SOLAR ENERGY

Tanisha Agarwal- 22045155

Himanshu Kumar- 22045160
Ritik Thakur-22045118
Abhishek Rauchhiya- 21165004
SOLAR ENERGY: A RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY 2
The fossil fuel energy market is evolving due to increasing
demand for renewable energy sources, concerns about climate
change, and environmental impacts. Companies and
governments are investing in carbon capture, storage
technologies, and exploring alternative energy sources.

Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of power that

does not release harmful greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere, unlike conventional fuel sources such as coal or
natural gas. By utilizing solar energy, carbon emissions can be
significantly reduced, contributing to the fight against climate
change.

The contribution of solar energy (including concentrating solar

power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) power) to global
electricity production, as one form of renewable energy
sources, is generally still low, at 3.6%. However, it has firmly
established itself among other renewable energy technologies,
comprising nearly 31% of the total installed renewable energy
capacity in 2022, making it the second most installed
renewable energy resource behind hydropower energy.

The engineering working principle behind solar energy involves

the design and arrangement of solar panels to maximize
sunlight absorption and energy conversion. Factors such as the
angle and orientation of the solar panels, the efficiency of the
semiconductor material, and the use of tracking systems to
follow the movement of the sun all play a role in optimizing the
performance of a solar energy system.
 HARNESSING SOLAR POWER 3
Electrical energy can be harvested from solar power by means of either photovoltaics or concentrated solar power systems.

PHOTOVOLTAICS(PV) Photovoltaics directly convert CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER In this type of solar power
solar energy into electricity. system, sun rays are concentrated
They work on the principle of the on a small area by placing mirrors
photovoltaic effect. or lenses over a large area.
When certain materials are Due to this, a huge amount of heat
exposed to light, they absorb is generated at the focused area.
photons and release free This heat can be used to heat up
electrons. This phenomenon is the working fluid which can
called as the photoelectric further drive the steam turbine.
effect. There are different types of
technologies that are based on
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are connected to form arrays for increased power. the concentrated solar power to
Types include:
produce electricity. Some of them
PV direct systems: supply power only when the Sun is shining, no storage.
Off-grid systems: used where grid power is unavailable, with solar panels,
are - parabolic trough, Stirling
batteries, and inverters. dish, solar power tower etc.
Grid-connected systems: tied to grids for accessing excess power, may have
batteries.

WORKING OF A SOLAR CELL

A very thin layer of p-type semiconductor is grown on a relatively thicker n-type semiconductor. We
then apply a few finer electrodes on the top of the p-type semiconductor layer.
When light hits the p-n junction, photons create electron-hole pairs by supplying energy, disrupting
thermal equilibrium. Free electrons and holes move to their respective sides but can't cross due to the
junction's barrier potential. This leads to a concentration difference, creating a photo voltage
resembling a battery. Connecting a load results in a small current flow.
 POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY 4
The earth's surface receives much energy from the sun which is enough
to provide 7900 times as much energy as the world's population
currently uses.
On the global average, each square meter of land that received enough
sunlight can generate 1700 kW-h (kWh) of power each year
The average solar energy received in the Middle East that is measured
in global horizontal irradiance varies approximately between 1800 kW-h
per square meter per year (kWh/m2/y) to 2300 kWh/m2/y, while in
Europe, it is about 1200 kWh/m2/y
As also shown in Fig. 2, developing countries have high potential to
receive enough solar radiation as a result of their geographical location
in comparison to developed countries.

Fig.1 shows the contribution of each continent in the world's solar PV

installed capacity in 2018, followed by 2030 and 2050 based on IRENA’s
REmap analysis
In comparison to the PV installations in 2018 the world’s PV installed capacity
is projected to increase almost six times by 2030 and almost 18 times by
2050.

Fig. 2. Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI)

Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is the measure of the quantity of the available solar
resource per surface area
 CHALLENGES AND SHORTCOMINGS 5

INTERMITTENCY COST STORAGE

Solar energy is dependent on The initial cost of setting up solar Storing solar energy for use during
sunlight, which means it is not power plants can be high. The cost of periods of low sunlight can be a
available 24/7. This intermittency can solar panels and other equipment, as challenge. Battery technology is
be a challenge for meeting well as installation and maintenance, improving, but efficient and cost-
continuous energy demands. can be a barrier to widespread effective energy storage solutions
adoption. are still needed.

LAND REQUIREMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT GRID INTEGRATION

Solar power plants require a While solar energy is a clean and Integrating solar energy into existing
significant amount of land for renewable energy source, the power grids can be challenging.
installation. Finding suitable land and production and disposal of solar Upgrading infrastructure, managing
acquiring it can be a challenge, panels can have environmental fluctuations in supply, and ensuring
especially in densely populated impacts. Proper recycling and grid stability are important
areas. disposal methods need to be considerations.
implemented.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS 6

Reducing Carbon emission

Clean and Renewable: Solar energy is a sustainable power source that doesn’t emit
greenhouse gases.
Contrast with Fossil Fuels: It’s an alternative to traditional fuels like coal and natural gas,
which are major pollutants.
Carbon Emission Reduction: Utilizing solar energy can greatly lower carbon emissions.
Climate Change Mitigation: This reduction contributes significantly to combating climate
change.

Land Use and Ecological Impacts

Land Use: Utility-scale PV systems range from 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt, while
estimates for CSP facilities are between 4 to 16.5 acres per megawatt, potentially
conflicting with existing land uses and impacting wilderness or recreational areas.

Other Impacts
Soil: Solar facility construction can lead to soil compaction, altered drainage, and erosion.
Water: Water usage for cooling in arid regions and potential chemical spills may strain resources and contaminate groundwater.
Air: Construction can release pathogens and increase particulate matter, affecting air quality and water reservoirs.
Source:https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/environmental-impacts-solar-power
 INDIAN PERSPECTIVE 7
With about 300 clear and sunny days in a year, the calculated solar energy incidence on India's
land area is about 5,000 lakh crore (5,000 trillion) kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year.
The solar energy available in a single year exceeds the possible energy output of all of the fossil
fuel energy reserves in India.
The daily average solar-power-plant generation capacity in India is 0.30 kWh per sq. meter of
used land area, equivalent to 1,400–1,800 peak (rated) capacity operating hours in a year with
available, commercially-proven technology.

India stands 4th globally in Renewable Energy

Installed Capacity , 4th in Wind Power capacity
& 4th in Solar Power capacity (as per REN21
Renewables 2022 Global Status Report).
 CURRENT SITUATION IN THE WORLD 8

Growth:
The world currently has a cumulative solar energy capacity of 850.2 GW (gigawatts).
4.4% of our global energy comes from solar power.

Domination of China:
China dominates solar energy than any other country, with a current capacity of
308.5 GW.
China is the country with the highest number of solar industry jobs, accounting for
58% of the global total, according to the IRENA database.

Opportunities:
3,975,096 people are employed in the solar industry worldwide, and 263,883 of
these are in the United States.

Turkmenistan, Hong Kong, Qatar, Oman, Libya, Kuwait, and Bahrain are some of the
countries that do not yet use solar power in 2024.

Supports:
Governments around the world are increasingly backing solar with supportive
policies. China, the US, the EU, and India are accelerating solar's adoption.
Source: https://theroundup.org/solar-power-statistics/:
 CURRENT SITUATION IN INDIA 9
As of Feb 2024, Renewable energy sources, including large hydropower,
have a combined installed capacity of 183.49 GW.
Solar Energy is the largest holder in terms of installed capacity among all
other renewable energy resources.
The Increase in Solar Power installed capacity ranges from 2.6 GW to 75.57
GW since 2014 which is nearly 30 times.
Including both ground and roof-mounted plants, the country's installed
solar power capacity was 66.78 GWAC as of 31 March 2023. Solar electricity
generation from April 2022 to March 2023 increased to 102.01 terawatt-hour
(TWh) from 73.48 TWh in the same period a year ago.
India's solar power installed capacity was 81.813 GWAC as of 31 March 2024.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), proposed by India as a founder

member, is headquartered in India. India has also put forward the
concept of "One Sun One World One Grid" and "World Solar Bank" to
harness abundant solar power on a global scale.

CHALLENGES IN INDIA
Currently, 90% of India's solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity is concentrated in just nine states, raising concerns about the resilience of a future PV-
dominated grid.
Recent studies have shown that during cyclones, PV generation can plummet to near-zero levels. Given that a significant portion of India is prone
to cyclones, dust storms, and monsoon rains, deploying PV plants in regions with uncorrelated irradiance profiles can significantly reduce the
overall risk of low generation and variability of PV output.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India
 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES IN INDIA 10
India has a significant potential for solar energy due to its geographical location and abundant sunlight.
The Indian government has implemented various policies and initiatives : .

International Solar Alliance(ISA) Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy

In January 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President In 2018, national policy was announced to promote an extensive grid-
François Hollande laid the foundation stone for the headquarters of the connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for efficiently utilizing
International Solar Alliance (ISA) in Gwal Pahari, Gurugram. transmission infrastructure and land.
The ISA will focus on promoting and developing solar energy and solar A way to address the intermittency challenge of one renewable power
products for countries lying wholly or partially between the Tropic of source is to combine solar and wind, achieving better grid stability.
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. It provides flexibility in share of wind and solar components in the hybrid
The alliance of over 120 countries was announced at the Paris COP21 project; however, the capacity of one resource must be at least 25% of
climate summit. the rated power capacity of other resources.

AatmaNirbhar Bharat Large-scale Projects

PLI scheme in Solar PV manufacturing with financial outlays of INR
24,000 Cr introduced under AatmaNirbhar Bharat. Bhadla Solar Park: Located in Rajasthan, is the largest solar parks in
Imposition of Basic Customs Duty of 25% on Solar Cell & 40% on the world with a capacity of 2,245 MW.
Solar PV Modules w.e.f. 01.04.2022. Rewa Ultra Mega Solar: Located in Madhya Pradesh, it is one of the
The government offers tax incentives, such as accelerated largest single-site solar power projects in the world with a capacity of
depreciation and exemption from customs duty, to solar power 750 MW.
developers and manufacturers. These incentives reduce the financial Charanka Solar Park: Located in Gujarat, it is one of the largest solar
burden and encourage investment in the solar sector. parks in India with a capacity of 590 MW.

50 solar parks with an aggregate capacity of 37.49 GW have been approved in India. Wind Energy has an off-shore target of 30 GW by 2030, with
potential sites identified.
In Union Budget 2023-24, INR 7,327 Cr was allocated for the solar power sector, including grid, a 48% increase over the previous year.

https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/renewable-energy
 FUTURE PROSPECTS 11

Cost Reductions Technological Innovations

Declining Solar Panel Costs : Solar power tariffs declined from a peak of over Silicon Solar Cells(SSCs) Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs)
Rs 17 per unit to less than Rs 2.5 per unit. India achieved the feat of solar 18% (PCEs) 25%
levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) dipping below fossil fuel LCOE in 2018.
Competition and Market Dynamics Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a type of photovoltaic technology
Financial Incentives and Policies that harnesses sunlight to generate electricity

Monofacial Panels Bifacial Panels

Environmental Impact
Bifacial panels absorb direct sunlight from the front and also
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Solar energy produces electricity capture reflected and diffused light from the rear (e.g., sunlight
without emitting harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide and other bouncing off the ground or nearby surfaces).
greenhouse gases.
Land Use and Biodiversity: Solar installations occupy less land compared to
traditional power plants. Properly designed solar farms can coexist with
agriculture or wildlife habitats. India’s rich biodiversity benefits from
reduced habitat disruption.

45% of the electricity in the United States by

2050 if the energy system is fully
decarbonized
of new renewable energy capacity in
80% India during fiscal years 2024 and 2025
will come from solar installations
Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance, National Renewable Laboratories
 UPCOMING
UPCOMING INNOVATIONS
INNOVATIONS 12

Bifacial Solar Panels: These panels can capture sunlight from both sides, increasing energy generation efficiency. They work by allowing
light to pass through the panel and reflect off the ground onto the backside of the panel. This can increase energy output by up to 10-30%.

Solar Paint: Imagine a paint that can convert sunlight into electricity. Researchers are working on developing photovoltaic paint that can be
applied to various surfaces, turning them into solar panels. This could revolutionize solar energy generation by making virtually any surface a
potential solar energy generator.

Solar Windows: Transparent solar panels can be integrated into windows, allowing buildings to generate electricity while still letting light
pass through. These windows can be used in homes, offices, and skyscrapers to reduce dependency on traditional energy sources.

Solar-Powered Desalination: Combining solar energy with desalination technologies can provide clean drinking water in areas with limited
freshwater resources. Solar desalination plants use sunlight to power the desalination process, making it more sustainable and cost-
effective.

Floating Solar Farms: Building solar panels on water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, and even oceans can maximize land use efficiency and
reduce water evaporation. Floating solar farms also have the potential to generate more electricity due to the cooling effect of the water.