The document introduces solar energy technologies, discussing the sun as the primary source of energy and the various ways we can harness it, including photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. It outlines the benefits and drawbacks of solar energy, describes different applications across utility, industrial, and residential sectors, and provides insights into current global solar projects and technologies. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of energy storage solutions and poses an invitation for further discussion on solar energy projects.

1. Introduction to
Solar Energy Technologies
Presented by
Sumit Mathur
Business Unit Manager
Renewable Energy
Dar Al Riyadh
1

2. Content
• Part 1 : Background and Intro to Solar
technologies
• Part 2: Applications of Solar Technologies

3. Part 1
BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION
TO SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES

4. Lets Start by Asking a simple question
What is the KEY and the PRIMARY source of Energy
available to us?

5. It’s the SUN!!!!
SURPRISED???
Sun’s Energy (Heat & Light) is the basis of all life and
energy in the environment/surroundings

6. SUN is INDEED the Primary Source of all energy
Oxygen
Plants Photosynthesis Bio Fuels
Food Biomass
Food Fossil fuels
Fossil Fuels
Animals Biomass
Bio fuels
Piezo -Electric
Energy
Energy = Heat &
Light Hydro Power
Sun
Water Bodies Tidal Energy
Ocean Thermal
Energy
Direct radiation
Wind Energy
Earth Volcanic Eruptions Heat
Geo Thermal
Energy
Earthquakes
Nuclear Energy
Please note that there may be overlaps in the secondary and tertiary sources of energy

7. What is Solar Energy?
• Originates with the
thermonuclear fusion
reactions occurring in the
sun.
• Represents the entire
electromagnetic radiation
(visible light, infrared,
ultraviolet, x-rays, and
radio waves).

8. How much solar energy do we get ?
The surface receives about 47% of the total solar energy that
reaches the Earth. Only this amount is usable.

9. World DNI Radiation Data
Saudi Arabia is amongst the highest solar
radiation receiving regions in the world

10. Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy
• Advantages
• All chemical and radioactive polluting byproducts of the
thermonuclear reactions remain behind on the sun, while only
pure radiant energy reaches the Earth.
• Energy reaching the earth is incredible. By some estimates, 30
days of sunshine striking the Earth have the energy equivalent of
the total of all the planet’s fossil fuels, both used and unused!
• Disadvantages
• Sun does not shine consistently.
• Solar energy is a diffused source. To harness it, we must
concentrate it into an amount and form that we can use, such as
heat and electricity.
• Addressed by approaching the problem through:
1) collection, 2) conversion, 3) storage.

11. So How Can We Utilize The Immense Power Of The Sun?
• Getting electricity from Sun
– Photo Voltaic (PV) Technologies
• Direct conversion of sun’s energy to electricity (DC)
• Easy to design and set up / construct
– PV cells are put together in series and parallel combinations to form modules. Sets of modules in form arrays.
Strings of arrays are set up to get desired EMF & current.
• Generate power only during ‘Day Hours’
– Need battery banks to be charged for usage in night hours
• Getting heat from Sun and utilizing as thermal or electrical power
– Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Technologies (also called Solar Thermal Tech.)
• Utilization of heat in Sun’s energy for Heating/Cooling applications and Electricity
generation.
– Focus sun’s rays using mirrors to a specific point for raising temp of working fluid, which may be used for
generation of HP steam or for heating air/gases/other fluids
• More complex than PV technology
– Thermal to electric conversion very similar to Coal/Oil/Gas based generation
• Can generate electricity 24hrs using energy storage technologies

12. Photovoltaic Technologies
• Photo Voltaic (PV)
– Crystalline Silicon : Oldest, tried &
tested
• Mono Silicon : Conversion efficiency
18 - 22%
• Poly Silicon : Conversion Efficiency
15-17%
– Thin Films : Relatively new
• Conversion Efficiency 8-12% Mono Crystalline Silicon Poly Crystalline Silicon
PV module PV module
– Concentrated PV : Very recent
• Conversion Efficiency 30 - 40% (lab
scale proven upto 70%)
*Conversion efficiencies vary between technologies and
even within same technology based on design, location
and environment.
**Use of sun-tracking mechanism increases conversion
efficiency by almost 10-15%
Thin Film Concentrated
PV Cells PV module

13. Concentrating Solar Power Technologies
• CSP ( Conversion efficiency
usually upwards of 25% up
to 55% or higher)
– Parabolic Trough
– Linear Fresnel
– Power Tower Parabolic Trough CSP Linear Fresnel CSP
– Sterling Engine-Dish
*Conversion efficiencies vary between
technologies and even within same technology
based on design, location and environment.
**Use of sun-tracking mechanism increases
conversion efficiency .
Power Tower CSP Sterling Engine – Dish CSP

14. Different technologies for different applications

15. Different technologies for different applications

16. PV TECHNOLOGIES

17. Solar PV manufacturing approaches
Cd Te = Cadmium Telluride; CIGS = Copper Indium Gallium (di) Selenide

18. World’s largest Solar PV Plants
DC peak PV power DC peak power
PV power Country Notes
Country power Notes station (MWp)
station
(MWp) Okhotnykovo Completed
Ukraine 80
Charanka Completed Solar Park 2011
India 214
Solar Park 2012 Phase II and III
Golmud Solar Completed completed
China 200 Solarpark
Park 2011 Germany 78 2011, another
Senftenberg
Sarnia 70 MW phase
Constructed planned
Photovoltaic
Canada 97 2009–
Power Lieberose
2010[33]
Plant[32] Photovoltaic Germany 71.8
Montalto di Park
Castro Rovigo Completed
Constructed
Photovoltaic Italy 84.2 Photovoltaic Italy 70 November
2009–2010
Power Power Plant 2010
Station Olmedilla Completed
Phase I Photovoltaic Spain 60 September
Finsterwalde completed Park 2008
Germany 80.7
Solar Park 2009, phase Strasskirchen
II and III 2010 Germany 54
Solar Park
Puertollano
Photovoltaic Spain 50 opened 2008
Park

19. Cost Components of PV technologies

20. Projected PV Costs upto 2020

21. Wide variation in PV CAPEX costs
between different regions

22. Competition in PV CAPEX costs
between C-Si and TF technologies

23. Average PV Installation CAPEX

24. Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for PV

25. LCOE Comparison of PV vs Conventional Technologies
Source:
Sunrise in the Desert ,
ESIA , Jan 2012

26. CSP (SOLAR THERMAL)
TECHNOLOGIES

27. Estimated Global Deployment of CSP

28. World’s largest Solar CSP Plants
Capacity
Name Country Location Notes
(MW)
Solar Energy
Mojave Desert Collection of 9
354 Generating USA
California units
Systems
Solnova Solar Completed
150 Spain Seville
Power Station 2010
completed
Andasol solar 2011, with
150 Spain Granada
power station 7.5h thermal
energy storage
Torre de
Completed
Extresol Solar Miguel
100 Spain December
Power Station Sesmero
2010
(Badajoz)
Martin Next steam input
Generation into a
75 USA Florida
Solar Energy combined
Center cycle
Nevada Solar Boulder City,
64 USA
One Nevada

29. Estimated CAPEX for CSP by Technology

30. Estimated CAPEX for CSP by Technology

31. Levelized Cost of Electricity for
CSP Trough & Tower Technologies

32. Regional (DNI) dependence of LCOE

33. Cost Components of
Trough & Tower CSP technologies
CSP Trough Technology CSP Power Tower Technology

34. Cost Economics – PV vs CSP

35. SOLAR - CONVENTIONAL HYBRID
TECHNOLOGY

36. Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) plant (Kuraymat, Egypt)
• The project based on CSP
parabolic trough technology
integrated with combined cycle
power plant using natural gas
as a fuel
• The project is one of 3 similar
projects are being implemented
in Africa (Morocco, Algeria,
Egypt), which mainly depending
on integrating solar field with
combined cycle.
• The capacity of the project is
140 MW including solar share
of 20 MW.
• Total cost is 340 Million Dollar.
• The project was completed in
2011.

37. Energy Storage
• Molten Salts are used to store Solar energy by heating them to high temperatures. Salts are an effective
storage medium because they are low-cost, have a high specific heat capacity and can deliver heat at
temperatures compatible with conventional power systems. Storage efficiency may range above 90%.
• Rechargeable batteries have been traditionally used in Off-grid PV systems to store excess electricity.
With grid-tied systems, excess electricity can be sent to the transmission grid. Net metering programs
give these systems a credit for the electricity they deliver to the grid. This credit offsets electricity
provided from the grid when the system cannot meet demand, effectively using the grid as a storage
mechanism.
• Pumped-storage hydroelectricity stores energy in the form of water pumped when surplus electricity is
available, from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation one. The energy is recovered when
demand is high by releasing the water: the pump becomes a turbine, and the motor a hydroelectric
power generator.
• Artificial photosynthesis involves the use of nanotechnology to store solar electromagnetic energy in
chemical bonds, by splitting water to produce hydrogen fuel or then combining with carbon dioxide to
make biopolymers such as methanol.

38. Land Use Comparison
Average, Maximum, and Minimum Land Use Efficiencies for Four Solar Technologies
Source: Renewable Energy in the California Desert; http://webservices.itcs.umich.edu/drupal/recd/?q=node/105

39. Part 2
GENERAL APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR
TECHNOLOGIES

40. Applications of Solar Technologies
• Based on type of energy generated
– Power
– Heat
• Customer & Scale
– Utility
– Industrial
– Commercial
– Residential

41. Some Examples of Applications
• Utility
– Power Generation
– Water Desalination
– Water Filtration
• Industrial
– Hot Water/Steam
– HVAC
– Water Filtration & Desalination
– Water Pumping
– Mobile Phone Towers
– Remote applications (Process Instrumentation) etc
• Residential / Commercial
– Power for Home & office Electrical Systems
– Space Heating
– Cooling and Chilling
– Street Lighting
– Traffic Lights etc

42. Solar Technologies
UTILITY & INDUSTRY SCALE
APPLICATIONS

43. Utility Scale Power Generation
Solar PV Based
Solar CSP
Sterling Dish Based
Solar CSP
Power Tower Based

44. Solar Powered Water Treatment-
PV Technology
Solar PV based
Water Desalination
concept
Solar PV based Water Treatment Plant,
Philadelphia

45. Solar Powered Water Desalination –
Sterling Dish CSP Technology

46. Advantages of
CSP Sterling Dish Technology

47. Solar Powered Telecom Towers

48. Solar Powered Industrial Instruments

49. Solar Technologies
RESIDENTIAL ,COMMERCIAL &
REMOTE APPLICATIONS

50. Solar Energy Based
Home Lighting & Power Systems

51. Solar Powered Air Conditioners

52. Solar Powered Air Conditioners

53. Integrated Solar Powered Heating
(Space Heating & Hot Water)

54. Solar Hot Water Systems

55. Solar Hot Water Systems

56. Solar Powered Swimming Pool Heating

57. Solar Powered Street Lights

58. Solar Powered Lighting
(Parking and Garden)

59. Solar Powered Traffic Lights

60. Solar Powered Fancy Lighting

61. Low Power Solar Applications

62. Low Power Solar Applications (Lanterns)

63. Solar Powered Remote Applications -
Water Purification System

64. Solar Powered Remote Applications -
Water Purification System

65. Solar Powered Remote Applications –
Water Purification

66. Solar Powered Remote Applications - Habitable Tents

67. Lets look out for and discuss opportunities for
introducing Solar Energy based Projects,
Applications and Solutions!!
Thank you
For any queries, please write to me on sumitmathur80@gmail.com
Interested to learn more. Read my blog: http://analyze-visualize.blogspot.in/