REVIEW OF RENEWABLE SOLAR ENERGY A Project Presented to the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering California State University, Sacramento Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Mechanical Engineering by Usha Kiranmayee Bhamidipati SUMMER 2012 REVIEW OF RENEWABLE SOLAR ENERGY A Project by Usha Kiranmayee Bhamidipati Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Dr. Dongmei Zhou ___________________________ Date ii Student: Usha Kiranmayee Bhamidipati I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the thesis. __________________________, Graduate Coordinator ___________________ Dr. Akihiko Kumagai Date Department of Mechanical Engineering iii Abstract of REVIEW OF RENEWABLE SOLAR ENERGY by Usha Bhamidipati The major challenge that our planet is facing today is the anthropogenic driven climate changes and its link to our global society’s present and future energy needs. Renewable energy sources are now widely regarded as an important energy source. This technology contributes to the reduction of environmental impact, improved energy security and creating new energy industries. Traditional Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, coals are in great demand and are highly effective but at the same time they are damaging human health and environment. In terms of environment the traditional fossil fuels are facing a lot of pressure. The most serious challenge would perhaps be confronting the use of coal and natural gas while keeping in mind the greenhouse gas reduction target. It is now clear that in order to keep the levels of CO2 below 550 ppm, it cannot be achieved fundamentally on oil or coal based global economy. Renewable energies can provide sustainable energy services, based on the use of routinely available, indigenous resources. A transition to renewable-based energy systems is looking increasingly likely as their costs decline while the price of oil and gas continue to fluctuate. Renewable Energies are considered as a clean source of energy and optimal use of these resources minimizes environmental impacts, produces minimum secondary waste and is sustained iv based on current and future economic and social needs. Sun is a major source of all energies. The primary forms of Sun’s energy are heat and light. Sun energy is transformed and absorbed in different way these transformations result in renewable energies like biomass and wind energy. Renewable energy technologies provide an excellent opportunity for mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and reducing global warming through substituting conventional energy sources. Solar energy is the most abundant renewable energy source available and in most regions its availability is far in excess when compared to the current primary energy supply. Therefore solar energy acts as a key tool to reduce carbon emissions and providing a clean environment. The transition from a carbon –based energy system to renewable solar energy system involves some technological, scientific and socioeconomic barriers to the implementation of solar energy as a clean technology for the future. This research serves a review on “Renewable Energy Sources” mainly focused on Solar Energy. It summarizes how the resources are used in energy production in terms of resource potential, existing capacity. It discusses the historical trends and future growth prospects of solar energy in terms of what has been done till now in that field of development and what is the research which is going on for the future. The project also provides comments on the importance, benefits, and the key scientific and technical challenges of Solar Energy Technology as well as the detailed description on the different technologies that are being used worldwide and a review on the future prospects of solar energy supply under various scenarios by 2020, 2030 and 2050. v The key concepts to this review are to develop a solid understanding of the multi facet technological, geopolitical, sociological, and the economic impacts of energy use and to provide insights into the solar energy development and usage _______________________, Committee Chair Dr. Dongmei Zhou _______________________ Date vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my deep gratitude to my advisor Dr. Dongmei Zhou for her encouragement and belief in me, for the uncountable number of hours spent sharing her knowledge and discussing various ideas, and for many useful comments and suggestions while examining my work. I would also like to express my thanks to faculty members of Mechanical Engineering Department California State University, Sacramento and its management who contributed in completing and helping me to finish this work in time and in comprehensive manner suitable to California State University formulated guidelines. To my husband Raghu, for being my sounding board several times: Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations and occasionally for solving my problems in doing so. I would also like to thank my Parents and all my family members who believed in me and for their continual support and encouragement in attaining my academic achievements. Usha Kiranmayee Bhamidipati M.S Mechanical Engineering Summer 2012 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ x List of Figure ............................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 World’s Energy Supply ......................................................................................................... 3 1.3. What is Renewable Energy? ................................................................................................ 3 1.4. Kinds of Renewable Energy ................................................................................................ 4 1.5. Renewable Energy Sources .................................................................................................. 4 1.6. Climate Change Scenario ..................................................................................................... 6 1.7. Objective .............................................................................................................................. 7 2. SOLAR ENERGY .................................................................................................................... 8 2.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Significance of Resource: Historical, Present and Future ..................................................... 9 2.3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy ............................................................... 13 2.4. The Economics of Solar Energy ........................................................................................ 15 2.5. Summary ............................................................................................................................ 16 3. SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES ................................................................................... 17 viii 3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 17 3.2. Passive and Active Systems ............................................................................................... 18 3.3 Thermal And Photovoltaic .................................................................................................. 21 3.3.1. Photovoltaic Cells ..................................................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Solar Thermal Energy ................................................................................................ 29 3.4. Concentrating and Non-Concentrating Technologies ........................................................ 32 3.4.1. Stationary or Non-Concentrating Technology .......................................................... 33 3.5. Summary ............................................................................................................................ 38 4. CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER ............................................................... 40 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 40 4.2 Solar Radiation.................................................................................................................... 44 4.3 Direct Normal Insolation .................................................................................................... 46 4.4. Concentrated Solar Technologies ...................................................................................... 47 4.4.1 Parabolic Trough Collector Technology ...................................................................