Solar Energy

Electricity Generation with Solar Energy

The radiant energy released by the fusion process (the transformation of hydrogen gas into helium) of the nuclei of hydrogen gas, which makes up about 90 percent of the sun, is called "Solar Energy".

The sun is a clean and inexhaustible source of renewable energy, emitting approximately 3.9x1026 Watts of power. A very small amount of this energy emitted from the sun reaches the Earth as radiation energy. On average, 1,367 W of radiation energy reaches each square meter on the outer surface of the atmosphere. The process of converting this radiation into electrical energy with special panels forms the basis of the sector.

Solar energy is a renewable energy source with features such as ease of installation and use, as well as not polluting the environment, not releasing any gases and not creating harmful waste.

It is not possible to provide the energy needed for industrial, residential or individual use directly and consistently from the sun. For this reason, solar energy can be converted and used in various ways. Many technologies have been developed to utilize the sun's rays. While solar energy technologies vary widely in terms of method, material and technological level, some of them use solar energy directly in the form of light or heat energy, while other technologies are used to generate electricity from solar energy. Direct or indirect electricity generation, hot water production, space heating and cooling, process heat energy for industrial organizations and greenhouse heating are some of the applications of solar energy.

Solar energy technologies are basically divided into two main groups.

1. Heat-related (Thermal) Solar Energy Technologies

Thermal Solar Energy Technologies are divided into two as low temperature applications and concentrating thermal systems according to the temperature values obtained.

1.1. Low Temperature Applications

Applications such as water purification systems, solar architecture, crop drying and greenhouse heating systems and solar cooking, solar collectors, solar pools, solar chimneys are applications for obtaining low temperatures from solar energy. Among these application types, planar solar collectors are the simplest and most common method of utilizing solar energy. Planar solar collectors work on the principle of transmitting solar energy to water, air or another fluid. These systems are mostly used for heating water in homes. The temperature they reach is around 70°C

1.2. Concentrating Thermal Systems

Concentrated thermal solar thermal technologies are mainly used for electricity generation. The installed capacity of generation plants based on these technologies is 10 megawatts or more. In concentrating thermal solar technologies, parabolic mirrors, dishes or heliostats, which are scientific instruments that use a mirror to reflect sunlight in a specific direction, are used as solar concentrators.

2. Photovoltaic Solar Technologies

Solar modules, the most basic component of photovoltaic solar technologies, convert solar energy directly into electrical energy. Solar modules consist of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The word photovoltaic is composed of the words "photon", the fundamental particle that makes up sunlight, and "voltage", the unit of electrical power. Photovoltaic cells are also called Solar Cell and Solar Battery.

The photovoltaic phenomenon, first proposed by the French scientist Edmond Becquerel in 1839, was discovered by the light emission of the electrode in a conductive liquid. In 1877, W. G. Adams and R.E. Day observed the photovoltaic effect in solidified selenium. This was followed by the selenium solar cell developed by C. Fritts in 1883, which was placed on a thin layer of gold and had an efficiency of less than 1%. Following these developments, W. Hallwachs designed a semiconductor junction solar cell using copper and copper oxide. In 1904, A. Einstein's paper on the photoelectric effect from a quantum perspective led to a better understanding of this effect. Starting in 1954 with the first Si p-n junction solar cell produced by Bell Laboratories, the production of electricity from the sun has reached today and has been the subject of great developments and many studies.

Photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, are square, rectangular or circular surfaces with an area of approximately 100 cm⊃2; and a thickness of 0.2-0.4 mm. The most widely used material in photovoltaic solar technologies is the element silicon. Solar modules are formed by combining solar cells together.

In the production of electricity from solar cells; mostly silicon-based solar cells, panels and materials such as glass protecting the panel surfaces, encapsulant, aluminum frames and transparent backsheet are used. The positively and negatively charged parts of the cell create a potential difference for electron movement. This is how light hits the solar cells,

Their electrons are displaced around the atoms of the cells, creating electric current. The resulting direct current (DC) is converted into alternating current (AC) for use by consumers through inverter devices.

Today, the surface area of solar modules used for electricity generation has reached 2.1 m2 and their power has reached 675 WattPeak. The WattPeak value indicates the maximum power that solar panels can produce under optimum conditions at standard temperature and daylight. High-power solar panels and solar power plants (SPPs) can be built by combining solar modules. Depending on today's technologies and the type of installation (fixed system, sun-following systems), a SPP with a capacity of 1 MWe can be installed on an area of 13-25 acres. Especially with SPPs installed on the roofs and facades of buildings, the electricity needed can be generated at consumption points.

Source:https://enerji.gov.tr/bilgi-merkezi-enerji-gunes

Turkey's Solar Energy Potential

Turkey has a significant solar energy potential due to its geographical location. According to the Turkey Solar Energy Potential Atlas (GEPA) prepared by the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the average annual total sunshine duration is 2,741 hours and the average annual total radiation value is calculated as 1,527.46 kilowatt hours/m2 . The general potential outlook and monthly average global radiation distribution in the GEPA announced by the Ministry are shown in the following figures:

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