UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Emmanuel Egerue
BEng Electronic Engineering
Project Supervisor
Dr. Brian Carse
Research of Photovoltaic Systems for Different Types of Buildings
Introduction
A solar cell is a semiconductor device which is nothing but a P-N junction diode and can convert sun light into electrical energy. When a
solar PV module is in touch with sunlight, it generates voltage and current at its output terminals.
In recent years, this technology has become highly effective because of less maintenance and continuous availability of solar energy in
the cleanest form.
Project summary
This project seeks to research how to design a
photovoltaic system for a set of buildings.
Project Objectives
The main objective of this project is to
research the design photovoltaic systems for
different types of buildings.. To do this, the
following would have to be done:
• Estimating the number of PV modules that
would be needed.
• Calculating the size of the inverter.
• Calculating the number of batteries that
would be needed.
• Calculating solar charge controller sizing.
• All the equipment necessary to construct a
model generation set for the given set of
buildings would have to be considered.
• The cost analysis would also have to be
considered.
Figure 1: How a Solar Panel Works
Monocrystalline Silicon
• The commercial cells of the highest efficiency
are made from monocrystalline silicon.
• Typical modules would convert 15% of the solar
radiation received into electrical energy.
• Cells are blue or black, and generally have
rounded corners.
Multicrystalline Silicon
• Cells are generally blue and square.
• This gives the cells a glistening appearance and
gives a clean high-tech image.
• Multicrystalline silicon is cheaper than
monocrystalline silicon, but there is a trade-off
between cost and efficiency.
Figure 2: Solar Panels on Some Houses
Amorphous Silicon
• Amorphous silicon does not have any long
range crystal structure, and as a result its
modules have low efficiencies of between 4%
and 6%.
• Laboratory efficiencies can be as high 11.8%,
but they have not yet been reproduced
commercially on large area modules.
Project Conclusion
• Much electricity can be generated even
under overcast conditions.
• They reduce CO 2 emissions , and are the
renewable energy technology best suited
for use within the urban environment.
• Generating electricity from your own roof
leads to an independence from the
electricity grid and protects from future
price rises.