Table Of ContentGreen Energy and Technology
Malti Goel
V. S. Verma
Neha Goel Tripathi
Solar
Energy
Made Simple for a Sustainable Future
Green Energy and Technology
Climatechange,environmentalimpactandthelimitednaturalresourcesurgescien-
tific research and novel technical solutions. The monograph series Green Energy
and Technology serves as a publishing platform for scientific and technological
approaches to “green”—i.e. environmentally friendly and sustainable—technolo-
gies. While a focus lies on energy and power supply, it also covers “green” solu-
tions in industrial engineering and engineering design. Green Energy and Tech-
nology addresses researchers, advanced students, technical consultants as well as
decision makers in industries and politics. Hence, the level of presentation spans
frominstructionaltohighlytechnical.
**IndexedinScopus**.
**IndexedinEiCompendex**.
Moreinformationaboutthisseriesathttps://link.springer.com/bookseries/8059
· ·
Malti Goel V. S. Verma Neha Goel Tripathi
Solar Energy
Made Simple for a Sustainable Future
MaltiGoel V.S.Verma
ClimateChangeResearchInstitute CentralElectricityRegulatoryCommission
NewDelhi,Delhi,India NewDelhi,Delhi,India
NehaGoelTripathi
SchoolofPlanningandArchitecture
NewDelhi,Delhi,India
ISSN 1865-3529 ISSN 1865-3537 (electronic)
GreenEnergyandTechnology
ISBN 978-981-19-2098-1 ISBN 978-981-19-2099-8 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2099-8
©TheEditor(s)(ifapplicable)andTheAuthor(s),underexclusivelicensetoSpringerNature
SingaporePteLtd.2022
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ordissimilarmethodologynowknownorhereafterdeveloped.
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Thepublisher,theauthors,andtheeditorsaresafetoassumethattheadviceandinformationinthisbook
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Singapore
DedicatedtoSuryaDeva(HindinameforSun
God)
OmAdityayaVidmaheSahasraKiranaya
Dhimahi TannoSuryaPrachodayaat//
−ImeditateontheSunGod,theonewith
thousandsofrays.LettheSunGod(Surya
Deva)illuminatemyintellect.
Preface
…WeshouldbeusingNature’sinexhaustiblesourcesof
energy—sun,wind,andtide…I’dputmymoneyonthesunand
solarenergy.Whatasourceofpower!Ihopewedon’thaveto
waituntiloilandcoalrunoutbeforewetacklethat.
—ThomasEdisonin1931inconversationwithHenryFord1
Solarenergyispeople’senergy.ThebookSolarEnergy:MadeSimpleforaSustain-
ableFutureprovidesglimpsesofvastapplicationareasofsolarenergy.Its14chap-
ters aim to create public awareness about solar energy, educate the youth about
the fundamental principles of its conversion, and create understanding among the
massesaboutitslarge-scaleapplications.Sinceancienttimes,manyworldregions
have harnessed Sun’s energy for human comfort. Solar as an alternative for elec-
tricitygeneration became known inthelastseventy years.Thebookexplores new
ways of harnessing solar energy as chemical energy, in addition to solar heat and
light, and covers large-scale applications in buildings and cities. Fundamentals of
solar collectors, and various other devices, being used in households and industry
forpowerproduction,processheating,andcoolingaredescribed.
Progress in solar energy is helping us to meet our national commitments for
internationalagreementsandprotocolssuchasParisAgreementonclimatechange
andachievingsustainabledevelopmentgoals.Thebookhasaparticularchapteron
InternationalSolarAlliance,anIndianinitiativewithavisiontorealize“OneSun,
One World, One Grid”. India being a tropical country, there is plenty of sunshine
throughouttheyear,and“solarhotspots”aremany.Indiahassetalaudabletargetto
achievetheinstalledcapacityof175GWfromrenewableenergysourcesby2022,
out of which 100 GW is to be met from solar energy. A total of 48 GW has been
achievedasofDecember2021.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, late President of India, greatly appreciated the first
author’sbookonEnergySourcesandGlobalWarmingpublishedbyAlliedPublishers
11987, Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis
Carrel,&CharlesLindberghbyJamesD.Newton(JamesDraperNewton),QuotePageix,Harcourt
BraceJovanovich,SanDiego,California.
vii
viii Preface
in2005.Theauthorcoveredallrenewableandnon-renewablesources,anditstwo
chapters discussed solar energy. The original idea for writing a new book came
after the Paris Agreement 2015. The need was felt for revising, and the current
bookincorporatesrecentadvancementsinsolarenergycoveredinthe14chapters.
Itincludesdiscretechaptersonsolarresourceassessmentandutilization,solarPV
plants,solarthermalenergy,solarchemicalenergy,greenhydrogen,solarcooling,
solarbuildings,solarrooftops,andsolarcities.
Thebookisaquickreadingforexperts,researchers,andaninclusiveknowledge
resource to students and policymakers to expose them to solar energy’s scientific
and technological breakthroughs. It delves into the understanding of Sun’s energy
potentialfromideatoseveralapplicationsandexamplesinpracticaluse.Thereader
willlearnhowsciencehasprovidedtoolsforharnessingsolarenergy,whyyoushould
pursue solar science and technology, and how it helps in clean energy transition
contributingtotheimprovementintheenvironmenttowardnetzero.
AcknowledgementsFortheirinspiration,weconveyourthankstoShri.K.S.Popli,
Ex-CMD, IREDA, Shri. P. S. Bami, Ex-CMD, NTPC Ltd., and Shri. R. V. Shahi,
Ex-Secretary, Ministry of Power. Our thanks are due to Prof. D. P. Agrawal, Ex-
Chairman, Union Public Service Commission, for his encouragement. The second
authoristhankfultoProf.P.S.N.Rao,Director,SchoolofPlanningandArchitecture,
forthemotivation.
ManyofournearanddearonesweretakenawaybypandemicCOVID-19.May
theirsoulsbeblessedandrestinpeace!AuthorsrememberlatePankajGupta,aclose
relative,asagreatmotivator,whowasalwaysveryencouragingandinspiringallto
learnandadvanceintheirareaofworkandbecomeabetterpersontodosomething
forthecountry.Bywritingthisbook,wecontinuehislegacyofknowledgesharing.
Lastly,thebookaimstoempoweryouth,cityleaders,policymakers,students,and
communities to understand the potential for solar energy and comprehend how its
enhanceddeploymentcouldbenefitsustainabilityandamovetowardnetzero.
NewDelhi,India MaltiGoel
December2021 V.S.Verma
NehaGoelTripathi
Contents
1 SolarEnergy—ThenandNow .................................. 1
1.1 SolarBreakthrough ....................................... 1
1.2 SolarEnergyinAncientTimes ............................. 1
1.3 SolarEnergyinModernTimes ............................. 4
1.4 SolarEnergyandSustainableEnergyFuture ................. 7
1.4.1 ParisAgreementonClimateChange ................. 8
1.4.2 CleanEnergyTransition ........................... 9
1.4.3 SustainableDevelopmentGoals ..................... 9
1.5 TheScopeoftheBook .................................... 10
1.6 Outlook ................................................. 11
References .................................................... 11
PartI SolarRadiationandItsConversion
2 Sun:UnlimitedEnergyResourceonEarth ....................... 15
2.1 TheSun ................................................. 15
2.1.1 InternalStructureoftheSun ........................ 16
2.1.2 Sun’sAtmosphere ................................ 18
2.2 EnergyReceivedfromSuntoEarth ......................... 18
2.2.1 AboutEarthandItsAtmosphere .................... 18
2.2.2 EnergyReceivedontheEarth ...................... 19
2.3 CompositionofSolarRadiation ............................ 22
2.4 AboutNaturalandEnhancedGreenhouseEffect .............. 23
2.4.1 AboutGlobalClimateChange ...................... 24
References .................................................... 26
3 SolarResource:AssessmentandUtilization ...................... 27
3.1 SolarRadiation .......................................... 27
3.2 SolarResourceAssessment ................................ 28
3.2.1 SolarIrradiance .................................. 28
3.2.2 SolarConstant ................................... 29
3.2.3 Insolation ........................................ 29
ix
x Contents
3.2.4 SolarDeclination ................................. 30
3.2.5 AirMassNumber ................................. 31
3.2.6 Global,Direct,andDiffuseSolarRadiation ........... 32
3.2.7 TiltAngle ....................................... 32
3.3 SolarResourceUtilization ................................. 32
3.3.1 SolarPowerVariabilityForecasting ................. 33
3.3.2 Importance of Weather Forecasting in Solar
ResourceUtilization .............................. 34
3.4 SolarProjectPre-feasibilityAssessment ..................... 35
3.4.1 SolarPowerForecastingModelsApproach ........... 35
References .................................................... 37
4 SolarPowerPlants ............................................ 39
4.1 SolarPowerPlant ........................................ 39
4.2 MainComponentsofaSolarPVPlant ...................... 39
4.2.1 SolarArray ...................................... 40
4.2.2 AnInverter ...................................... 40
4.2.3 PowerStorageBattery ............................. 41
4.2.4 ChargeController ................................. 42
4.2.5 PhysicalInfrastructure,Cables,Meters,Sensors ....... 42
4.3 PerformanceofaSolarPVPlant ........................... 43
4.3.1 LevelizedCostofSolarElectricity .................. 43
4.4 TypesofSolarPVPlants .................................. 44
4.4.1 Standalone ....................................... 44
4.4.2 DecentralizedDistributedGeneration ................ 45
4.4.3 Grid-ConnectedSolarPlant ........................ 46
4.4.4 SolarMicrogrids .................................. 46
4.4.5 SolarizationofAgriculturePumpsinIndia ........... 47
4.4.6 SolarParks ...................................... 48
References .................................................... 49
5 SolarLightEnergy:APhotovoltaicCell ......................... 51
5.1 PhotovoltaicEffect ....................................... 51
5.2 ASolarCell ............................................. 52
5.3 SolarCellMaterials ...................................... 54
5.3.1 TheCellEfficiencyandCollectorArea .............. 55
5.4 SearchforNewSolarCellMaterials ........................ 56
5.4.1 SecondGenerationofThin-FilmSolarCells .......... 56
5.4.2 Third-GenerationMulti-junctionSolarCells .......... 57
5.4.3 NewMaterialsforSolarCells ...................... 58
References .................................................... 62
