Report on Solar Energy

Theories and how Solar Energy works

             Solar is the primal energy source in many developed countries around the world. Now in the present age, countries are highly concerned with the renewable energy production system. Particularly countries that have a deep interest in the removal of pollution and reduction in environmental impact to make the environment safe and healthy for all living creatures. Solar energy is being in use in the industrial sectors and household uses to decrease the consumption of energy types that are expensive and harmful to the environment.

            Solar energy is now a part of our daily life. We use many devices working by utilizing solar energy (HUANG, et al., 2001). For instance, solar cells supported cars and solar cell based calculators. Solar resources are not the only energy production resources, in fact, there are many other energy production sources such as wind power, and thermal power. Somehow, these sources have many negative effects on our environment.

               According to the environmental theories, solar energy has a limited environmental impact that is the major reason for the increase in the trend of solar energy production in developing and developed countries. (news.energysage.com, 2019) Global solar resources are solar energy from sunlight, energy transmitted by electromagnetic waves, and energy tapped directly from biomass and wind.

        Solar panels work to generate electricity in various ways and methods. For instance, solar cells getting heat from sunlight to boil water (stored in the water tanks) to produce stream with the purpose to run shaft and turn on the generator to produce electricity. Basically, solar module and standard solar panel are made up of layers having silicon cells. Current flows from these silicon cells when it absorbs heat from sunlight to produce electricity (HUANG, et al., 2001). In other words, light interaction results in the motions of electrons in the silicon cells. The whole process is also known as the photovoltaic effect.

           According to the theories presented about the photovoltaic process, the solar panel works simply by heating and moving electronics in the cells to produce DC electricity that converts in AC after passing through the solar inverter (Foster, et al., 2009). Solar Panel has several important parts that can influence solar panel performance. For instance, durability related goals can be accomplished and silicon PV cells protection efficiency can be improved through adding glass casing in the solar cells.

            Cell formation is classified in two main categories inclosing polycrystalline and mono-crystalline (Foster, et al., 2009). Theories represent that mono-crystalline cells formation is a relatively better option as compared to the second one as in the mono-crystalline electronics usually have more space or room to move around. Additional space or room available to move around results in the higher efficiency of electricity production.

Assessment on Solar Energy

               According to the research findings and assessment, commercial solar cells have the capability to interchange or convert solar energy into the DC current (electricity) with less than 20% efficiency. Somehow, in this situation remaining 80% absorbed solar energy is dumped (after conversion of energy) to surroundings. However, researchers emphasized the usefulness of Thermal (PV/T) collectors and Hybrid PV. Research findings presented by the research work of HUANG, LIN, HUNG, and SUN, (2001) concluded that corrugated polycarbonate panel supports the production of solar PV/T that can have high thermal efficiency.

             Evaluative analysis indicates that solar energy is many times better than thermal energy because of its eco-friendly and renewable nature. Moreover, the heat efficiency of solar energy is also greater than other energy production methods such as thermal energy generation. According, the analysis of thermal efficiency declines when we use it to increase the temperature of water (Foster, et al., 2009). Conversion of energy laws supports the idea that heat transfer from hot to cool liquid or body.

              By connecting two bodies with each other having different body temperature we usually get the equal temperature of both bodies as energy transfers to the cold body. Considering this, if we analyze the solar power we can say that solar cells continuously absorb heat energy and transfer that heat energy to the electrons to produce electricity (HUANG, et al., 2001). Thus the whole process mainly depends upon the performance of silicon cells and electrons movement rather than other factors such as steam and bio-decomposition.                

Research Findings and Conclusions on Solar Energy

        Many factors have an impact on system optimization, as well as primary production of energy through solar energy production methods. Research findings present that solar energy is the best and cheapest source to produce energy. The solar power generation process is really simple but not really easy (Foster, et al., 2009). It requires a big set up of water tanks, converters, generators, glass casting, and silicon cells.

           Solar power can provide solar energy at cheap rates but the initial installation cost is really high for these solar panels. Excluding the installation cost and maintenance cost, we can say that solar energy is the best energy type in renewable energies. Concluding the whole discussion we can say that focusing on solar energy we can prevent the environment to waste natural resources. Sunlight heat is free. It has a limited environmental impact. Therefore, it would not be wrong if we say that solar power can save the environment from pollution, smoke, diseases caused by smoke or pollution, an increase of carbon in the environment.        

References of Solar Energy

Foster, R., Ghassemi, M. & Cota, A., 2009. Solar Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment. s.l.:CRC Press.

HUANG, B. J., LIN, T. H., HUNG, W. C. & SUN, F. S., 2001. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC/ THERMAL SYSTEMS. Solar Energy, 70(5), pp. 443-448.

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