PHOTOVOLTAIC

CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC = PHOTO + VOLT
PHOTO - LIGHT
VOLT – The Unit of Electromotive force

WHAT IS PHOTOVOLTAIC ?

 Method of Generating Electrical power

 Converts Solar radiation into direct electricity

using semi conductors

 Help of Solar panels composed of number of solar

cells.
 ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

 Solar powerBENEFITS
ENVIRONMENTAL is clear,
silent , limitless and free
 Helps conserve Natural Resources (Fossil Fuels)
 Provides tradable energy credits

OPERATING BENEFITS
 Solar panels have 25 years life and produce energy
during peak demand time
 No fuel costs
 Low maintenance cost

SCALABILITY BENEFITS
 Plants are module in nature, easily scalable and can
be built relatively faster.
 ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

DISTRIBUTED POWER GENERATION BENEFITS

 Reduces or Eliminates the amount of electricity

purchased from the Utility providers

 Eliminates the investments for Transmission and

Distribution infrastructure.

 Reduces Transmission and Distribution losses and

prevent power theft.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
DEFINITION

 Radiated energy from sun has to be captured

 Then converted into electricity by the Photovoltaic effect
 Use special panels called Photovoltaic (PV) Cells
 These cells make up Solar Panels
 PHOTONS & SEMI
CONDUCTORS
 Energy from the sun hits the surface of
the cell, in the form of Photons
 Photons :Energy in the form of light and
electromagnetic radiation , no charge
and no mass.
 PV cell is a semiconductor made from a
crystalline silicon (Si) material.
 Semiconductor materials (Si and Ge)
have a conductivity in-between
conductors and insulators
 PHOTONS & SEMI
CONDUCTORS
1) Low Iron Glass
1
2) Polymer layer 2
3) Anti-reflective coating 3
a
4) PV Cell consisting of
b
a) Contact for electricity n-type Silicon
- - - - - - - - - - - -
b) Emitter (n-type Si) + + + + + + + + + + + +
p-type Silicon
c) Base (p-type Si)
c
d) Contact
d
5) Back polymer layer 5
 SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGY

 Photons reach emitter layer

 Energy releases electrons from
silicon
 Electrons (-) are attracted to n-type Silicon
- - - - - - - - - - - -
base region (+)
 Holes (+) in the base are then + + + + + + + + + + + +
p-type Silicon
attracted to emitter region
 This is a flow of electricity
 Electricity will flow through the
two contacts
 Same principle as a diode
 SOLAR PANEL
CONSTRUCTION
 One PV Cell is approx 150mm in
diameter
 In bright sunshine it produces
0.4V d.c.
 One Module is an array of
approx. 30 cells
 Connected together in
series/parallel for desired
voltage
 Life span is about 25 yrs
 PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR
PANEL

 Various factors effect power o/p

from panels
 Shade or Clouds
 Panel position or angle
 Active panels can track the sun
 Temperature and solar
irradiance variations
 Air gap required for cooling
 Partial shading will reduce
performance and can cause
damage
 SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGY

CRYSTALLINE THIN FILM

MONO CRYSTALLINE AMORPHOUS

POLY- CRYSTALLINE
STANDALONE SOLAR PV
SYSTEM
GRID CONNECTED SOLAR PV
SYSTEM
 PRESENT SCENARIO IN INDIA

 In terms of overall installed PV capacity, India comes fourth

after Japan, Germany and U.S.
 India today is the second largest manufacturer in the world of
PV panels based on crystalline solar cells. (Industrial
production in this area has reached a level of 11MW per
year which is about 10% of the world’s total PV production)
 A major drive has also been initiated by the Government to
export Indian PV products, systems, technologies and
services (Solar Photovoltaic plant and equipment has been
exported to countries in the Middle East and Africa)
 PV technology fills a significant need in supplying electricity,
creating local jobs and promoting economic development in
rural areas, avoiding the external environmental costs
associated with traditional electrical generation technologies.
 Major power policy reforms and tax incentives will play a
major role if all the above said is to be effectively realized.
 ACHIEVEMENTS
SOLAR DESERT STRUCTURE SOLAR STADIUM- TAIWAN

SOLAR ARTIFICIAL PLANT SOLAR PLANE

 ACHIEVEMENTS
SOLAR INTERSECTIONS SOLAR CRANE -CALIFORNIA

SOLAR PYRAMID _ABU DHABI SOLAR FLOWER POWER -AUSTIN