Solar System And Solar Electricity

SSSSESubject code : EC 38106

UNITS

UNIT 1 : Introduction to Energy Sources.UNIT 2 : Solar Energy.UNIT 3 : Solar PV Panel.UNIT 4 : Design of Solar Module.UNIT 5 : Solar Electric Power and Government role.

Solar Energy.

1. Earth’s Geometry.

2. Earth-SUN Details.

3. Solar Energy.

Solar Energy.

• Concept of Imaginary lines and Reference Imaginary Lines.

• Concept of Heat Zones of the Earth.• Earth’s Axis and its tilting Angle.• Types of Motion of Earth• Some facts on the Sun and its Energy.

Concept of Imaginary lines and Reference Imaginary Lines.

1. Equator.2. Latitudes and parallel of latitudes3. Prime Meridian.4. Longitudes.

Concept of Heat Zones of the Earth.

1. The Torrid Zone.2. The Temperate Zone.3. The Frigid Zone.

Types of Motion of Earth

1. Rotation and effect of rotation.2. Revolution and effect of revolution.

Latitudes and parallel of Latitudes1. Equator.

Northern Hemisphere.2. Tropic of Cancer.3. Arctic Circle.

Southern Hemisphere.4. Tropic of Capricorn.5. Antarctic Circle.

Longitudes or Meridians

•Prime Meridian.

•Eastern Hemisphere.

•Western Hemisphere.

The Imaginary Lines on the Earth (Latitude and Longitude)

1. A system of reference points and lines has been devised on the globe to help us locate a place on the Earth.

2. These are Imaginary (not real) lines drawn horizontally or vertically to form a grid system or a network of lines.

3. The horizontal lines are called latitudes or parallels of latitude

4. The vertical lines are known as longitudes or meridians.

5. Latitudes are used together with longitudes to specify the precise location of features on the surface of the Earth.

Equator axis, Poles, Prime Meridians1. The Earth rotates on its axis. 2. The axis of the earth is an imaginary line that passes exactly through its centre and meets at two opposite points known as the poles.3. The top most point is North Pole. 4. The opposite pole is called the South pole.

Equator axis, Poles, Prime Meridians5. Midway between the two poles is an imaginary horizontal line called the Equator. 6. Equator divides the earth into two halves – Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

7. Number of horizontal lines parallel to the equator are called latitudes or parallel of latitudes.

8. Latitude is the angular distance of a place measured from the centre of the earth north or south of the equator.

Characteristics of Latitudes1. Latitudes are horizontal imaginary lines,

running East-West.

2. These lines are equally spaced and drawn 10 apart – 111 Km in reality.

3. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes (’), A minute is further divided into 60 seconds.

(”). For example, the latitude of Delhi (India) is 28035’N.

Characteristics of Latitudes4. The latitudes are circles, which becomes smaller as on moves pole wards.

5. The Equator is the biggest circle, while the north pole and the south pole are point circle.

6. The Equator which is the biggest circle is equal to the circumference of the Earth.

7. The total number of lines of latitudes are equal to 181.

Important Lines of latitude

Important Lines of latitudes.There are five major lines of latitudes, which are used as reference lines as they help to locate a place on the globe. 

1.The Equator is marked as 00. The Equator divides the earth into the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere.

2.The Tropic of Cancer lies to the north of Equator and makes an angle of 23.50 N.

Important Lines of Latitudes.

3. The Tropic of Capricorn lies to the south of Equator and makes an angle of 23.50 S.

4. The Arctic Circle lies 66.50 N. i.e. North of Equator.

5. The Antarctic Circle lies 66.50 S. i.e. South of Equator.

Longitudes or Meridians1. Latitude along cannot locate a place in the

globe.

2. Intersection of latitudes with another set of lines running from north-south solves the problem!

3. Vertical lines are drawn on the globe from the North Pole to the South Pole interesting the lines of latitude.

4. These lines are also called Meridians which is a Latin word meaning midday.

Longitudes or Meridians5. Longitude is angular distance of a place from the

centre of the Earth in East or West direction of the “Prime Meridian”.

6. The ‘Prime Meridian’ (Greenwich Meridian) passes through Greenwich, London, is used as the zero line from which measurements are made in degree East and West.

7. It indicates their position in the Eastern or Western Hemisphere.

Characteristic features of Longitudes 1. Lines of Longitude are imaginary Vertical lines from the North Pole to the South Pole (Direction).

2. These are drawn at an interval of 10.

3. The lines of longitude are semicircles and are all of the same length.

4. All meridians meet at the poles.

Characteristic features of Longitudes5. The Prime Meridian is the chief line of longitude and is represented as 0o (Degree for prime Meridian).

6. There are 360 lines of longitude-180 East of the Prime Meridian and 180 to its West

7. The lines of longitude help us in determining time.

Important Lines of Longitudes1. The Prime Meridian (0o longitude) or Greenwich

Meridian.

2. The 0o meridian and the 180o meridian make a circle and divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemisphere.

2. There is a change of day and date on

either side of this line (i.e. Prime meridian).

India’s Latitude and Longitude

The Country is situated North of Equator between

a. 8 0 4’ and 37 0 6’ North latitude and

b. 68 0 7’ and 97 0 25’ East longitude.

c. Co-/ordinates of India: 21 0 N, 78 0 E.

Heat Zones of the Earth

1. Different places on the Earth receives different

amounts of sunlight. (Insolation).

2. Latitudes help to divide the earth into different

temperature zones or Heat zones.

3. Division helps to know the climatic conditions of

the different Zones on the Earth.

Heat Zones of the Earth

1. The Torrid Zone.

2. The Temperate Zone.

3. The Frigid Zone.

The Torrid Zone

1.This Zone is between the Tropic of cancer 23.50 N and Tropic

of Capricorn 23.50S.

2.The apparent movement of the Sun is within these two tropics

and the Sun is directly overhead throughout the year on this zone.  

The Torrid Zone

3. The Tropic of cancer 23.50 N marks the Northern Limit of the

overhead Sun and the Tropic of Capricorn 23.50 S marks the

Southern Limit of the overhead Sun.

4. This zone is the hottest zone and is called the TROPICAL

zone.  

The Torrid Zone

Example:

Southern India, Thailand, Singapore and

other countries of Southern Asia, Indonesia,

Northern Africa, Central and Northern South

America fall in this zone.

The Temperate Zone

1. 1. There are two temperate Zones on the earth. The North temperate

Zone extends between the Tropic of Cancer 231/20 N and the Arctic

Circle 661/20 N, Tropic of Capricorn 231/20 S and the Antarctic Circle

661/20 S.

2. This zone receives slanting rays of the Sun throughout the year and

therefore is the region of moderate climate; neither too hot nor too cold. 

The Temperate Zone

Example:

Europe, Northern Asia, North America, Great

Britain, Japan fall in northern temperate Zone,

while New Zealand, southern part of South

America, Australia and also South Africa lie in

the southern Temperate Zone.

The Frigid Zone1. The Frigid zone extends between the Arctic Circle 66.50 N

and the North Pole (900N) in the Northern Hemisphere and

between the Antarctic Circle 66.5 0 S and the South Pole

(900S) in the Southern Hemisphere.

2. This part of the earth are the coldest region, covered with ice

snow, hence the name Frigid Zone.

3. This zone being near the poles is also known as Polar

region.

The Frigid Zone

North Frigid Zone:

Northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Northern Russia

and the Scandinavian countries such as Norway,

Sweden, and Finland.

South Frigid Zone:

Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Types of Earth’s Motion

Earth has two types of motions

Rotation

Revolution.

Types of Earth’s Motion

1. The Earth is constantly in motion. It not only

moves around the SUN, but also rotates on its N-S

axis from West to East.

2. While it is rotating on its axis it is also revolving

around the SUN. This is why we have changes of the

seasons and different climates in the regions.

Rotation of the Earth. 1. The spinning of the earth on its axis is

termed as the earth’s rotation.

2. An axis is an imaginary line running through the middle of an object.

3. The axis of the earth is imaginary line joining the two poles through the centre of the Earth.

4. One rotation takes exactly 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds and is called a mean solar day.

5. The Earth’s rotation is responsible for the daily cycles of day and night.

Rotation of the Earth.

Effects of the earth’s Rotation.

2. It gives us a day of 24 hrs.

3. It causes day and night.

4. It cases the deflections of winds and ocean

Revolution of the Earth.

1. The motion of the Earth around the SUN on its fixed path is called Earths revolution. It takes 365 and ¼ days to complete one revolution.

2. This time period of 365 and ¼ days that the earth takes to go around the SUN is what we call a year.

3. The quarter day adds an extra day to our year of 365 days in every four years. This fourth year is called a leap year, in which there are 366 days when February has 29 days years. This fourth year is called a leap year, in which there are 366 days when February has 29 days.

Aphelion and Perihelion

1. Earth’s Orbit :The path along which the Earth

moves around the SUN is called the Earth’s

Orbit.

2. Shape of Orbit: Earth’s orbit around the SUN

is not circular, but oval or elliptical in shape.

3. Orbital Plane: The plane formed by the orbit

is known as orbital plane. 

Aphelion and Perihelion

An elliptical orbit causes the Earth’s distance from the SUN to vary over a year.

1. Perihelion (“Pere” meaning near and “helios” meaning SUN) 

On 3rd-Jan, the earth is closet to the SUN (147.5 million Km). The Earth is said to be in Perihelion.

 

2. Aphelion (Ap = away and helios = SUN).

The Earth is farthest from the SUN on 4th- July (152.1 million Km). The earth is then said to be in Aphelion.

Effect of Revolution and Tilt on its axis1. The axis of the earth is tilted slightly (23.5 0) with the plane of it’s orbit revolution.

2. This causes one part of the earth to lean towards the SUN, and the other part to lean away from it.

3. Hence different parts of the earth’s surface receive varying amounts of sunlight and heat, and we have change in seasons.

Effect of Revolution and Tilt on its axis

1. Four distinct seasons are recognized which is the combined effect of revolution of the earth and Tilt of the axis. :

a. Summer b. Autumn

c. Winter d. Spring.

2. During these four seasons the lengths of days and nights varies and this effect the amount of heat or cold experienced.

Equinoxes and SolsticesAs the position of the earth on its orbit changes we find that

a.The Sun’s rays are direct over different places or different latitudes.

b. At times the SUN shines over the Equator, and at other times the SUN shines directly over the tropics. 

Equinoxes and SolsticesEquinoxes. : The SUN is vertically overhead the equator twice a year,

On 23rd September and On 21st March.

This two days are termed equinoxes. (meaning ‘equal nights’ : where ‘equi’ means equal and ‘nox’ means night).

On this two days all parts of the world have equal hours of day and night.

 

Equinoxes and SolsticesSolstices :

Twice each year, the tilt of the earth’s axis is most inclined towards or away from the SUN.

This causes the Sun’s apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme.

These are called as Solstices (SOLSTICES means SUN STOPS).

Summer and Winter Solstices: (The word solstice means “SUN standing STILL” or SUN “Reaching the Highest Point”).

Equinoxes and Solstices

1. The position of Earth On June 21st in the northern

Hemisphere is called Summer Solstices. On June 21st the earth

is positioned in its orbit such that the North pole is leaning

23.50 towards SUN and the SUN is directly overhead the

Tropic of Cancer.

2. The Northern hemisphere has longest day of the year

(Summer Solstices), while southern hemisphere experiences

longest night on that day of the year (Winter Solstices).

Equinoxes and Solstices

1. The position of Earth On December 22st in the northern

Hemisphere is called Winter Solstices. On December

22nd the earth is positioned in its orbit such that the

South Pole is leaning 23.50 towards SUN and the SUN is

directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn.

2. The Northern hemisphere has longest night of the year

(Winter Solstices), while Southern hemisphere

experiences longest day on that day of the year (Summer

Solstices).

What controls the elevation of the Sun above the horizon?What controls the elevation of the Sun above the horizon?

Earth’s Tilt Primarily Determines SeasonEarth’s Tilt Primarily Determines Season

SOLAR ENERGY (SOLAR RADIATION)

Energy from the sun in the form of ultra-violet, visible and infra-red Electromagnetic radiation is known as solar radiation

In the earth’s atmosphere, solar radiation is received A.Directly (direct radiation), B.By Diffusion in air, dust, water, cloud, etc., contained in the atmosphere (diffuse radiation).C.By Reflection by surface.

The sum of the above is referred to as global radiation.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum• Energy travel as waves and particles

• Energy is the capacity to do work

E = M x C2

– Where E is energy, M is mass and C is the speed of light

(300,000km/sec or 3x108 m/sec)

• Energy has Electrical AND Magnetic properties

• ALL object ABSORB and EMIT EM radiation

Electromagnetic Radiation• EM is Described in terms of Wavelength or Frequency

• Wavelength distance between successive crests or

troughs in km, m, cm, mm

• Frequency # {wave crest / time (1sec)} cycles/sec or

Hertz (Hz)

• The longer the Wavelength (λ) the lower the frequency

• Frequency is inversely proportional to λ, so higher the

frequency the shorter the wavelength (λ)

EM Radiation

• EM Travel through space

• EM In a vacuum travel at the speed of light

• EM Passes through liquids, solids, gases

• EM radiation can be reflected, refracted

when crossing different mediums, as well as

absorbed

Radiation Laws

• Perfect radiator- blackbody

• Blackbody- at a constant temperature absorbs ALL

radiation that is incident on it and EMITS all radiant

energy it absorbs

• All known objects emit and absorb all forms of EM

radiation

Direct Solar RadiationSolar radiation at normal incidence in the

direct beam from the sun

Diffuse Solar Radiation Scattered radiation on a horizontal surface

Global Solar RadiationSum of the direct beam plus the diffuse

component on a horizontal surface

Infra-red RadiationTerrestrial infra-red radiation emitted by the

sky on the Earth's surface

Net Radiation balance

Combined downward solar radiation and sky infra-red minus upward reflected solar and terrestrial radiation

TurbidityMeasure of the amount of scattering in the

atmosphere

• Direct normal solar radiation

– It is the part of sunlight that comes directly from the sun without having been scattered by the atmosphere perpendicular to the surface. Indication of the clearness of the sky. (Atmosphere condition can reduce direct bean radiators on clear day to the extent of 10%)

[Insolation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time. It is commonly expressed as average irradiance in watts per square meter (W/m2) per day.In the case of photovoltaic it is commonly measured as kWh/(kWp·y) (kilowatt hours per year per kilowatt peak rating). ]

• Diffuse sky radiation

– The diffuse solar radiation is that received from the SUN after its direction has been changed by scattering by the atmosphere.

– Diffuse radiation is typically of rather short wavelength, since short wavelength radiation is scattered more by atmosphere.

– During extremely cloudy days only diffuse solar radiation may reach the ground.

– Diffuse radiation is also called skylight, diffuse skylight, or sky radiation and is the reason for changes in the color of the sky.

• Global Horizontal Radiation.

– Total solar radiation; the sum of direct, diffuse,

and ground-reflected radiation;

– However, because ground reflected radiation

is usually insignificant compared to direct and

diffuse, for all practical purposes global

radiation is said to be the sum of direct and

diffuse radiation only.

Bifurcation of Total Incident Solar Energy

• Total Reflected : 30 % & Total Absorbed : 70 %

• A. Reflected by atmosphere : 06%.

• B. Reflected by Clouds : 20%.

• C. Reflected by Earths Surface : 04 %.

• 1. Absorbed by Atmosphere : 16 %.

• 2. Absorbed by clouds : 03 %.

• 3. Absorbed by Land and Ocean : 51 %.

Bifurcation of Total Incident Solar Energy

• Out of Total Energy Absorbed by land and Ocean which is 51 % of total Solar Energy.

•A. Carried to clouds and atmosphere by latent

Heat in water vapors : 23 %.

•B. Conduction and rising air : 7%.

•C. Radiation Absorbed by atmosphere : 15 %.

•D. Radiation Directly to Space from Earth : 6 %.

Sun and It’s DetailsSome facts on the Sun

Mean distance from the Earth : 149.6x106 km.

Diameter : 1.392 x104 km (109 x that of the Earth)

Volume : 1.3 x106 x that of the Earth

Mass : 1.993 x 1027 kg (3.32x105 times that of the Earth)

Density (at its center) : >105 kg m-3 (over 100 times that of water)

Pressure (at its center) : over 1 billion atmospheres

Temperature (at its center) : about 15 x106 K

Temperature (at the surface) : 6000 K

Energy radiation : 3.8 x1026 W.

The Earth receives : 1.7x1018 W.

Note : 1 AU (Astronomical unit) is 1.5 x 10 8 Km

Solar energy

• Solar radiation is relatively constant outside the earth's

atmosphere.

•Local climate influences can cause wide variations in

available radiation on the earth’s surface from site to site.

• (Note :Atmosphere condition can reduce direct bean

radiation on clear day by 10%).

•Relative motion of the sun with respect to the earth

will allow surfaces with different orientations to intercept

different amounts of solar energy.

SUN and its energy•Each second, the Sun turns (converts) more than four

million tonnes of its own mass – mostly hydrogen and

helium – into energy, producing neutrinos and solar

radiation, radiated in all directions.

•Solar radiation is an electromagnetic wave emitted by

the Sun’s surface (The surface of the SUN is called

Photosphere) that originates in the bulk of the Sun where

fusion reactions convert hydrogen atoms into helium.

SUN and its energy

•A tiny fraction – half a trillionth – of this energy falls on

Earth, after a journey of about 150 million kilometers,

which takes a little more than eight minutes.

•Every second 3.89x1026J of nuclear energy is released by

the Sun’s core. This nuclear energy flux is rapidly

converted into thermal energy and transported toward

the surface of the SUN (star) where it is released in the

form of electromagnetic radiation.

SUN and its energy•The power density emitted by the Sun is of the order of 64MW/m2 of which ~1368 W/m2 reach the top of the Earth’s atmosphere.

•The incoming energy received from the sun, averaged over the year and over the surface area of the globe, is one fourth of 1368 W/m2, i.e. 342 W/m2.

•During peak hour of the SUN, One hour of full SUN provides 1000 Watt-hour/m2 (i.e 1 Kwh/m2)

SUN and its energy

•In total, the Sun offers a considerable amount of power:

About 885 million terawatt-hours (TWh) reach the

earth’s surface in a year, that is 6200 times the

commercial primary energy consumed by humankind in

2008 – and 4200 times the energy that mankind would

consume in 2035.

SUN’s ENERGYSolar rays can be distinguished according to their wavelengths, which determine

a.VISIBLE light,

b.INFRARED radiation and

c.ULTRVIOLET radiation.

Visible light (400nm< λ <700nm) and constitutes about 40% of the radiated energy,

Infrared 50% (λ > 700nm) and

Ultraviolet (λ < 400nm) the remaining 10%.

(Note: small amounts of energy is present approx 1% in

the radio, microwave, X-ray and gamma ray bands.)

Solar radiation interacts with gases and aerosols Scattering &

reflection (albedo), absorption (absorptivity) or transmissivity (amount that reaches earth’s surface) of solar radiation must equal 100%)

Global Solar Radiation

Loss of Solar Energy Reaching Earth Surface When light travels from outer space to earth, solar energy is lost because of following reasons: Scattering: The rays collide with particles present in atmosphere Absorption: Because of water vapor there is absorption. Cloud cover: The light rays are diffused because of clouds. Reflection: When the light rays hit the mountains present on the earth surface there is reflection.

India’s Solar Belt

India lies in the solar belt of the world. Most parts of the country receives 4 to 7 Kwh of solar radiation per sq mtr per day with 250 to 300 sunny days in a year.

Important Terms and Definitions

•Extra Terrestrial Radiation : This are the radiation

outside the earth’s atmosphere. The Solar radiation

incident on the outer atmosphere of the earth is known

as extra terrestrial radiation.

•Terrestrial radiation : The Solar radiation that

reaches earth surface after passing through the

earth’s atmosphere is known as Terrestrial radiation.

Important Terms and Definitions

•Solar Insolation : The total radiation received at any

point on the earth surface is sum of direct and diffuse

radiation and is usually termed as “Solar Insolation”.

  OR

Solar Insolation is the amount of solar energy that

strikes a square meter of the earth’s surface in a

single day.

Important Terms and Definitions Irradiance : The amount of Electromagnetic energy incident on the surface per unit time per unit area is called irradiance.

Or

Irradiance is the rate of solar radiation falling on a given area at a moment in time.

Irradiance is measured in units of kW/m2 (read kilowatts per square meter.).

 

Important Terms and Definitions•Solar irradiance is essentially the solar insolation (power)

integrated with respect to time.

•When solar irradiance data is represented on an average daily

basis, the value is often called PEAK SUN HOURS (PSH) and

can be thought of as the number of equivalent hours/day that

solar Insolation is at its peak level of 1 kW/m2.

•The worldwide average daily value of solar irradiance on

optimally oriented surfaces is approximately 5 kWh/m2 or 5

PSH. ( i.e. 5 Units per square meter)

Important Terms and Definitions•Solar Constant: The rate at which solar radiation strike earth’s upper atmosphere is expressed as the Solar constant. The generally accepted solar constant is 1368 W/m2 .

OR

•Solar Constant : Solar Constant is the rate at which solar energy, at all wavelengths, is received per unit at the top level of EARTH’s Atmosphere. The solar constant average is 1368 Watts/ sqmtr. (1368 W/m2).

 

Important Terms and Definitions•Peak Sun Hours: How much energy will be available from the Sun

a.At required location

b.At different times of the year

is given by the term Peak Sun Hours.

(The Term Peak SUN Hours, represent the average amount of SUN available per day throughout the Year).

•It is presumed that at "peak sun", 1000 W/m² of power reaches the surface of the earth.

•One hour of full sun provides 1000 Wh per m² = 1 kWh/m² - representing the solar energy received in one hour on a cloudless summer day on a one-square meter surface directed towards the sun.

Important Terms and Definitions• Photon.

•An elementary particle that is the carrier of

electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths.

•The photon is different from many other elementary particles,

such as the electron, because it has no mass. That means that

it travels (in vacuum) at the speed of light.

 

Solar Radiation Data.

1. Generally available from government –owned

meteorological departments in each country and /or from

large PV module suppliers who have obtained the data.

2. NASA has developed a website which provides data for

any place around the world. (www.eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse/).

3. India receives solar energy in the of the order of 4 to 7

Kwh/m2 for 300 to 330 days in the year.

Solar radiation on IndiaIndian Solar energy potential:

1.India is located in the equatorial sun belt of the earth, thereby receiving abundant radiant energy from the sun.

2. The India Meteorological Department maintains a nationwide network of radiation stations, which measure solar radiation, and also the daily duration of sunshine.

3.In most parts of India, clear sunny weather is experienced 250 to 300 days a year. The annual global radiation varies from 1600 to 2200 kWh/m2, which is comparable with radiation received in the tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Solar radiation on IndiaIndian Solar energy potential:

1.The equivalent energy potential is about 6,000 million GWh of energy per year.

2.It can be observed that although the highest annual global radiation is received in Rajasthan, northern Gujarat and parts of Ladakh region, the parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh also receive fairly large amount of radiation as compared to many parts of the world especially Japan, Europe and the US where development and deployment of solar technologies is maximum.

Solar radiation on India (Source: TERI)

Solar radiation on IndiaIndian Solar energy potential:

1.The equivalent energy potential is about 6,000 million GWh of energy per year.

2. The highest annual global radiation is received in Rajasthan, Northern Gujarat and parts of Ladakh region.

3. The parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh also receive fairly large amount of radiation as compared to many parts of the world especially Japan, Europe and the US where development and deployment of solar technologies is maximum.

Solar Energy

Solar energy can be used through two different

routes, namely,

Solar Thermal Energy and

Solar Electric Energy (Solar Photovoltaic).

(Photo (Light) +Voltaic (Produces voltage) =

Photovoltaic system)

Solar Power

• Concentrating Solar Power (CSP): systems are based on a series of mirrors or reflectors that focus the sunlight into a central photo receptor

• These systems tend to be very large and produce hundreds of megawatts of power.

• Australia will invest $320 million to construct the world’s largest solar power plant

• The plant, which will be built in Victoria state, will have a capacity of 154 megawatts and will be built over the next several years, with a completion date set for 2013

Parabolic Trough

The largest ‘solar thermal-electric’ installation of its kind in the world,the Luz project in California’s Mojave Desert, has a peak output of some350 megawatts and occupies several square kilometers of land

Solar Power Tower

In 1995 Solar One was converted into Solar Two, by adding a second ringof 108 larger 95 m² (1,000 ft²) heliostats around the existing Solar One, totaling 1926 heliostats with a total area of 82,750 m² (891,000 ft²)

Solar Dish

Stirling Energy Systems‘ solar dish technology is the world’s most efficientdevice for the conversion of solar energy to grid-delivered electricity,nearly twice as efficient as any alternative solar technology.

Plant Locations

• Direct normal solar radiation• Land Ownership• Road Access• Local transmission infrastructure capabilities

and loadings• State-level policies and regulations

Solar Collector

• Solar Thermal is a clean, highly efficient means of using renewable energy from the sun to provide hot water for domestic, commercial and industrial process . Put in simple terms, if you place a container full of liquid in the garden on a sunny day, in a short time the contents of the container become warm. Solar Collectors work in much the same way, but are very more efficient.

• A sealed circuit of fluid containing a special mix of glycol and water is pumped around the system through the Solar panels where it is heated and passed through a special solar coil within the hot water tank. The heat is then transferred to the main body of water within the tank, once up to temperature, this water is ready for use in the house, office or factory.