Project Report (Solar Cell) - 1
Project Report (Solar Cell) - 1
PROJECT REPORT ON
SOLAR CELL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PV-HISTORY TIMELINE 17
18. CONCLUSION 43
19. REFRENCES 44
PREFACE
Now the world is moving towards the new era, the new era of non-conventional
energy such as Solar Energy, where the world is supposed to get rid of fossil fuels.
Ever since Becquerel discovered the first photovoltaic effect in 1839, harvesting
Solar Energy has been a goal in the scientific world. The earth’s atmosphere absorbs
more energy in one hour from the sun than the amount of energy consumed in one year
for the entire world. For this reason, research in the last few decades has exploded to
find the most efficient and cost effective solar cell so the world does not remain oil
dependant.
This project is one-step towards the study and analysis of solar cells.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank all Almighty God for giving me this opportunity to express gratitude to all those
who helped me in the successful completion of this project.
First of all, I pay my immense gratitude to Shri Suresh Chandra Sundrani, FIE,
F-117265-0, who shows right way to complete this project and contributes a lot because
of which I stand a stage of successful completion of my project SOLAR CELL.
I am also thankful to my parents and family , for their love and affection and for
my friends who gave me initiative force to do better.
(ST 632528-4)
Address: H.No.-337/1
Solani Puram, Roorkee
Distt- Haridwar
Uttrakhand-247667
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
This is to certify that the project report entitled “SOLAR CELL” submitted by Mr.
prescribed by The IEI, Kolkata for fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
AMIE in Mechanical Engineering. The matter embodied in this project is genuine work
done by the student and has not been submitted to any other institute.
(F-117265-0)
Clutterbuckganj,
Bareilly-243502
Uttar Pradesh
(F-117265-0)
[Project Guide]
I hereby declare that project work entitled “SOLAR CELL” is an authentic work
carried out by me under the guidance of Shri Suresh Chandra Sundrani, FIE in partial
fulfillment for the degree of AMIE and completion of Section B Examinations. This
(ST-632528-4)
Place: Roorkee
COUNTERSIGNED BY
(F-117265-0)
[Project Guide]
SYNOPSIS
2. Objectives of the study: - The project “SOLAR CELL” will serve the following
objectives:-
Project guidance.
Synopsis preparation.
Data Collection.
Bar Chart:-
No of Days
Project Guidance
Synopsis
Preparation
Data Collection
Study of existing
system
Study of future
development
Detailed review
of data
Help of project
guide
Review of data
collected
Final report
preparation
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
0
www.wikipedia.org
www.google.com
Nil
Signature:_________________ Signature:_________________
CHAPTER - 01
CHAPTER – 02
CHAPTER – 03
A SOALR CELL is a solid sate electrical device that converts energy of lights directly
into electrical energy by photoelectric effect.
SOLAR CELL
A photovoltaic cell works by capturing a photon from the sun using special metals called
semiconductors. By using semiconductors to build solar cells, we can produce electricity
from sunlight.
FREE ELECTRON
n-type
semiconductor
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Depletion zone
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
p-type
semiconductor
CHAPTER – 04
The term “Photo” comes from the Greek meaning “Light” and “Voltaic” from the
name of Italian physicist “Volta” after whom the measurement unit volts is
named.
The first generation photovoltaic, consists of a large-area, single layer p-n junction
diode, which is capable of generating usable electrical energy from light sources with
the wavelengths of sunlight. These cells are typically made using a silicon wafer. First
generation photovoltaic cells (also known as silicon wafer-based solar cells) are the
dominant technology in the commercial production of solar cells, accounting for more
multiple junction photovoltaic cells. Later, the advantage of using a thin-film of material
was noted, reducing the mass of material required for cell design. This contributed to a
Typically, the efficiencies of thin-film solar cells are lower compared with silicon (wafer-
based) solar cells, but manufacturing costs are also lower, so that a lower price in terms
of electrical output can be achieved. Another advantage of the reduced mass is that
less support is needed when placing panels on rooftops and it allows fitting panels on
Third generation photovoltaic cell is very different from the other two, broadly defined as
semiconductor devices which do not rely on a traditional p-n junction to separate photo-
generated charge carriers. These new devices include photo electrochemical cells,
CHAPTER – 05
In its simplest form, the solar cell consists of a junction formed between n-type and p-
type semiconductors, either of the same material (homojunction) or different materials
(heterojunction).
When the two halves are brought together, the Fermi levels on either side are forced in
to coincidence, causing the valence and conduction band to bend.
These bent bands represent a built-in electric field over the depletion region.
When a photon, with energy greater than the band gap of the semiconductor,
passes through the solar cell, it may be absorbed by the material. This
region before they recombine, then they are separated by the electric field,
causing one quantum of charge to flow through an external load. This is the
CHAPTER – 06
SOLAR CELL
Crystalline Amorphous
CIGS / CdTe
Single Crystalline
Dye-sensitizes
Multiple Crystalline
Thin film crystalline solar cell consists of layers about 10µm thick as compare
PROS-
CONS-
Poor stability.
This type of cells are made by most advanced thin film technology.
PROS-
CONS-
Unlike most other material CdTe exhibits direct band gap of 1.4 EV and
PROS-
CONS-
CHAPTER – 07
LIGHT-ABSORBING MATERIALS
Materials which are used to manufacture solar cells are called Light Absorbing
Materials. All solar cells require a light absorbing material contained within the cell
structure to absorb photons and generate electrons via the photovoltaic effect. The
materials used in solar cells tend to have the property of preferentially absorbing the
wavelengths of solar light that reach the earth surface. Silicon remains the only material
7.1-SILICON-
By far, the most prevalent bulk material for solar cells is crystalline silicon also known as
Bulk silicon is separated into multiple categories according to crystallinity and crystal
be expensive, and because they are cut from cylindrical ingots, do not completely cover
a square solar cell module without a substantial waste of refined silicon. Hence most c-
Made from cast square ingots-large blocks of molten silicon carefully cooled and
solidified. These cells are less expensive to produce than single crystal cells but are
less efficient.
Ribbon Silicon:
Formed by drawing flat thin films from molten silicon and having a multi-crystalline
structure. These cells have lower efficiencies than poly-Si, but save on production costs
due to a great reduction in silicon waste, as this approach does not require sawing from
ingots.
New Structures:
These new compounds are special arrangements of silicon that can dramatically
7.2-THIN FILMS-
The various thin-film technologies currently being developed reduce the amount (or
mass) of light absorbing material required in creating a solar cell. This can lead to
reduced processing costs from that of bulk materials but also tends to reduce energy
conversion efficiency.
CdTe:
Compared to other thin-film materials, CdTe is easier to deposit and more suitable for
cells, this is the only technology (apart from amorphous silicon) that can be delivered on
a large scale. Germany is building a 100 MW plant based on CdTe solar cells.
CIGS:
CIGS are multi-layered thin-film composites. The abbreviation stands for copper
indium gallium selenide. Unlike the basic silicon solar cell, which can be modeled
as a simple p-n junction . These cells are best described by a more complex
2005 was 19.5% with CIGS. Higher efficiencies (around 30%) can be obtained by
This material is used for high efficiency cells developed for special applications such as
satellites and space exploration. A triple-junction cell may consist: GaAs, Ge, and
GaInP2. Each type of semiconductor will have a characteristic band gap energy which
causes it to absorb the Sun light most efficiently at a certain color, or more precisely, to
are carefully chosen to absorb nearly the entire solar spectrum, thus generating
electricity from as much of the solar energy as possible. GaAs multi-junction devices are
the most efficient solar cells to date, reaching as high as 39% efficiency. They are also
CHAPTER – 08
The ability of a cell to convert the maximum amount of light into electricity is known as
Number of Photon
Currently, average solar cell efficiency in the world is around 15%. This efficiency is
sufficient enough such that a typical house can be powered using 350 – 450 square feet
of roof space according to varying estimates based on typical usage in a family home.
CHAPTER – 09
The cost of solar energy is given by price per peak watt (WP).
Peak watt is the amount of power output , a PV module produce at standard test
A typical 2000 watt peak (2KWP) solar energy system costing Rs 440000
There has been a six fold decline in price per peak watt for PV module from 1980
to year 2000.
CHAPTER – 10
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION:
The provision of electricity to rural areas derives important social and economic
remote houses, electrification to the health care facilities, irrigation and water
supply.
(Over 500,000 homes worldwide use solar power as their only source of electricity)
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS:
Solar power watches, calculators, cameras and cell phone are all everyday
TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
Wireless system and devices, Radio system, Microwave stations are often solar
powered.
APPLICATIONS IN FARMING:
Solar power can be used in farming to power irrigation system, auto feeding
CHAPTER – 11
The very first benefit of using this technology is that solar energy is renewable.
This technology is not going to release any green house gases, harmful agents,
volatile material or carbon dioxide into the environment as in the case of fossil
fuels.
Solar cells are highly reliable and durable. This system doesn’t have any moving
parts, hence don’t require any replacement.
Almost all the energy source creates noise, but this is not the case with solar
energy.
Solar power systems have high power to weight ratio as compared to other
energy systems.
CHAPTER – 12
CHAPTER – 13
FUTURE ASPECTS
capacities but the pace at which advancement of the PV technology and with the
Solar Electric Energy demand has grown consistently by 20-25% per annum over
Research is underway for new fabrication techniques for solar cells, alternative
materials like Cadmium Sulphide and thin films cell are in development.
Silicon while plentiful and efficient is expensive to manufacture into solar cells. This is
PERVOSKITE CELLS-
This cell currently is under development. If achieved, it could make solar power
Dirt Cheap to use. The appeal lies in its potential to be produced easily at a very
low cost.
SOLAR WINDOWS-
A common consideration is that, how can solar panel put to use in the high
rising cities such as New York and Hong Kong, when there is lack of
sufficient roof space compare to high power demand . The answer lies in
solar windows. In order for solar windows to be feasible, the solar cells
need to be transparent.
A solar power satellite is a proposed satellite built in high Earth orbit that uses
the costs of construction are very high, and these satellites will not be able to
compete with conventional sources unless low launch costs can be achieved.
Because of this property, they can be printed anywhere and can be used
Ultra high efficient plastic solar cells can even work under low light
Researches are underway to produce more flexible solar cells in future to make
By 2020 global solar output could be 276 Terawatt hours, which would equal to
This would replace the need of the 75 new coal fired power plants.
dollar a year.
By 2040 global solar output could be more than 9000 Terawatt hours or 26% of
CHAPTER – 14
FINAL THOUGHT
Argument that sun provides power only during the day time is countered by the
fact that 70% of energy demands is during daytime hours.
Solar cell light absorbing materials can be used to take advantage of different
light absorption mechanism.
CHAPTER – 15
CONCLUSION
GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES.
The key to successful solar energy installation is to use quality components that
incentives will play a major role if all the above said is to be effectively realized.
REFRENCES
www.nrel.gov
www.indosolar.co.in
www.mnre.gov.in
www.ireda.gov.in
www.cercind.gov.in
www.ntpc.co.in