Solar Energy Articles

Solar power is an abundant renewable source that could be the solution to our future energy needs, but just how does a solar array produce the electricity that powers our lives? The short answer is that, through a solar panel, photons (light particles) are able to knock electrons off atoms and this causes a flow of electricity. The long ...

Nov. 11, 2016

By Institut für Solartechnik

NREL U.S. PV system cost benchmarks, from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2016 The modeled costs to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems continued to decline in the first quarter of 2016 in the U.S. residential, commercial, and utility-scale sectors, according to updated benchmarks from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Driving the cost ...

Sep. 28, 2016

By National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) published on March 11, 2015, its supplement to the President’s 2016 budget submitted to Congress. NNI states that the supplement serves as the NNI annual report. According to the annual report, in 2014, federal agencies invested $1.57 billion in ...

Mar. 19, 2015

By Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

This paper presents a performance analysis of grid connected SPV system for different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. The detailed mathematical model of grid connected three–phase solar photovoltaic (SPV) system with parametric model of SPV cell, thermal modelling and switching loss calculation of switching devices are discussed. The performance evaluation has been carried out for ...

Feb. 19, 2015

By Inderscience Publishers

This latest market research report titled Photovoltaic Generator Market in India 2014 states that the renewable energy sector is gaining prominence in India. With the country facing a continuous shortfall in the supply of conventional sources required to meet the increasing demand for energy in recent years, the focus is gradually shifting from conventional to renewable sources of energy. In ...

Nov. 6, 2014

In this paper, we present a quantified system dynamics model simulating the adoption of smart grid technologies such as electric vehicles, PV systems and smart meters in a mid-sized urban system and the resulting impact on the CO 2 emissions. We also analyse the impact of different subsidies on the adoption and calculate the effectiveness regarding public and private spending on these ...

Oct. 16, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

“Kyocera’s photovoltaic system is one of the cornerstones of our environmentally sustainable facility, allowing The New Children’s Museum to live up to its promise as a green Museum for children and families.” Rachel Teagle, Executive Director of Children’s Museum San Diego Unique Feature: In addition to solar, other sustainable design elements include ...

Oct. 1, 2014

By Kyocera Solar, Inc.

ABSTRACT The demand for solar photovoltaic cells and modules has far outstripped PV cell supply and module prices are rising. To solve this problem. JX Crystals is developing a 3-sun mirror module that uses 1/3 the cell area to triple module production at a lower cost. Our concentrator module design uses existing planar cells. We simply cut standard SunPower A300 cells into thirds. In ...

Aug. 28, 2014

By JX Crystals

PV Insider’s recently published guide on ‘Exporting Indian solar expertise abroad’ includes interviews from key Middle Eastern solar players such as ACWA power, Masdar and Sun & Life on whether Indian companies would make good partners on PV projects in the Middle East. In a recent contribution to PV Insider’s guide on ‘Exporting Indian solar expertise ...

Aug. 19, 2014

By FCBI Energy

The CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dots co-sensitised solar cells are successfully fabricated to improve the photovoltaic performance. The CuInS 2 quantum dots are adsorbed on the surface of TiO 2 nanoparticles by assembly linking technique, and then the CdS quantum dots are deposited by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction technique. The absorption intensity is obviously ...

Jul. 22, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

A Space Power Satellite capable of providing solar electric power economically for 24 hours per day has been a dream for decades. However, the SPS concept is very complex since it assumes multiple energy conversion steps and includes specially constructed ground microwave receiver stations. The 5 km by 15 km Integrated Symmetric Concentrator SPS concept employs light weight mirrors in a GEO ...

Jul. 15, 2014

By JX Crystals

Location: Lakatameia, Nicosia Size: 3.00 kWp Annual generation: 5124 kWh CO2 savings per year : 4.6 tonnes The Problem Mrs Charalambous is a hardworking woman wanted to reduce her annual electricity costs for her 4-family house in Nicosia. Since Mrs Charalambous was eligible for a government grant of 2,700€ for a  3kWp Photovoltaic Installation, she ...

Jul. 14, 2014

By C.A.S. Energy Ltd

This paper proposes a single stage three–phase grid–connected photovoltaic (PV) system topology, it being simpler and more efficient. This includes the modelling of PV module and the power conditioning unit interfacing the PV to the utility grid with proper power flow control. The output of the PV panel is connected to the DC–side of the voltage source inverter for interfacing to the grid. The ...

Jul. 7, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

The development of renewable energy sources will increase the amount of generation connected to distribution networks. The main advantages are that optimally located distributed generation resources can reduce or postpone the need for investment in the transmission and distribution infrastructure; transmission and distribution losses are reduced as well as improvement in power quality and system ...

Jul. 2, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

Numerical modelling of thin–film tandem solar cells is investigated using PC–1D program. The program is adapted to simulate the performance of multi–junction solar cells. Cadmium–zinc telluride (Cd0.6Zn0.4Te) is chosen as an absorber layer material for the wide band gap top cell and copper indium diselenide ...

Jul. 2, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

The growing interest in biofuels is a consequence of the need to reduce operating costs of energy systems and the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The same applies to PV modules, comprising a solution environmentally desirable for power generation. This paper presents a study on the inclusion of biodiesel and PV modules in a system already in operation on a small farm in southern ...

Jul. 2, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

Building Integrated Solar photovoltaic (BIPV) systems utilize building integrated solar panels to generate electricity, by transforming solar radiations into electrical energy. The energy generated has wide applications in several sectors including residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The major advantage of the BIPV is decentralization from grid power. View Full ...

May 13, 2014

A modern maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method based on the incremental conductance (IncCond) control algorithm is discussed. This method features a variable step iteration of duty ratio to get over the trade–off between dynamic performance and steady state oscillation around maximum power point (MPP). Moreover, in the aim to get an excellent precision and a swift response independently of ...

Apr. 14, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

In this paper, the thermal and electrical exergies and the exergy destructions are calculated for a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system based on solar exergy rates for some Indian climates namely Bangalore, Jodhpur, Mumbai, New Delhi and Srinagar for a year and for different US climates namely Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Portland, San Antonio, San Francisco, Tucson and Tulsa for January, ...

Apr. 9, 2014

By Inderscience Publishers

Location: Kaimakli, Nicosia Size: 2.97 kWp Annual generation: 5062 kWh CO2 savings per year : 4.5 tonnes The Problem Mr Michael wanted urgently to cut his high annual electricity costs for his 4-family house in Nicosia. Taking advantage of the area’s high sunshine hours and the government’s Net metering scheme for solar photovoltaic system installations ...

Apr. 8, 2014

By C.A.S. Energy Ltd