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Solar Energy
In general terms, solar energy means all the
energy that reaches the earth from the sun. It
provides daylight, makes the earth hot, and is the
source of energy for plants to grow.
Solar energy is one of the renewable energy
sources that has the most potential. Sunlight can
travel through air, clear glass, and plastic. When
the sun strikes a surface, light energy is either
reflected or absorbed. It is the absorbed light
energy that gets changed into heat and can be
used for power.
Solar Energy
Passive solar energy systems make use of
solar energy without using special equipment.
For example, a house may be built to direct the
sun onto a thick masonry wall that then stores
the heat for later distribution.
Active solar systems require the use of
mechanical collectors to absorb the heat of the
sun. This energy is then stored or distributed
using fans, pumps, or other equipment.
Passive
Solar
Collector
Storage tank
Heat exchanger
Pumps
Piping, valves, system controller
Solar Collectors
Parabolic Trough
Curved mirrors which form troughs that focus the sun's energy on
a pipe. A fluid, typically oil, is circulated through the pipes which
is used to drive a conventional generator to create electricity.
Solar Dish
Power Tower
Solar Central Receivers or "Power Towers" consist of
a tower surrounded by a large array of heliostats.
Heliostats are mirrors that track the sun and reflect its
rays onto the receiver, which absorbs the heat energy
that is then utilized in driving a turbine electric
generator.
Power Tower
[Source: Status Report on Solar Thermal Power Plants. Pilkington Solar International
GmbH: Cologne, Germany,1996]
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 18
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
Photovoltaics (PV)
What is Photovoltaics
• Photovoltaics (PV) are solid-state, semi-conductor
devices that produce electricity when exposed to light.
Photo = light, voltaics = electricity.
• photovoltaics actually means "electricity from light."
Many hand-held calculators run off power from room
light, which would be one example of this phenomenon.
Larger power applications for this technology are
also possible.
• Sunlight knocks electrons free in the photovoltaic
material, which flow out of the device as electric
current. The more intense the sunlight, the stronger the
electric current.
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 20
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV Modules
Types of PV Systems
Small stand-alone DC system
Stand-alone AC-DC system
Stand-alone AC system
PV-generator combination
Utility interface
Utility intertie
Stand-alone PV Systems
Grid-connected PV Systems
Do you know
what is Building
Integrated
Photovoltaic
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 27
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV
Applications
in Hong Kong
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 30
Solar Energy Au Ka Fei
Chan Chi Hok
Tseng Toi Ngai
PV Powered Bus-Stop
Wanchai Tower
Solar Charger
The
End
71301F/1A. Solar energy / page 34