Advances in Solar Electric Generation Technology

Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.

Course Outline

This course was intended to introduce the engineer towards some of the latest developments in solar electric generation, which could become the main fuel source of the future. The course will compare the various types of systems and explain the potential advantages and disadvantages of each system.

The public often associates flat panel photovoltaic (PV) with solar power, it is in fact thermal solar power plants, such as parabolic trough, power towers, and dish Stirling that can provide economic large-scale power generation today. With PV, electric power is produced by light directly in a semiconductor, while in thermal solar generation the heat of the sun is used to power an engine or turbine.

This course is based entirely on Fuel From the Sky: Solar Power's Potential for Western Energy Supply July 2002 NREL/BK-550-32160 NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy & energy efficiency research, development, and deployment. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials. You will be quizzed on the attached document in its entirety.

Learning Objective

This course will review the basic operation, limitations, capacities and design of the following types solar generating systems

· Flat Panel PV;
· Photovoltaic Electric Power multi level;
· Concentrating PV CPV;
· Thermal Solar Power;
· Power Towers;
· Parabolic Troughs; and
· Dish Stirling.

Intended Audience

This course would be very informative for engineers or architects who are interested in learning about renewable energy, or solar electric generation technology.

Course Introduction

This course will review the design, operation, and theory of solar electric generation technology. Thermal solar power plants, such as dish Stirling, power towers, and parabolic trough, are cost effective means of generating electric power from solar energy. They are simple, well understood, and already achieve efficiencies currently out of the reach of commercial PV cells.

Course Content

This course is based entirely on the Chapter 3 from a report entitled Fuel From the Sky: Solar Power's Potential for Western Energy Supply, July 2002 NREL/BK-550-32160. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy & energy efficiency research, development, and deployment.

The link to the course materials is as follows:

Chapter 3 - Fuel From the Sky: Solar Power's Potential for Western Energy Supply

You need to open or download above document to study this course.


Course Summary

At the completion of this class the design professional should understand the principles, construction, and operation of fuel cells.

Related References

Although the complete document entitled Fuel From the Sky: Solar Power's Potential for Western Energy Supply July 2002 NREL/BK-550-32160 is not required to complete the quiz, a link is provided below to download the document for reference.

http://www.energylan.sandia.gov/sunlab/PDFs/FFS_WEB.pdf

Related Links

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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