2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
For many years, humanity has been concerned about obtaining cheap energy from alternative renewable resources. The transformation of air masses, the tides of ocean waves, geothermal waters - all this is seen as an additional inexhaustible potential as opposed to fossil fuels.
The most promising renewable source is solar energy. After all, it has a colossal resource, carries light and heat, setting in motion all vital systems on our planet. That is why man has foreseen huge prospects for himself in this. Despite a number of shortcomings in this direction, solar energy in Russia is gaining momentum.
How electricity is made from light
The conversion of sunlight into electrical energy is called the photoelectric effect. It occurs when a powerful light falls on the surface of a semiconductor, and in this case silicon.flow. Under its action, electrons are detached, which are a stream of charged particles called electricity.
The sun constantly generates a huge amount of radiant energy. Each square meter of its surface releases 63 MW into space. Of course, not all of this energy has the visible spectrum needed to generate electricity.
After passing the distance between the Sun and the Earth, the luminous flux loses its intensity, and a square meter of the surface of our planet takes only 0.9 kW. But this is not all losses. The best photovoltaic cells can convert 18% of the light output.
Therefore, under the best circumstances, photovoltaic cells will produce 160 watts per square meter.
Who leads the solar energy market
Today, the undisputed leader in the processing of solar energy is China. Its share is 60% of the total electricity received by the world community in this way. The United States is in second place. They generate 10.4%. India occupies an honorable third place. Its share is 7.8%. Japan, Germany and Brazil follow in descending order. The development of solar energy in Russia does not yet allow it to become one of the leaders. But does this mean that the temperate climate does not allow for the proper use of the resource of the most powerful source?
Is there enough sun in Russia
Russia has huge potential, according to Energy Strategy Institutesolar energy, which is expressed in the equivalent of 2,300 billion tons of reference fuel. The economic resource is much less - 12.5 million tons of reference fuel. But this is more than enough, given that the amount of energy received from the Sun in 3 days will be more than all the electricity produced in a year by traditional methods.
The amount of solar radiation fluctuates greatly due to the geographical location of Russia. In hot regions, it is 1400 kWh/m2, and in cold regions it is 810 kWh/m2. It also depends on the time of year. It is higher during the summer months and vice versa in winter.
Prospects for solar energy are very high for some regions.
These include:
- Far Eastern District;
- western and southern Siberia;
- areas surrounding the Black and Caspian Seas.
According to the operator of the Unified Energy System, the share of electricity produced by solar energy in Russia is 0.03% of the total.
Today, there are more than 10 solar power plants in Russia, which produce a total capacity of 72.5 MW.
Development of solar energy in Russia
Now there is an active consideration of projects for the construction of power plants on the territory of the Crimean peninsula. To make it energy-independent, it is necessary to generate an additional 2.5 billion kW. It is planned to partially cover this need with the help of solar and wind energy, which will additionallygive 196 million kW. to the public grid.
In other parts of Russia, in particular, in the city of Narimanov, it is planned to build a solar power plant with a capacity of 25 million kWh/year. The Far East is not far behind. To meet the energy demand, a solar power plant with a capacity of 40 MW is planned to be built in the Republic of Sakha.
Another 5 projects will be implemented after 2018. Thus, the construction of large solar power plants in Russia is not far away.
Autonomous power supply for a private house
Western countries, such as Germany, encourage the conversion of a private house to supply electricity from solar panels. Moreover, if a surplus of a resource is formed, then they are bought from the population. Thus, during the daytime they are sold to the electricity company, and at night, when there is no sun, the electricity is bought back. In Russia, such a system does not work. However, if solar panels produce more energy than needed, it can be stored in batteries.
How the number of solar panels is calculated
In order to calculate the number of solar panels to supply the house, you need to find out how many kW were spent during the month. Then divide the resulting number by 30. This will be the average value of the required amount of electricity per day. In order to have a power reserve for charging batteries, you need to take an additional factor of 1, 6. After that, you can start choosing solar panels.
For the operation of an autonomous power supply system, in addition to solar panels, you must at least have an inverter, without which the voltage in the home network will be only 12 or 24 volts.
Solar panels
The phenomenon of converting the energy of sunlight was discovered back in the 19th century. Selenium was used as a semiconductor that generates electricity. It had an efficiency of about 1%. During this time, technology has stepped forward and modern solar panels for private homes have an efficiency of up to 35%. According to their design, they are divided into 3 varieties:
- Monocrystalline. The photocells of these panels are made of a single crystal. They have the highest prices and efficiency. These devices can be recognized by their deep blue color.
- Polycrystalline. These batteries are made from several silicon wafers, which has a worse effect on converting light into electricity. However, the lower cost affected their wide distribution. Most often, solar panels for private houses are installed of this type.
- Thin-film. These batteries are a semiconductor powder deposited on a flexible substrate. Therefore, they can be mounted on any surface. The disadvantage is low efficiency.
The cost of a solar battery will depend on what principle was applied in the manufacture.
Inverter
A solar cell is made up of many photovoltaic modules that produce a voltage of 0.6 volts. The minimum indicator that the battery should give out is 14volt, so the elements for energy conversion are connected in series with each other. This voltage should be enough to charge the batteries, into which excess electricity is diverted. But how to make it possible to use household appliances, because the voltage in the home network is 220 volts?
An inverter is used for these purposes. Its task is to convert 12 volts to 220. In addition, the network uses alternating current, while solar panels generate direct current. It is the inverter that converts electrical energy in such a way as to give the characteristics corresponding to the home network.
Controller
The controller is the main distributing device in an autonomous power supply system. An inverter, batteries, an electric cable of the city network are connected to it. Why is this being done?
During the daytime, when the solar panels produce electricity in excess, the controller directs the surplus to charge the batteries. Then, in the evening and at night, when there is no solar energy, this device sends electricity from the batteries to an inverter connected to the house's network. But there are times when the current in the so-called "reservoirs" becomes insufficient to perform any tasks. Then the controller decides to take the necessary electricity from the city network. Thus, he exercises effective management.
Batteries
The main problem of solar energy is the needbattery usage. These elements of the power plant significantly increase the cost of the system. Cheap car options are not suitable here due to their quick failure. Even in a gentle mode, they do not work for more than three years. Intensive work shortens their service life to a year. If there is a need for energy storage, then other options should be considered:
- Lithium iron phosphate batteries (lifepo 4). This is the best option because it has an efficiency of up to 98%. This means that he gives out almost as much energy as he receives. Manufacturers promise a service life of about 15 years, 3000 charge cycles at 80% discharge and 5000 cycles at 50% discharge. The cost of such a battery with a capacity of 240 A/h is over 50 thousand rubles.
- Traction lead-acid batteries. Such batteries are installed on electric cars, electric forklifts. They are able to withstand deep discharge. The service life is 10-12 years. Prices for such batteries start at 30 thousand rubles.
- Nickel-cadmium batteries. This is one of the most expensive varieties. The cost of a battery with a capacity of 250 A / h starts from 70 thousand rubles. These batteries are good because, if the manufacturer's recommendations are followed, they last a long time. In addition, when the capacity decreases over time, it can be restored with training discharge-charge cycles.
Batteries are consumables for solar energy. In Russia, the prices for suitable batteries are still unreasonably high, and greatly reduce the profitability of using a natural resource. You need to purchase such a device only from trusted manufacturers.
Experience in private homes
How much does a solar panel cost, is there an economic benefit from using them?
According to various sources, the cost of equipment offered by manufacturers for generating electricity from the sun is in the range of 40-300 thousand rubles. for a medium sized home. In this range is the price of both ready-made kits and individual items.
Equipment is designed for a service life of 20 years or more. Batteries are an exception.
If we take the cost of payments for electricity, add the price of heating to it, then the amount will be at least 50 thousand rubles a year. This is for central Russia. Thus, a kit costing 300 thousand rubles, which is capable of delivering from 3 to 5 kW at its peak value, pays for itself within a few years.
If we analyze the rate of price reduction for such products, then the use of solar panels becomes justified.
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