Solar energy is a renewable energy resource that can be used to generate electricity and power through solar power plants. A solar power plant consists of photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into direct current electricity, inverters that convert the current to alternating current, and energy storage devices like batteries. The photovoltaic panels are made up of interconnected solar cells, usually made of crystalline silicon, gallium, or arsenide, that produce electricity when photons hit the materials. Solar energy has advantages of being clean, renewable, and having no fuel costs, but also has disadvantages like high initial costs, expensive storage, and lower power production than other resources.

1. SOLAR ENERGY

2. ENERGY RESOURCES:
 It is defined as something that can produce
heat ,power, move objects and produce
electricity.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES:
CRITERIA NON RENEWABLE RENEWABLE
Repetitively used energy
sources
One –time use Can use again and again
Perpetual sources Vanish one day Available for perpetual
use
Eco-friendly sources Emits gases and pollute
the environment
Do not emit gases and
does not pollute the
environment
Availability Limited quantity Unlimited quantity
Production cost High Low
Maintenance cost Low High
Production quantity Large Less

5. GREEN ENERGY:

6. SOLAR POWER PLANT:
 The solar power plant is also known as the Photovoltaic
power plant.
 The solar power plant uses solar energy to produce electric
power.
COMPONENTS OF SOLAR POWERPLANT:
 Photovoltaic panel
 Inverter
 Energy storage devices

7. SCHEMATIC OF SOLAR POWER PLANT:

8. PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY:
 A photovoltaic array is a linked collection of photovoltaic
modules.
 Each photovoltaic module is madeup of interconnected PV
cells.
 Photovoltaic means relating to production of electric
current at junction of substances exposed to light.
 The PV cells converts solar energy into direct current
electricity.

9.  PV arrays should track the sun through each day to greatly
enhance energy collection.
 Crystalline silicon ,gallium and arsenide are typical
choices of materials for solar cells.
 When a photon hits a photovoltaic device its energy is
transferred from photon to local electrons in the material
 These excited electrons begin to flow producing an
electric current. This process is called PhotoVoltaic
effect.

10. Advantages and Disadvantages:
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Most clean and renewable source
of energy
 It requires lot of land to capture
forever
 It is available in abundance and
endless
 The initial cost of purchasing a solar
system is very high
 It provides electricity at low cost as
fuel is free
 Solar energy storage options are very
expensive
 Solar energy system generally
require low maintenance
 Power production is very low
compared to other resources
 Technology is constantly advancing
and improvements will intensify in
future.
 There is a problem if it is cloudy for
few days

11. SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS:
 Daylighting
 Passive Solar Heating
 Active Solar Heating
 Concentrating Solar Thermal
 Photovoltaics
 Solar Street Light