The document discusses solar energy and smart grids. It provides an introduction to solar energy concepts and technologies like solar thermal, photovoltaics, and concentrated solar power. It covers the benefits of solar including being abundant and emissions-free, as well as challenges like intermittency. World status of solar is increasing, with costs decreasing and capacity growing significantly year-over-year. Smart grids are needed to support renewable energy sources like solar by enabling two-way communication between producers and consumers. Singapore is working to increase solar installations and research through programs like the Solar Energy Research Institute.

1. Solar Energy
& Smart Grids
Nilesh Y. Jadhav
Program Manager/Senior Scientist
Energy Research Institute @NTU
Energy Research2012 @ NTU
30 July Institute 1

2. Centre for Centre for Maritime Solar Energy & Centre for
Sustainable Energy Energy Research Solar Fuels Centre Electromobility
Research (CSER) (CMER) (SEFC) w/ TUM
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

3. About the presenter
 Program Manager & Senior
Scientist at Energy Research
Institute @NTU
 13 years diverse industry
experience in Singapore and
Netherlands
 Research Interests: Solar Energy,
Green Buildings, Electromobility
 Founder: Avani Consultancy and
Marketing Pte Ltd
Nationality: Singaporean
 Founder Solarika.org- the facebook
Most Recent Priced Possession:
“Solar Cell 158 on Solar Impulse” of Solar Energy
nilesh@solarika.info
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

4. Outline of presentation
 Introduction to Solar Energy concepts/technology
 Benefits and challenges of solar energy
 World Status and achievements
 Why do we need Smart Grids?
 Singapore perspective
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

5. Energy Challenges
 World population is expanding rapidly and will
likely reach over ~9 billion before stabilizing
 Energy use is directly proportional to the
standard of living
 Energy demand is skyrocketing
 Standard methods of producing energy have a
limited supply and have unacceptable impacts
on the environment 5
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

6. Global Warming: An Inconvenient Truth
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

7. Global Warming- The solution
 Reduce the use of conventional
energy via energy efficiency
measures
 Use Renewable sources of
energy such as solar and
wind power
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

8. Solar Energy – A Bright Idea!
Thomas Edison
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar
energy. What a source of power! I hope
we don’t have to wait ‘til oil and coal run
out before we tackle that.”
“Solar” is the Latin word for “sun” – and
it’s a powerful source of energy. In fact,
the sunlight that shines on the Earth in just
one hour could meet world energy
demand for an entire year!
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9. Solar Energy – The most abundant !
No other energy source compares to the energy potential of solar.
Energy Research Institute @ NTU 9

10. Solar Energy harnessing technologies
Solar Thermal
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar Thermal
Concentration
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV)
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

11. How Does Solar Heating Work?
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

12. Solar Thermal Energy
Water Heating
Cooking
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13. How Does Solar PV – Electricity Work
Photovoltaic (PV) systems
convert light energy directly
into electricity.
Commonly known as “solar
cells.”
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

14. Evolution of PV materials
Nanosolar
Iowa Thin Film Tech
Munich airport
(BP Solar) EPV SOlar
ERSOL
• bulk crystalline Silicon • a-Si, CdTe, CIGS, CZTS • DSSC
• high cost • thin film, lower cost • organic and nanomaterials
• rigid substrate • possibility of printing • extremely thin (<100nm)
• rooftop, solar field • building façade, window coating • printable
Cost and versatility
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

15. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
 Such systems use lenses or mirrors (“reflectors”) and tracking
systems to focus a large area of sunlight onto a small area
(“receivers”).
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

16. Introduction to Solar Energy Concepts/Technology
YouTube video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDZzAIcCQLQ
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

17. Benefits and Challenges
Of Solar Energy
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

18. Benefits
 The energy from the Sun is the most abundant form of energy available
at all times.
 Sun's energy is there to stay and its not diminishing like the reserves of
fossil fuel.
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

19. Benefits
 Zero emissions
 No noise pollution
 No risks of explosion, fire and chemicals
 Low maintenance
 No running costs (energy is ‘free’)
 Independently installed
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

20. And the challenges…
o not available at night
o requires a lot of land
o high initial investment
o intermittent
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21. World Status and Achievements
of Solar Energy
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22. Solar PV Costs: Forecast
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23. Solar PV Costs: Approaching Grid Parity
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24. Installed World Capacity
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25. Installed World Capacity
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26. Solar PV Market Players
 China has dominated the Solar Manufacturing market
 Top 10 manufacturers control ~30% of the market
 Still Quite a Fragmented market
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

27. Solar Energy Achievements
Germany makes 50% electricity by Solar a reality !
25th May 2012
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

28. Solar Energy Achievements
Largest Solar Boat
Went around the world
(60,000 km)
Only on Solar Power!
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

29. Solar Energy Achievements
SOLAR IMPULSE
Flew an overnight flight (26
hours, reached a maximum
altitude of 8,700 m)
Energy Research Institute @ NTU
Only on Solar Power!

30. Singapore Scenario
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

31. Singapore Energy Needs
 80% of our electricity is produced by burning ‘natural gas’, which is
imported from Indonesia and Malaysia
 Highly reliable and robust electricity grid (Low interruption frequency)
 Energy Demand is growing and we are sometimes quoted as the highest
carbon dioxide emitting country per capita
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

32. Solar Installations in Singapore
Total Installations: ~2.5 MWp
(65 nos.)
 Largest installation: 500 kWp
(Resort World Sentosa)
 HDB Installations: 650 kWp
(30 nos.)
 Electricity Production =14-16%
For more information, see:
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

33. Singapore Solar Energy Interests
• EDB hosted Clean Energy Research
Program (CERP) is focused on Solar
• Solar Energy Research Institute (SERIS)
for R&D on solar along with Energy
Research Institute @ NTU
• Attracted world’s top integrated solar
company REC (S$ 3 billion investment in
phase-1)
• Zero Energy Building fully powered by
solar energy 33
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

34. Singapore specific issues
 Diffused sunlight due to cloud cover: reduces PV efficiency
 Temperature of PV modules up to 65 0C: reduces PV efficiency
 Sun passes directly overhead: best place is on roof-top
 Grid connected PV systems >1MW have to apply for wholesaler
license from EMA, >10 MW apply for generator license
 Momentary restriction on grid integrated solar power to 350MW
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

35. Why do we need
Smart Grids?
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

36. The Smart Grids story
Thomas Edison Alexander Graham Bell
Early Inventor of Electric Grids Inventor of Telephone
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

37. Smart Grids
+ Communication
 Power plant to grid operator
 Grid operator to utility
services
 Utility services to consumers
Electricity Grid
 Consumers to Appliances
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

38. Possibilities with a Smart Grid
 Data driven decision making
 Controlling electricity use in real time
 Choosing your source of power from
utilities
 Integrating Renewables
 Integrating electric vehicles
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

39. Smart Grid: Enabling the renewable era
YouTube Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8cM4WfZ_Wg
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU

40. Solar Energy is Intermittent (on and off)
Store it in a battery $$$$$
Or increase back-up 40
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

41. Smart Grids initiative in Singapore
 Installing Smart Meters at NTU Campus and others
 Communication technology tests
 Home automation systems demo Intelligent Energy Systems Project
Courtesy: EMA
Energy Research Institute @ NTU

42. Thank You
For much more information and connections visit: http://Solarika.org
Facebook.com/solarika twitter.com/solarika_org
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Energy Research Institute @ NTU