.
Hydro Photovoltaic Technology- A new approachRupal Jain
A brief description about hydro photovoltaic technology- PV panels on water bodies to improve their efficiency and to reduce water evaporation losses. A government scheme on this technology in Khandwa district MP state
Solar Roadways - The future transport system ( Seminar report by Swapnil Patw...Swapneil Patwari
A solar roadway is a road surface that generates electricity by solar power photovoltaic cells. One current proposal is for 12 ft x 12 ft (3.658 m x 3.658 m) panels including solar panels and LED sign-age, that can be driven on. The concept involves replacing highways, roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks with such a system. A layer of embedded LEDs will be used to create traffic warnings or crosswalks, and excess electricity could be used to charge electric vehicles or routed into the power grid. The electrical components will be embedded between layers of extremely durable, textured glass. A solar roadway is a series of structurally engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with solar road panels that collect energy to be used by homes and businesses, and ultimately to be able to store excess energy in or alongside the solar roadways. Thus renewable energy replaces the need for the current fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity, which cuts greenhouse gases and helps in sustainable development.
Parking lots, driveways, and eventually highways are all targets for the panels. If the entire United States Interstate Highway system were surfaced with Solar Roadways panels, it would produce more than three times the amount of electricity currently used nationwide. Existing prototype panels consist of three layers. 1. Road surface layer, 2. Electronics layer, 3. Base plate layer. Road Survey of India: India had a road network of over 42,45,805 kilometers in 2011.
In which national highways and state highways cover 0.05% of total road network.
These highways can produce 450TWh of electricity according to references when they are surfaced by solar panels.
But India needs 991TWh of electricity.
This implies that if 0.1% of total road network of India is surfaced with Solar Roadway panels, it would illuminate our nation. CONCLUSION: For roughly the same cost of the current systems (asphalt roads and fossil fuel burning electricity generation plants), the Solar Roadways can be implemented.
No more Global Warming.
Safer driving conditions.
Far less pollution.
A new secure highway infrastructure that pays for itself.
A decentralized, self-healing, secure power grid.
No more dependency on foreign oil.
Solar Panel System – Solar Panels, Batteries & Solar System Installation All ...Oneroof Solar
In a world where environmental concerns are increasingly becoming a top priority, solar panel system have emerged as a shining beacon of hope. Harnessing the power of the sun, these innovative systems offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution to meet our ever-growing energy needs.
A basic introduction of Solar Energy. Solar energy is the energy received by the earth from the sun. This energy is in the form of solar radiation, which makes the production of electricity, heat, etc.
The Solar Revolution, A Comprehensive Guide.
If you're interested in renewable energy and want to learn more about solar power, this ebook is the perfect resource for you. "Everything You Need to Know About Solar Power" covers all aspects of solar power, from the basics of how it works to the technical details of installation and maintenance, as well as its environmental impact and future potential.
In the first section, you'll find a comprehensive introduction to solar power, including a definition of solar power, its importance in today's world, and a brief history of solar power. In the following section, you'll gain a deeper understanding of solar power, including how it works, the types of solar power systems available, and their advantages and disadvantages.
The technical aspects of solar power are explored in detail in the third section, including solar panel construction and components, installation and maintenance of solar panels, and solar power system sizing and design. You'll also learn about the technical terminology and jargon used in the solar power industry.
The environmental impact of solar power is examined in the fourth section, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the impact on natural habitats and wildlife, and the relationship between solar power and climate change. Real-life examples and case studies are provided to help you understand the impact of solar power on the environment.
In the fifth section, you'll discover the future of solar power, including the latest innovations in solar technology, global trends in solar power, and the challenges and opportunities facing the solar power industry. Real-life examples and case studies are also included to help you understand the potential of solar power in the future.
Finally, the ebook concludes with a section that ties everything together, including the future of solar power, final thoughts on solar power, and encouragement to take action.
Whether you're interested in installing solar power in your home or business, or just want to learn more about renewable energy, this ebook is an essential guide to solar power. With detailed information, real-life examples, and case studies, you'll have all the information you need to understand the basics of solar power and its potential for the future.
Renewable energy can be generated continuously practically without decay of sources.
Example: Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydro energy. Non renewable energy is that comes from the ground and is not replaced in a relative short amount of time.
Example: Combustion of fossil fuel, coal, etc.
One of Earth's non used renewable source of energy....This presentation details about theconcepts of solar energy and various methods to convert radiation from the sun to gree energy...the advantages and disadvantages are also discussed in the presentation
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR IN QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)
Building Services I (BLD60403)
Lecturer: Ms Lim Tze Shwan
Building Integration of Solar Energy
Name Student ID
Yip Xiaojung 0323852
Alwin Ng Kun Ket 0323596
Goh Jia Jun 0323302
Kenneth Tan Sin Kwang 0322482
Ng Sheng Zhe 0323830
Table Of Content
No Content Pages
1.) Cover Page
2.) Table Of Content
3.) Introduction
4.) Installation Process
5.) Management Process
6.) The Advantages and Disadvantages
7.) Case Study : Finding and Explanation
8.) Possible Problem to the System
2. 9.) Recommendations for Future Improvement
10.) Learning from the group work project
11.) References
12.) Bibliography
13.) Appendices
Introduction
Due to the huge consumption of energy increasing day by day, more renewable energy
sources have been discovered by scientist and one of the most useful renewable energy
sources is solar energy. Solar energy is a radiant energy emitted by the sun. Although the
distance of sun is 90 million miles from the earth, it takes less than 10 minutes for light to
reach the surface of earth. Solar energy comes in abundant as surface of the earth receives
120,000 terawatts of solar radiation which is 20,000 times more power than what is needed
to supply the entire world. Moreover, solar energy can be used in every country that is able
receive sunlight. Radiant light and heat from the sun is able to produce endless amount of
energy to be used in daily life of the people. Although there is no sunlight at night, solar
energy can be kept in storage device such as a battery so that the electricity generated can
still be used at night. Solar energy can also be converted into electricity by using a solar cell
known as photovoltaics.
In 1839, a French scientist by the name of Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the
photovoltaic effect which explains how electricity can be generated from sunlight. He claimed
that “shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution would create an
electric current.” Over 100 years later, in 1941, Russell Ohl which is an American engineer
invented the silicon solar cell, shortly after the invention of the transistor.
Earth has been surrounded by sun for billions of years, therefore the energy transmitted
from the sun to the surface of earth is enormous. We should not waste this huge energy
given by the sun, instead we should utilize it into our daily life. For instance, solar energy can
be used to heat up water, create warm environment, charge certain devices and more. In
order to gain solar energy, a solar panel needs to be installed to receive sunlight. Although
the installation fee of solar panel may be expensive, it is actually worth the money spent for
long term use because a solar panel can last average from 20 to 25 years. The use of solar
energy reduces the amount of electricity bill because it is free. Besides, solar energy will not
cause pollution and effects therefore it is environmentally friendly.Solar energy is an
3. alternative energy expected to replace other non-renewable energy by the future because it
will be more widely available and cheaper in installation fee soon. It is also expected that
more than 1 million houses in United States will be utilizing this technology by 2016. Solar
energy is also used by other living things besides humans. For example, green plants use
solar energy for photosynthesis to convert light energy to chemical energy.
There are 2 types of solar energy which are active and passive depending on how the solar
energy are acquired and distributed. Photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors which
harness solar energy are the examples of active solar technology. Passive solar technology
includes constructing rooms to improve air circulation, orienting space to favorably use
sunlight. Although a lot of countries are utilizing solar energy, the highest installed capacity
of solar photovoltaic power is Germany. Although United States have more lands than
Germany, Germany manages to stay top by having the highest capacity of solar photovoltaic
power in the world at 32,4 GW at the end of 2012.
Installation Process
Evaluation
The first and foremost step of installing a solar panel system always starts with the suitability
of the system. Site surveying plays an important role and allows a site engineer to correctly
determine the suitability of setting up the solar panel system. There are a few aspects of the
site that must be achieved before the suitability of site is determined
The first aspect that we must take into account is visibility of the sun. The optimum condition
for the direction of the house is to face the south or north. This ensures the path of the sun
does not face directly towards the house and cause excessive heating but on the other hand,
allows enough sunlight to hit the solar panels in order to generate electricity throughout the
day.
4. In addition to the direction of the house, it is also necessary to determine and obtain the
times of the day that particular areas would be shaded.
The solar path finder as in the picture allows the surveyor to determine the correct position of
the solar panels. The solar Pathfinder is set up at the 4 corners of where the solar array was
going to be installed and with it point towards the south. It has a series of marks on it and a
glass dome which reflects anything that would be throwing a shadow. You basically look at
the reflection and see what time of day the shadow might affect that spot.
Selection
In addition to the geographical criteria, it is also necessary to ensure the roof is able to
withstand the huge weight of the solar panels. Some systems may weight up to a ton but
most roofs will have no problem bearing the weight as the weight is distributed over a large
area.
After the site has been determined suitable, the size of solar panels systems is selected. The
size and the roof and the price of the system affects the selection process therefore it is
important to select the type of solar panel that meets your needs. One example is the
amount of electricity it generates. If the daily consumption of your house electricity is around
8k/mph it is unreasonable to buy a solar panel that provides more than what you need.
Contract
After the final site survey and all equipment pricing has been worked out, contracts had to be
signed between the local electric company as those contracts had to get sent off for approval
by the electric company because in order to be tied into the grid. This will allow the resale of
excess electricity back to the company and therefore you can profit from installing these
systems. Sometimes, the electric company will also opt to foot part of the bill of the system,
they had a bunch of rules about how efficient the systems have to be and therefore contracts
were negotiated for the following reasons. Efficient management of the system also falls
under these contractual obligations.
Installation of hardware
Major components in solar panel system
5. Solar intertie photovoltaic (PV) systems consists of multiple parts:
The most important part of the system is the solar panels which collect the sunlight and turn
it into electricity. These panels are placed on mounts which hold the system intact for long
period of time. More advanced mounts such as tracking mounts can mechanically move the
PV panels over the course of a day so that they directly face the sun at all times.
Inverters are a main component in the solar panel system. The energy obtained from the
sun is a DIrect Current, however due to the Alternating current demands of the house, The
DC signals are fed into an inverter, which converts the DC into grid-compatible AC power
(which is what you use in your home).
Lastly, are switch boxes and utility meter. Switch boxes allow the switching on and off of
currents and are often included for safety reasons. Utility metres in the other hand provide
an accurate reading for the amount of consumption and production of energy from the solar
panels
Installation process of panel on mount
There are many different type of mounts that a solar panel can be placed on, they are, roof
mounts, pole mounts, ground mounts and car porch mounts.
Flush (Roof) mount
6. Flush mount can be used for any pitch, any roof, at any time. It is one of the most
easy-to-install and cost-effective mounts.System advantages includes 100% aluminum rails,
which is lightweight and corrosion resistant. Flush mounts are also designed for fast and
easy installation because no grounding lugs or copper wire needed! It also has a in-house
engineering services which provides easy maintenance and custom options for nearly any
roof type so it is a very flexible system. (schletter nd.)
Ground Mount
The Ground mount System is designed to be the most cost-competitive solution for
large-scale solar mounting systems, with proprietary aluminum extrusions to reduce material
usage and the highest level of in-house pre-assembly on the market. The result is an
attractive solar mounting system installed quickly and with the durability to last. The
advantages of a ground mount system is high level of pre-assembly for fast installations and
easily accessible for ground and system maintenance. Besides that, the ground mount
system also provides a larger area and weight load to rest the panels upon. (schletter nd.)
Soil conditions are the main concern in installing the ground-mounted solar panels
because the typeof the ground will make the installation process very complex. On the other
hand, if the soil conditions are appropriate, the installation process is much easier and thus
the maintenance and cleaning process are also more convenient. (Brightergy 2013)
7. Pole Mount
Pole mounts are being distinguished by how the pole mounts are placed on the pole.
The uppermost part of the pole mounts contained of a metal rack and rail unit that is secured
to a huge sleeve that rests ahead of the pole. The mount will then simply slips over the top
most of the pole, and the solar unit can be placed into place by welding the solar panels or
bolting them. It is important to take into account of wind load as the pole might be less stable
when compared to the flush mount and the ground mount.
Side-of-Pole Mounts are intended to grip 1 to 4 modules. The side of pole mounts is
installed by mounting it to the pole with a choice of hose clamps or U-bolts. The racks
acclimatize distinctively sized poles and are modified to 15-65 degree in 10 degree
increments for optimal sun angle. The size of the pole is being affected by the number of
modules to be mounted on. (Wholesale Solar 2014)
Mounting of Panels
Before the installation of panels, a temporary work is set up for the workers to work.
Scaffolding is constructed as the optimum platform for the workers. Next, anchor bolts are
screwed in to hold the system in place. The anchors are placed on top of the roof tiles on
their desired position, and the measurement is being checked again to ensure that the
anchor are in the right position. Frames are then attached by the anchor bolts.It is crucial to
ensure the position is correct or the panel wont be able to slide in. The next process is by
installing the panels. Since the bars are now in the right position, the panels are then
clamped to the frame and the panels on the roof are wired to produce adequate electricity.
Inverters are used to convert the Direct Current into Alternating Current before the electricity
is flowed into the house for usage. -(EVO 2012)
8. Management
Solar panels generally require very little maintenance since there are no moving parts. A
few times a year, the panels should be inspected for any dirt or debris that may collect on
them. The dust and debris on the system may cause the system to reduce the intake on
sunlight and generate less electricity. Therefore, general cleaning may be important to keep
the system going.
The roof should also be inspected every couple of years to ensure it is still able to bear the
weight of the solar panels. It is also a good idea to hire a professional service crew to help to
inspect the solar panels every now and then to ensure the system functions properly.
Tracking mounts may require oiling to allow smooth movement of the panels. It is important
to keep the receipts of purchagn in the panels as panels usually come with a manufacturer
warranty that may last a long time.
Inverters must be checked regularly for functionality as the rate of conversion may tear over
time and inefficiency may occur. Regular change of the switch box also encourage a good
functioning electrical system of the circuit and reduces chances of a short circuit.
Advantages of Solar Energy
1.) Renewable Energy Source
9. Solar energy is a truly renewable energy source as it will not be depleted when used. It can
be utilized and be available all time around the world without any limitation. Solar energy will
not be run out unlike other sources of energy such as petroleum and natural gas. As
according to scientist, sunlight will be available for us to use for another 5 billion years from
now and this energy is very reliable as the rising and settling of the sun is very consistent in
our country. Although sun doesn't exist at night, it contain a storage system for the solar
energy to be used during night time or rainy days.
2.) Low Maintenance Costs
Solar energy generally does not require much maintenance as compared to the used of
other energy. The reason why it is low maintenance because it has no moving parts. Without
moving parts, there are very less chance of crevices for debris to get stuck in. The only main
concern for it the user have to keep it clean and cleaning it a couple times per year will do.
The average lifespan for a solar panel lies between 20-25 years as for the inverter will be
approximately around 5-10 years. Inverter is the system that convert the solar energy into
electricity and also heat energy. Apart from these, solar panel also does not produce any
noise which is a ideal choice for residential and commercial buildings.
3.) Diverse Applications
However, solar energy can also be used for diverse application. It can be used to generate
electricity for home, building , offices and etc which is known as the photovoltaic power
system or heat energy known as solar thermal normally used for heating hot water for
domestic uses and also increasing the temperature of the house during winter. Other than
that, solar energy can be used to produce electricity to area where there is no access to the
energy grid, to distill water region where water supply is limited and to power satellites in
space.
4.) Does not cause Global Warming
10. Solar energy is an alternative energy of natural gas, fossil fuel and many others non-
renewable energy. Solar energy is non polluting as it does not pollute the environment, clean,
reliable and it is also a renewable energy resources. It does not pollute the air by releasing
gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and etc. By the use of solar
energy will helps to reduce the risk of environment being damaged. Solar energy does not
require any backup system such as fuel to produce electricity and heat energy. Thus, this
helps to avoid the transportation of fuel and storage of radioactive waste.
5.) Easy Installation
Installation of solar panel is very easy as it does not require many wires, cord or power
sources to function unlike the use of geothermal or wind energy which required wires to be
tied using drilling machines. Solar panel can normally installed at the rooftop of a house or
building which means the owner does not need to come out with a new space to store the
panels. With the use of solar panels, each home or building can automatically generate it
own electricity.
6.) Can be used in remote or rural areas
Solar energy can be a great advantage to be used in area where the area have limited
access or even no access of electric power cable. The use of solar energy is used to solve
the current problem of electric cable lines where running cable to the rural area would be a
11. difficulty and even costly. However, solar panels can be set up to receive solar energy and
convert it to electricity or heating water to community as long as it receives sunlight.
7.) Reduce home electricity bills
The utilization of solar energy to create power supply to home can allow you and your family
members to use without any limitation as solar energy are free and renewable. Unlike using
electricity to generate power as the more consumption the more it cost. Having a solar
panel at home helps to eliminate your upfront cost that you might have to pay using your
own saving money. Other than that, the homeowner can also sell their surplus or extra
generated electricity to the utility companies which are able to help them reduce their
monthly electricity bills. Lastly, using solar energy offer cheaper annual cost as compare to
electricity.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
1.) Initial cost of the Solar Panel is expensive
Although using solar energy is economical due to it lower long term cost, the first
disadvantages of using solar energy is that the initial costs of the solar panel and the
installation fee are is bit higher than other alternative energy depending the size of the solar
panel. The main reason why the initial cost is high is due to the part are expensive such as
the inverter, batteries and etc.
2.) Location and the availability of Sunlight
The second disadvantages of using solar energy is that the location of the solar panel is the
major importance for it to generate electricity or generate heat. It is normally located on top
of the roof and for housing that are covered by tree, landscapes or are covered by huge
buildings at the surrounding are not suitable for the installation of solar panel. Although it
may still able to function if installed at this area, it will reduced the rate or maybe require
more panels to be installed in order to generate sufficient electricity to home or offices.
3.) Installation Area
For normal house users, solar panels are normally installed at their roof top as home does
not require huge amount of energy which mean that less solar panels are needed. While for
12. huge buildings or big industrial, a larger area may be required for the installation of solar
panel in order to provide sufficient electricity to the buildings on constant basis. Solar panel
are being seen installed on the ground but this method is considered not a good choice as
the panel may caused obstruction to the users or public.
4.) The Reliability
With the use of other alternative energy such as geothermal energy can be used during day
and night without any limitation. However with the use of solar energy, one of the
disadvantages is it poor reliability of solar panel. Solar panels had been proved to be useless
as it rely mainly of the local grid utility to generate power or by the use of solar batteries for
storage to store the excess power so that it is able to utilize at night or when during cloudy
days.
5.) Polluted environment can caused damages to the solar panels
Most of the photovoltaic panels are made out of mercury, cadmium, lead and other toxic
material such as silicon are easily being damaged by pollution in the environment. As this
will reduce the efficiency and quality of the photovoltaic cell. Lastly, this also reduce the
lifespan of the solar panel.
CASE STUDY
Elithis Tower - Dijon, France
13. Elithis Tower, located in Dijon, France is one of the first energy positive building. It
first opened in 2009. This means that it produces more power than it uses. It houses over
330 solar panels on the rooftop.
It consists of 10 floors which houses:
a) 4 levels of – Elithis Engineering
b) Ademe (Departmental Agency of Energy Management)
c) Radiological services
d) Restaurant
e) Civil Engineering offices
f) 1 technical level of HVAC system (Heating, ventilation & air conditioning)
It was a demonstration & experimental building. It is considered an experiment as many research
& development were put into the design and construction of this building. Many methods of
energy conservation and production were used as to create this energy positive building.
The energy production of the building is proudly advertised in the board of the building for
the public to see.
The main objective of this unique building is to use natural and passive ways such as
the Sun (Solar Energy) & wood (from trees) to achieve a visually appealing and comfortable
14. design. The other objective is to study different design methods which can help with
reducing energy usage.
The cost of building this energy positive building is comparable to office buildings of
the same nature at roughly $10 million. This building is 54,000 sq ft with over 10 storeys.
Considering its energy producing qualities, it is a very sustainable building and is also
relatively cheap to construct.
The design of this building is very compact. It is located in the city. The materials
used in this building is very economically friendly as it uses recycled materials like wood,
cellulous wadding & bay windows. High environmental impact materials like aluminum were
used stingily. The bay windows are used to help with extracting the lighting from the sun and
negating the detriments like glare, UV & overheating. The bay windows comprise of double-
glaze and filled with argon which helps with thermal insulation.
Double-Glazed Bay Windows Cellulose Wadding
Aluminum
Lighting
15. In this mostly glass panel covered building, natural lighting is used. The increased rate of
glass panels drastically reduces energy needed for artificial lighting. The passive solar shield
helps reduce excess heat and protecting the users of the building from receiving direct
sunlight. The direct sunlight can contain harmful rays which can harm the users and are very
dangerous especially in long periods of time. It provides great natural lighting for office users.
If lighting is required when natural sunlight is unavailable, the light fittings in the ceiling
provide for it. It is coupled with motion and light sensors when needed. This can help
especially during cloudy days, night time and rainy seasons. The installed lighting power is
rated at ~ 2W/m² of electrical energy. If high illumination is required, Nomadic Lamps are
used. These are all controlled by the BEM system
.
Nomadic Lamps
Solar Shield Conventional Lighting
By using the solar shield, the building can cut electric usage drastically as there will be no
need for conventional lighting methods.
Heating & Cooling
The majority of the heating of the building is covered by natural heating (solar) & internal
heat gains. For backup purposes, one low-power wood boiler provides the heat which
provides for thermal comfort. There is another wood boiler which are used as a backup for
the first low-power wood boiler. This system is used as it helps maintain 21°C of room
temperature throughout the building.
Energy Performance
The concept of this tower is to balance the electricity use with the Photovoltaic (PV) roof
panels. The PV panels generate electricity. The PV panels has a low ratio of installed PV
panels compared to the floor area. The minimal energy usage of the building is supported by
the 500m² PV panels. It is built with a horizontal incline as to maximize the generation of
electricity. The building is constantly monitored by over 1600 sensors all over the building.
16. This helps the team inside the building to constantly do reports of the building energy
performance.
Energy consumption of production of the building.
Solar Panels – horizontally tilted
Solar powered buildings examples:
17. Heliotrope in Germany
It is one of the first zero-energy modern homes which produces over 5 times the energy it
consumes.
Sonnenschiff – Solar City
This solar city can produce up to 4 times the energy it consumes. It emphasize on using
solar panels right before the construction starts, compared to solar panels being an after-
thought.
18. Dragon-Shaped Solar Stadium – Taiwan
Comprising of 8,844 solar panels, this solar stadium can seat up to 50,000 people and
generate 100% of its energy used.
Activhaus B10 – Stuttgard
This green house creates enough power to light up 2 houses & 2 electric cars. It uses a
photovoltaic system that produces over 8,300 kWh per year.
19. Gigafactory – Tesla
This “Gigafactory” is currently undergoing construction and when completed, can produce
battery cells. When fully completed (estimated 2018), it will reach full capacity and will
produce more lithium ion batteries. It is powered by photovoltaic panels.
These various projects are very similar to the case study above. These projects usually
produce enough energy for powering itself and in some cases, produce more than required.
Conclusion:
From this case study, it can be seen that solar-powered buildings are constantly
blooming and are very sustainable. It can help reduce energy usage to very low – close to zero.
This is very good news as it can help with our pollution problems and can help lengthen the
planets lifespan.
The futuristic & modern design is visually appealing and also serve as a function.
From the case study above, it shows that the design of the building can highly impact the
energy usage & production of the building. (ie; solar shading, building envelope & etc.)
I believe that with further research and development, more energy-positive and solar
buildings are the future of tomorrow. The costs of solar panels will lower with more demand.
Solar panels will also be able to capture more energy and convert it into usable electricity.
One day we will see a net zero-energy country and hopefully, a net zero-energy planet.
The time will come where we have to say goodbye to conventional ways of producing
electricity and I believe the solar-powered homes & buildings of today are slowly preparing
us for the future.
Possible problems with the system
a) Weather-dependant
The solar system is a weather-dependant. It has an obvious requirement which is it need the
sun to generate heat or electricity for solar air-condition or solar hot water system. The solar
system won’t at all as there is no solar energy from the sun at night. As a result, it requires a
large battery bank to store the electricity when there is sunlight so as it able to provide
electricity during the night. This problem won't be a huge obstruction during summer in four
seasons country. However, the problem is magnified in bad weather countries or in a bad
season. It simply won’t work effectively in these areas without strong sunlight.
b) Lack of effectiveness
Installing solar system for a dwelling is not worthy as it is not a 100% efficient converting the
heat energy to electric energy. It only takes a range from 20%-40% only where the
remaining energy from the sun is wasted as heat energy. So it will take a long time which is
20. around 10-20 years to overcome its cost. This is why the solar system is not recommended
for dwelling. Although photovoltaic cells have been discovered which has 43% higher
efficient and able to produce more electricity, but these require high technology and
expensive to manufacture.
c) Problem of semiconductor
Expensive semiconductor materials are used in the solar system to generate electricity by
converting heat energy from the sun into electrical energy. However, when the temperature
is increased until the semiconductor can withstand and also operating for a long time, the
semiconductor may malfunction and decrease the efficiency of the solar system. If a
semiconductor in a solar panel is malfunction, it will cause the energy generated by the other
solar panel surrounding it to be drained. This is because the malfunction solar panel acts a
resistor and decreasing the efficiency of the solar system
d) Surface of the solar panel
It required a regular time for maintaining and cleaning the surface of the solar panel which is
the frame in order to maximize its efficiency. A small portion of dust, dirt or other object that
have accumulated and blocked the solar panel from receiving the light energy from the sun
will reduce the efficiency of the solar system. During winter, it required to remove the snow
on the top of the panel that had blocked the sunlight from the panel.
e) Solar water heating system
For solar water heating system, some of the parts in this system such as control, sensor and
pumps are needed to check to ensure they work effectively. If the pump has been sized to
just barely overcome the pressure head of the collector loop, an unexpected added
resistance can stop all flow through the collector. Besides antifreeze sensor must be
maintained as If the system has a freeze sensor, but malfunction, a power failure during a
freeze could result in pipe rupture. Hence, annual maintenance is needed
Recommendations for Future Improvements
Use multi-cell gallium arsenide with three-junction concentrator as cell for the solar panel. It
was discovered as the highest efficiency technology with approximately 44% efficient, which
has 3 times more effective than photovoltaic cell. However, it is unaffordable to manufacture
with technology nowadays and it’s too expensive to produce in a large amount.
The sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day, which means that the solar system able to generate
electricity during the day. Develop a large energy storage system where it can store and
provide electricity for us to use even though without sunlight but still able to continue
providing enough and stable electricity for a long period. Recently, a research found that a
new energy storage solution using a molten salt storage technology in PV systems. The
inorganic salt able to transfer heat energy to the solar plant which would generate higher
power output.
The government can establish subsidies for solar deployment and provide subsidies for
purchasing solar panel either for dwelling or company. Establish subsidies so as able to
support solar technology and accelerate the research of the material for cell which can
perform the highest efficiency and affordable for all citizens. Besides providing subsidies for
purchasing able to lower the cost of the solar system and citizen can less depend on
electricity produced from the power station.
Learning outcome
From this project, we have learned much more about the services in buildings. We have
learned much more about solar energy and the benefits of it. Especially in the case study, it
has really opened our eyes on the development of solar energy and its integration to the
building.
We can also see that there are many advantages of solar energy, and the disadvantages of
21. solar energy can hopefully be fixed and negated in the future. This can really help reduce the
use of energy and can help in protecting our Mother Earth.
Furthermore, we have learned much more about ways of doing research. We found
ourselves
being able to research better than we did before. This research about solar energy has really
opened our eyes about how much the modern development and construction is leaning
towards a green approach. It can be seen that most developers are trying to reduce our
carbon footprint and use more green tactics like natural ventilation, natural lighting, solar
energy & others.
Moreover, we have gained more knowledge by researching the information regarding solar
energy online. We have learnt about the history and facts about solar energy and it helps us
a lot in understanding. For example, we learn the size of the sun compared to earth and how
much sunlight does the earth receive from such a long distance.
Lastly, we have improved our skills in doing work with my groupmates. We find ourselves
taking more initiative and leading the group. We have also communicated with my
groupmates more often and have really enjoyed our time. We feel really grateful to be given
such a chance to do a research about something we have a passion about. We believe in a
fully green future for us and our upbringing.
Conclusion
Although solar energy is very useful in many applications and comes in abundance,
scientists conclude that the sun will be extinct after billions of years. Even though the size of
the sun is 109 times the diameter of the earth, its energy will still come to an end in the
future. Therefore, humans should appreciate this free source of energy given by the sun and
use it wisely. However, solar energy may has some imperfections although it has a lot of
advantages. For instance, sunlight cannot be collected at night and not every places receive
the similar amount of sunlight. Humans do seek improvement to fix all this issues, for
example sunlight can be collected in a storage device such as battery so that the solar
energy can still be used at night.
To make solar energy better, humans do research and development so that they can
fully utilize this “gift” provided by the sun. Even until today, the most efficient solar cell
technology is only able to convert 20% of the sunlight into electricity, but with the increasing
advancement of humans in solar cell technology, the number is likely to increase in the
future. We believe that all houses in the world will be installing solar panels in their houses
and reduce the amount of electricity used by the future. More people should start their
investment on solar panels and they will realize its full potential after a certain period of using
them. Lastly, solar energy is one of the most efficient alternative energy, so we hope that
humans can depend on solar energy and stop relying on non-renewable energy such as
fossil fuels before they come to an end. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step,
after all, we should not be afraid to try because if we believe, we can achieve
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