Some Myths about Solar Energy

The sun is the source of the solar power which converts into other form of power for utilization .Today’s Solar Energy is the most popular & most needed renewable energy .But with its popularity here comes some myths which create misbelieve among people & prevent the consumption of solar energy in great dimension .There are some of the myths about solar energy are discussed below .

1. Manufacturing Energy of Solar Panels are Greater than Produced Energy by Solar Panels :                                                                                                                                              It is a baseless conception about solar panels .National Renewable Energy Laboratory proved with their experiments that all types of solar panels pay back energy positively within 4 years .Retaliation Period for Mono- crystalline panels ,Poly-crystalline panels & Thin film panels are 2 years , 1-1.5 years & 1 year respectively .

Manufacturing of solar panels
Solar power measuring of solar panels

2. Daily Maintenance is Necessary for Solar Panels :                                                                Solar panels loss only 5-10% efficiency without it’s cleaning maintenance .So it is not a necessary requirement .Only off grid solar panels need some maintenances in battery but not in majority .

Maintenance of solar panel
solar panel cleaning

3. Solar Panels will Wreck the Roof of House:                                                                              The Roof-attached Solar panels are not attached to the roof directly .Solar panels are sited on a rack which is actually attached to the rooftop .So solar panels can’t harm a roof of the house.

solar panel fitting in rooftop
solar panel on rooftop

4. Solar Power Systems are Costly :                                                                                                  It is one of the popular misbelieve  about solar energy .It was true at the innovation time of solar panels around 1970 but in recent days solar panels are not expensive compared to other technological innovation . For recent advanced technology ,solar system becomes reachable in cost .

solar system are not coastly

5. Solar Panels are Invalid in Cloudy Days :                                                                                            It is the biggest wrong information about solar panels .People think that as solar panels use solar light & heat to generate current so rainy days are  not suitable for absence of light & heat .In fact solar panels can generate current in cloudy days but in less amount than the sunny days for efficiency reduction . Minimum 10-25% of usual current can be produced in rainy days by panels .

solar energy in cloudy weather
solar panel are working in rainy day

6. Solar System Keeps Working Even at the Time of Power-cut :                                                     It is a misconception to think that solar systems are able to work if power goes out .For Grid-connected system ,it will be invalid to work & for Hybrid system ,they only able to work in daytime .Only when the solar battery storage are coupled with solar system ,it can work during outage

power cut

 7. Warm Weather is Better for Solar Power Production :                                                       It is a conventional misapprehension among people that warm climate helps to generate much power .The actual fact is solar panel use sun light to produce power rather than heat .On the contrary ,high temperature  reduced efficiency of solar system .       

solar energy in warm weather
solar panels in sunny day

 8. Solar Panels Don’t Work on Cold Climate :                                                            With advanced technology ,solar panels can induce energy in every types of climate even in snowy or cold days .In fact cold weather helps to increase efficiency of solar system .      

solar panels in cold days
solar system in cold weather

  9. Solar Panels , Which finished Their Life-time, are Environmentally Greave :                                            It is a fallacy that time span finished solar panels is harmful for environment . The life time limitation for a solar panels are usually 25 years .The parts of solar systems can be recycled again for reuse after its lifetime .So in no way the parts of the solar system damage the nature .     

solar panels are recyclable

 10. Electric Bill will be Cheaper by the Installation of Solar System :

It is not actually true statement . The electric bill in fact depends on the way of using produced energy . Electric bill can be cheap by using produced excess energy or using electric appliances (which needed much electric) in less electricity using time (evening or night time).

Electric bill of solar energy
electric bill

There are more myths about solar energy other than these 10 —                                                               ~Heavy current loaded appliances are unable to run in Solar Energy .                                                   ~Solar panels are easily damageable by wind , birds .                                                                     ~Installation of solar panel are complicated .

These are the usual myths .But one have to remember that these are all myths .These statements doesn’t hold the complete truth about solar energy .So we should search about the complete truth before believing these conceptions about solar power .

                                                      

4 Renewable Energy Sources

Environment Power Renewable Energy Renewables

Renewable energy is now in the list of popularity for the highest demand in recent year.In one word, you can say renewable energy are the future solution.

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy means it is possible to renew them.In simple word there is no end of this type of energy.

 with the growth of population on the earth. The demand of renewable energy is also increasing day by day.Here I have discussed about some of the renewable energy sources.

Some Renewable Energy Sources :

  1. Solar Energy:
  2. Source:The source of this type of energy is the Sun,the King of our Solar System. Solar Energy is usually produced from sunlight falls on our earth surface.
  3. Production: To produce the Solar Energy, a solar panel is used which convert the sunlight into current for the uses. These solar panel are made of crystalline Silicon or C-Si which are also called as solar grade silicon. Silicon are abundant in amount on earth surface and feasible for produce current from sunlight.
  4. Advantage:
  5. The source of solar energy as we know it is the sun has no end. So, this energy is available anytime.
  6.  28-34 panel of solar plate can generate currents needed for an average house. So, you can personally generate the current you need.
  7.  No CO2 is produced during any process. So, it is eco-friendly. Even the solar panel are able to recycle bind.
  8.  It does not harm environment in any way.
  9. Economically affordable.
  10. Disadvantage: During rain, the power production efficiency is quite low than the sunny day, but still it does not affect so much the efficient is lowered by 5% .
  1. Hydro energy:
  2. Source: The source of hydro energy is water .This energy are produced by water dam, preserver, mountain rivers, water fountains.
  3. Production: To produce this energy, the following speed of water should be very high. The water flow will rotate the turbine which generate the electricity.
  4. Advantage:
  5. Water as a source of hydro energy is in abundant amount.
  6. During generation of hydro energy, there is no chance for the production of greenhouse gas. So, the environment is not affected.
  7. It produce a lot of energy.
  8.  The water is also not pollute during its production.
  9. Disadvantage:
  10. To need a lot of space for construct a damn and preserver. It is quite complex to set the need equipment to produce Hydro energy and need so much money.
  11.  The production process does not harm the environment but the construction can definitely affect the nature.
  1. Wind energy:
  2. Source:Obviously the source of this energy is wind.
  3. Production: It is produced by windmill. A heavy 3 blade rotor is fixed on the top of the tower.The speed of wind flow helps to make the rotor move which produce electricity.The windmill is usually setup on seashore,meadows or in any windy places.
  4. Advantage:
  5. The wind is abundant in amount. So, there is no running out of wind energy.
  6.  No CO2 is produced so no harming effect on the environment.
  7. Wind is not polluted during production.
  8. Disadvantage:

need lots of money equipment and manpower to set up a windmill.

  1. Biomass energy:
  2. Source: It is understandable that Biomass are living plant object.
  3. Production:The produce this energy the plant object are chosen.Electricity produced by burring those plant parts.
  4. Advantage: the non-edible and useless parts of plant are used as biomass energy.
  5. Disadvantages: Low amount of Co2 is produced but it does not affect environment that way.

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy is an important input for development. It aims at human welfare covering household, agricultural transport & industrial complexes. Due to population explosion the demand for various forms of energy has got increased many folds. Renewable Resources can be generated continuously in nature & are inexhaustible. These resources can be used again & again in an endless manner.

RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIESWIND POWER

  1. WIND POWER :

Wind is an emissions-free source of energy. It is harnessed by making use of wind mills. Number of wind mills are installed in cluster are called wind farms. Minimum wind speed required is 150km/hr. A windmill converts wind energy into rotational energy by means of its blades. The basic principle of every windmill is to convert kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy which is used to rotate the turbine of electrical generator to produce electricity.

2. HYDROPOWER

Hydropower or hydroelectricity refers to the conversion of energy from flowing water into electricity. Modern hydro turbines can convert as much as 90% of the available energy into electricity. Hydroelectric power generates about 10% of the nation’s energy. Hydropower is fueled by water, so it’s a clean fuel source, meaning it won’t pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.

3. TIDAL ENERGY

It is harnessed from the tides produced in the ocean. The turbine and generator converts the movement of water coming from change in tide, the kinetic energy, into electricity. Tidal Energy has an expensive initial cost which may be one of the reasons tidal energy is not a popular source of renewable energy.

4. SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy as energy obtained from the sun. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source. It can be used in many appliances like Solar heat collectors, Solar cells, Solar cookers, Solar water heaters Solar power plant, Solar furnace.

Top 10 Residential Uses for Solar Energy

KERALA’S BIGGEST SOLAR FLOATING POWER PLANTS COMMISSIONED AT COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Cochin International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Kerala which handles about 10 million passenger movements in and out the state annually, is located at Nedumbassery in the outskirts of Cochin city. With the inauguration of a dedicated solar plant in 2015, Cochin International airport won the title of world’s first fully solar-powered airport. The CIAL solar power project comprises 92,150 solar panels laid across 94 acres, generating 100,000 units of electricity on a daily basis. The airport authority has been honoured with the Champion of Earth award by the United Nations in 2018 for their excellence in the large-scale introduction of sustainable energy sources.

On 17th January 2021, CIAL crossed yet another glorious milestone with the commission of one of the biggest floating solar power plants in Kerala. The cost-effective high-density polyethylene floats, using most modern French technology, are laid over two artificial lakes in the CIAL golf course. The floats consist of 1300 photovoltaic cells and have a capacity of 452 KWh helping the airport to produce around 1.60 lakh units of power a day as against its daily consumption stands around 1.30 lakh units, the authorities said.

CIAL sets an example of Total Sustainability Management by treating the sewage water for water harvesting in its golf course with the help of 12 artificial lakes. The water from these lakes was earlier used for irrigating the lawns but now with the installation of these floating solar panels, they have taken another step forward in sustainable and environment friendly resource management.

The Managing Director of CIAL, Mr V J Kurian said, “The pre-commissioning trials showed that these panels which cost around Rs 2 crore to the company are producing power with maximum output efficiency among the eight solar power plants installed by CIAL at various locations in the airport premises. CIAL has been reinventing itself since its formative days. One of our innovations which proved that relying upon green energy is possible even for the high energy consumers like an airport has won us the champions of the earth award instituted by the United Nations. We are committed to the protection of nature and trying our best to reduce carbon footprints.” 

The installation of floating solar panels are usually very expensive when compared to the ground-mounted and rooftop ones. CIAL was able to overcome these limitations and bring down the cost using the novel technology as the  French company CIEL TERRA provided technical assistance. The solar panels are also connected to the KSEB power grid which helps them to bank the excess energy produced.

Indian Railways go Solar: Clean Energy

Indian Railways has over 960 solar powered railway stations and placed an order for 198 MW solar rooftop capacity for 550 stations. This is going to speed up Indian Railways’ goal of becoming ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway’ and being100% self-sustainable for its power consumption.

The Railways recently organised a meet of leading solar power developers who shared their expectations of being partners in the journey of Indian Railways to become “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030. About 51,000-hectare vacant land is available for the Indian Railways to extend support to the developers for installing solar power plants.

Some solar powered stations are New Delhi, Old Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Howrah.

Railways is also seeking for 100% electrification by the year 2023 by utilizing solar energy to meet its traction power needs and become a complete ‘Green mode of transportation.’ This will contribute to national solar power needs.

All this is in line with the recent orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to solarise railway stations and use vacant railway land for renewable energy projects. These solar projects will also protect the land by the construction of boundary walls along the track.

Solar Eclipse- Everything you need to know!!!

Solar Eclipse a sight is rarely seen on earth. On this day the sun will look like a shining ring. This will be neither partial eclipse nor complete. The shadow of the Moon will cover  almost 99% of the Sun rays. Which will cause the side of the sun remain illuminated and the middle part of the sun will be completely covered by the shadow of the moon.

astronomy circle dark eclipse
Photo by Drew Rae on Pexels.com

Solar eclipse will be addressed on 21st June 2020 from 10:20 AM  to  1:49 PM which will be visible in India and according to astrology this day will be impressive as many planets and constellations will be matching which did not match from past 500 years! Sutak period will start from 10:17 AM on 21 June it self. This solar eclipse will be in Mrigashira, Ardra, Nakshatra and Gemini. During this eclipse, 6 planets i.e. Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Rahu and Ketu will be in retrograde state; Rahu and Ketu are always retrograde. Such position of planets will make solar eclipse impressive. According to astrology, eclipses can become a factor of natural disasters, which may cause disaster like earthquake, typhoon or storm.

phases of the moon
Photo by Alex Andrews on Pexels.com

Precautions should be taken during the solar eclipse every time like; Solar eclipse should not be viewed with naked eyes. During this time the rays emanating from the sun are vary harmful and hence can damage the eyes. Therefore, to see this, special types of equipment should be used like Welding glasses, X-ray sheet keep a not that your face and body should be covered fully as the rays may damage the skin. According to religious beliefs, do not do any auspicious work at the time of eclipse. At the time of the eclipse, neither should you eat or drink anything. It is believed that before eclipse, basil leaves should be put in food and drink to make it safer. In the eclipse period, remembering the Lord, do puja, chanting, charity etc. religious work which will be good for family and ourself too. As soon as the eclipse of the eclipse begins, cover the place of worship in the house during the eclipse. After the eclipse, take a bath and clean the place of worship and sprinkle Ganga water. Pregnant women should be very careful and stay away from the sun full day as it may affect the infant.

Surya Grahan Time: 12 घंटे पहले से लग जाएगा सूर्य ग्रहण का सूतक, यह होगा समय

Image Source: Naidunia.com

Solar sector has huge potential to benefit energy extensive sectors

Union Minister for MSME and Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today held meeting via video conferencing with the members of Maha Solar Sangathan to understand the opportunities in the solar energy sector.

The Minister highlighted the importance of solar energy and said that the sector has a huge potential and can help to reduce the electricity cost significantly. He further mentioned that sectors such as agriculture, warehousing etc. are energy extensive sectors and proper commercial use of solar energy such as solar water pump for irrigation and solar electricity for cold storage can contribute towards reducing power cost.

The Union Minister emphasized on the need of export enhancement along with import substitution to replace foreign imports with domestic production. He highlighted that India still imports energy efficient solar panels and encouraged the manufactures to make India self-reliant with the help of “Make in India” products.

The Minister mentioned that for providing much-needed impetus to the MSME sector to deal with the current economic instability, the government has announced several measures under Special Economic Package: Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan including collateral free automatic loan, which will allow the MSMEs to enhance working capital by 20% without providing additional collateral.

Shri Gadkari urged the industry representatives to come up with some new, innovative and economically viable business model which can be implemented in various sector such as agriculture, warehousing etc. to provide low cost sustainable energy. He said that this will not only help to reduce the cost of energy in various sector but also give the required thrust for “Make in India” initiative.

He opined that industry should focus more on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, research skill and experiences to convert the knowledge into wealth.

The Minister recalled that Government of Japan has offered special package to its industries for withdrawing Japanese investments from China and move elsewhere. He said that this can be an opportunity for India to attract foreign investment in the country.

Some of the questions asked and the suggestions given included: Addition of Solar PV in the list of technology under CLCSS scheme, revision of turnover limit in the new MSME definition, subsidy on export for MSME to encourage the manufacturing and reduce import etc.

Shri Gadkari responded to the questions from representatives and assured all possible help from the government.