PHOTOVOLTAIC(PV) ENERGY

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) ENERGY

Photovoltaic (PV) energy, also referred to as solar energy, is a clean, renewable source of power that converts sunlight into thermal or electrical energy. The electrical energy produced through PV sources is then converted into electricity. There are three major types of solar energy: passive, active, and thermal solar. Passive solar energy systems are built directly into a building’s blueprints (walls, windows, skylights) to improve heating and lighting efficiency. Active solar energy systems use a mechanism to collect and convert energy into a usable form. A photovoltaic system employs solar modules, each comprising a number of solar cells, which generate electrical power. Photovoltaic modules were first mass-produced in 2000 when German environmentalists and the Eurosolar organization received government funding for a one hundred thousand roof program

WORKING

The most common photovoltaic source used to convert sunlight into electricity is the solar panel. Solar panels are made up of a series of individual PV cells. Typical solar modules consist of 32, 36, 48, 60, 72, or 96 cells. Modules are then grouped together to form a panel or a larger array. PV cells capture sunlight, more specifically photons, by using a semiconducting material which then converts PV installations may be ground-mounted, rooftop-mounted, wall-mounted or floating. The mount may be fixed or use a solar tracker to follow the sun across the sky Photovoltaic systems have long been used in specialized applications as stand-alone installations and grid-connected PV systems have been in use since the 1990s.[2]the sunlight/photons into direct current (DC) electricity.

ADVANTAGES

It has the following types of advantages;

• FREE RAW MATERIALS.

• VERSATILITY.

• SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SMART ENERGY NETWORKS.

• REDUCED COSTS.

• LOW IN MAINTENANCE.

• SILENT.

• EASY TO INSTALL

Application of photovoltaic cell

Solar Farms Many acres of PV panels can provide utility-scale power—from tens of megawatts to more than a gigawatt of electricity. These large systems, using fixed or sun-tracking panels, feed power into municipal or regional grids.
Remote Locations It is not always cost-effective, convenient, or even possible to extend power lines to locations where electricity is needed. PV can be the solution—for rural homes, villages in developing nations, lighthouses, offshore oil platforms, desalination plants, and remote health clinics.
Stand-Alone Power In urban or remote areas, PV can power stand-alone devices, tools, and meters. PV can meet the need for electricity for parking meters, temporary traffic signs, emergency phones, radio transmitters, water irrigation pumps, stream-flow gauges, remote guard posts, lighting for roadways, and more.
Power in Space From the beginning, PV has been a primary power source for Earth-orbiting satellites. High-efficiency PV has supplied power for ventures such as the International Space Station and surface rovers on the Moon and Mars, and it will continue to be an integral part of space and planetary exploration.
Building-Related Needs In buildings, PV panels mounted on roofs or ground can supply electricity. PV material can also be integrated into a building’s structure as windows, roof tiles, or cladding to serve a dual purpose. In addition, awnings and parking structures can be covered with PV to provide shading and power
Transportation PV can provide auxiliary power for vehicles such as cars and boats. Automobile sunroofs can include PV for onboard power needs or trickle-charging batteries. Lightweight PV can also conform to the shape of airplane wings to help power high-altitude aircraft.

DISADVANTAGE

1. Pollution and Energy in Production

2. Impact on Electricity Network

3. Implications for Electricity Bill Management and Energy Investment

PHOTOVOLTAIC(PV) ENERGY