Solar Energy Project

Introduction

Solar energy has been utilised for more than 2700 years for cooking, heating and other important applications that create a life more effectively. The Sun is powerful and has always been a crucial resource for humanity where the energy of the sun is considered to be inexhaustible. Solar energy possesses a positive impact on the environment and replenishes environmental factors.

Recently, the norms of solar energy projects have been popular due to the excessive usage of fossil fuels on the environment. The project of solar energy has been gradually developing with the use of innovative technology. The renewable project of solar energy means the energy gathered from sustainable sources. The resources consist of wind, geothermal heat, sunlight, rain, waves and biomass.

What is solar energy?

Solar energy is the energy that is converted into the form of electricity which helps in saving power and electricity charges. Most of the sunlight entering the atmosphere of earth emerges in the appearance of infrared radiation and visible light (Salam & Khan, 2018).

The main motives of solar energy are converting solar heating and Cooling (SHC), CSP (Concentrating solar power) and photovoltaics (PV) for electricity.

Figure 1: Off-grid solar power system

One of the major facts about solar energy is that one hour of sunlight is identical to energy worth 1 year for the planet. Solar energy projects are evolving rapidly because solar panels do not create any sort of pollution when initiating electricity. The Sun is a powerful resource and its light advances 90 million miles to the atmosphere of the earth in 10 minutes (Kassem, Çamur&Alhuoti, 2020). The largest solar power plant in the world is situated in the Mojave Desert at around 1000 acres. The main reason for using solar energy is that solar energy is more affordable in comparison to fossil fuels.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy

Advantages

• Solar energy is a renewable source of energy which is accessible and harnesses all areas of the world. Sunlight is available to earth for more than 5 billion years which is utilised effectively in this time for a positive effect on the environment.

• Solar energy helps to minimise electricity bills as the energy collected from the sun helps in forming electricity (Irfan et al. 2020). Saving on electricity bills completely relies on the usage of heat or electricity and the solar system's size.

• In maintaining solar panels or systems, huge costs are not required. The maintenance costs are extremely affordable and the most reliable production of solar panels offers 20-25 years of warranty

• Technological factors in the industry of solar power are continuously developing and advancing which is going to be intensified in the future (Salam & Khan, 2018). Innovation in quantum physics helps in maximising the efficiency of solar panels.

Figure 2: Solar power inverter

Disadvantages

• One of the major drawbacks of solar energy is that it is climate-dependent. On cloudy or winter days, the effectiveness of solar panels drops which creates difficulty in generating electricity.

• Storage of solar energy is tremendously high and initial purchasing costs are excessive. Utilising the right batteries in the charging of panels can be effective in reducing storage costs.

• Solar panels (photovoltaic panels) need huge space to get fitted. Many roofs do not have the proper structure to plant solar panels for generating electricity.

Types and uses of solar energy

Solar energy is mostly classified into two prominent types that depend based on conversion of the energy and the type of energy it is transforming into, thus, the two key types of solar energy based on the mode of conversion of energy are the passive solar energy and the active solar energy the solar thermal energy photo voltaic solar power and concentrating solar power is based on the transformation of solar energy into another form of energy. Entrapment of solar energy without the aid of mechanical devices refers to the passive solar energy.

Figure 3: Solar thermal energy

The conversion of solar energy to heat energy is called solar thermal energy. Solar thermal energy when used to generate solar power electricity helps in concentrating solar power(eia 2022).The solar power obtained is used for various purposes. It is used for heating water; solar blankets are used to keep the swimming pools warm. Solar power is also used for cooking, the solar energy obtained helps in the heating, cooking and pasteurization of the edible products. A solar cooker is used for cooking.

Solar energy project

The solar energy project is the experiment associated with the efficiency of the functioning solar heating model. This experiment is considered to be one of the easiest experiments that can be prepared in science exhibitions.

The resultant outcome however may vary based on the location, the wind speed and weather of the area. Therefore, the experiment is mostly considered in an enclosed indoor environment (dundeesciencecentre 2022). A wooden stand, thermometer, back paper, concave and a converging mirror and tube are required for this experiment. An individual needs the mount the stand and roll the tube with a piece of black paper. Then the tube is needed to be attached to the concave mirror in such a manner that the sunlight concentrate in one particular direction. Then the tube is to be filled with water and after 30 minutes the temperature is to be recorded. The temperature rise determines the efficiency of heat transfer through the concave mirror to the attached tube.

Figure 4: Solar energy project

Conclusion

Solar energy is associated with the conversion of solar energy into different types of energy and thereby effectively harvesting renewable energy. Sunlight passing through the earth’s atmosphere in the form of light and radiation is utilized by humans and plants alike. The usage of modern technology has introduced solar cell panels that help in converting solar energy for various purposes like cooking, heating and generating electricity.

FAQs

Q1. What is the use of photo voltaic solar power?

Ans: The energy obtained by the conversion of solar energy into electrical power is photovoltaic solar power. This is based on the type of conversion of solar energy.

Q2. What is active solar energy?

Ans: Usage of mechanical devices for the storage and distribution of energy refers to the active solar energy. This type of classification is based on the mode of conversion of the energy.

Q3. What are the advantages of solar energy?

Ans: Solar energy is clean and is easily renewable. This energy is also trapped easily.

Q4. What kind of mirror is used in the solar energy project?

Ans: A concave mirror is used in the solar energy project. It helps in efficiency converge the heat from the solar energy.