Solar power air conditioners use solar energy from photovoltaic panels to operate, providing environmental and cost benefits over traditional AC units. There are three main types: solar PV air conditioners which use solar electricity directly or stored in batteries, solar thermal systems which use heat from the sun, and hybrid systems that can operate on solar, battery, or grid power seamlessly. All aim to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing renewable solar energy for cooling needs.

1. SOLAR POWER AIR
CONDITIONERS

2. SOLAR POWER AIR CONDITIONER
 The Sun has been a source of energy in our cosmicsystem for billions of years. With the passage of
time and advancement in technology though, we have been able to harness the immense
potential of the sun in the form of photovoltaiccells and use it for much greater purposes.
 The Sun’s rays can now be convertedinto electricity, and be used to power our homes and
appliances .
 One such applicationof this renewable energy source is in air conditioning, through solar air
conditioners.These heating and cooling appliances can work by using the sun as an energy
source.

3. BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWER AIR
CONDITIONERS
 Increases the value of your property
 Saves on bills to make up for the initial costs
 With peak load shifting it reduces the overall energy demand
 Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
 lower grid demands
 fewer power outages

4. WORKING PRINCIPLE
 A solar air conditioner combines solar electricity and air conditioning. In simple words, it takes energy from
the Sun and uses it to power your AC to cool your space!
 A solar panel is a device that captures the power of the Sun. It converts the Sun rays into electrical energy.
This energy can then be used directly or stored in a battery. This is known as DC power. A solar-powered
air conditioner then uses this DC power, either directly as DC or after conversion into AC (using an
inverter), and heats or cools your home.
 Furthermore, instead of using grid energy, a solar-powered air conditioner uses the energy of the Sun. It
can use the grid energy, though, if needed.

5. TYPES AND WORKING PRINCIPLE
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTIC AIR CONDITIONER
 Solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) air conditioners – These systems work by capturing the sun’s solar
energy using solar photovoltaicpanels, usually mountedon a building’s roof. The solar PV
panels convert this solar energy into electricity to power all the constituent parts of a traditional
split system.
 The electricity that is not used is stored in a battery array for later use. Some hybrid air
conditioner systems are connectedto the electricity grid to provide an extra boost if the sun is
not strong enough to charge the batteries.

6. SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS
 Solar thermal systems – These systems employ a plate to capture solar energy from the sun’s rays.
This energy then directly works to turn an electricgenerator to power the compressor that is
responsible for the refrigeration process in the air conditioning system.
 Solar thermal systems use electricity from the grid to run the fans and the electric control panel.
However, this system is quickly falling out of fashion sincethey are less energy-efficient than solar
photovoltaic systems.


7. 1. DC POWERED SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
 DC solar air conditioners run on direct current (DC) electricity, meaning that the solar panels are directly
wired to it. They can run through the batteries, which are charged through solar power; therefore can run
entirely off-grid. They use solar panels, photovoltaic panels to collect sunlight and turn it into electric
energy.
ADVANTAGES
 As a solar panel produces DC electricity, running such an air conditioner directly off the solar panel will
not be a problem.
 DC-powered solar air conditioners are the go-to option for complete off-the-grid living and you can run
them with minimal extra equipment cost, as in AC-powered air conditioners.
 They are easy to install and maintain.

8. 2. AC POWERED SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
 For AC air conditioners to run with solar power, you need a device known as an inverter, converting the
DC from the solar panels into AC.
 Moreover, the solar powered air conditioner then uses up the energy stored in a battery after passing
through the inverter.
ADVANTAGES
 These air conditioners can also be tied up to the grid power and run as a standard air conditioner. You
don’t require an extra equipment since this air conditioner can run on AC power.
 The primary advantage of such a system is that you can run it with grid power and solar panels.
 If these ACs are tied to the grid, you can give excess electricity produced back to the grid and get credits
for it by a process called net metering.

9. 3. HYBRID POWERED SOLAR AIR
CONDITIONERS
 Hybrid solar-powered air conditioners can run on both DC and AC at the same time, seamlessly.
Such units can be connectedto both the solar panels/batteries directly and to the grid at the
same time. The unit can then use the appropriate power source according to the time of day
and power load.
 ADVANTAGES
 There is no additional equipment, such as an inverter,which means the total costs are also less.
 They can switch between solar power and grid power smoothly.
 They are very flexible to operate during all times of the day and seasons.