Transcript Photovoltaic Power

Photovoltaic Power
John Bothof
John Bothof
Photovoltaic Experience
•Ameren Solar Technology Center
•Military
NJ ANG
Hickam
Luke AFB
•Doha Qatar:
Ex Hall
Student Housing
•El Dorado 10MW
•Copper Mountain 50MW
Solar Industry
Industry Growth
•Grid-connected PV Installations grew 66%. (Q1 2011 vs Q1 2010)
•US Grid Connected PV now over 2.3GW.
•US Module Production increased 17% from last quarter.
•Anticipate Doubling of installations from 2010.
•2010 had 60% growth.
Cost Reductions
Increased Energy Demand
United States
Net Generation 2009 (Thousand megawatt hours)
3,950331
Sales to Ultimate Customers 2009 (thousand megawatt hours)
3,723803
Increase Demand
Photovoltaics
Solar Energy
•The energy we get
from our sun is the
result of nuclear
fusion reactions.
•Our sun is made up of
hydrogen which is
gradually being
converted into helium.
•The “waste” from this
reaction (derived from
e=mc2) is heat and
light energy.
Power Content of the Solar Spectrum
Harvesting and Using Solar Energy
Technologies
Different Technologies are used to take advantage of the energy
in throughout the solar spectrum.
Photovoltaic Technologies
– The direct conversion of sunlight into energy
– Converts the energy in the visible spectrum into
electricity.
Solar Thermal Technologies
– Use the energy in the “heat” part of the solar spectrum.
Solar Thermal
Photovoltaics
Flat Plate Collectors
Photovoltaics
Physics
Photovoltaics
Cell
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The electronic charges within the doped material create an electric field across the
depletion layer.
When sunlight strikes the cell it can knock an electron out of its atomic orbit
The electric field sweeps the electron towards the top electrodes
The gap or “hole” left by the electron is swept towards the back plate
The flow of charges makes an electric current which powers an attached electric
circuit
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Photovoltaics
Cell Technology
•Crystalline
• Mono
• Most efficient
• Most Expensive
• Poly
• Middle Man
Photovoltaics
Cell Technology
•Thin film
• a-Si
• CdTe
• CIS
• CIGS
• GaAs
Photovoltaics
Concentrated Solar
Photovoltaics
Ameren Solar Technology Center
•Compare Technology Output
• Same conditions
• Missouri Weather
• Customer Service
Photovoltaic
Ameren Solar Technology Center
Photovoltaics
Tracking
•Single Axis
• 25% more kWh
•Tilted Single Axis
• 27-32% more kWh
•Bi-Axis
• 35 to 40% more kWh
Array
Modules
•Series & Parallel Cells
•Modules Placed in series are called strings
•What is a Panel????
Array
Combiner
•Combine Strings in Parallel
•NEC required fuse
Array
Inverter
Converts DC into AC
Array
Inverter
STRING
MODULE
CELL
ARRAY
Combiner
Array
Advances
•Manufacturing Standards
•Implementation Standards
•MPPT Tracking
•Balance of Systems
•Inverter Improvements
Energy
Solar Power as a Generating Source
Reasons
Challenges
Increasing Energy Demand
Energy Independence
Distributed Generation
Grid Penetration
Cost
Permitting
Transmission
Energy
Improvements
IEEE 1547
– Allow low voltage ride through
– Inverters can be Stabilizing
– Transmission
– Smart Grid
“Arguing with an Engineer is like
– Energy Storage
wrestling with a pig in the mud, it
doesn’t take long to figure out the
pig likes it.”
Questions