
Solar power: The Top five Solar Countries
Introduction
Solar power is one resource that is driving this energy transformation. After wind and hydropower, solar electricity is the third biggest renewable energy resource. The economic feasibility of solar energy combined with its widespread availability, has contributed to its phenomenal expansion in recent years.
Solar power is the direct or indirect conversion of sunlight energy into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) or concentrated solar power. Using the photovoltaic effect, photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current. Concentrated solar power systems focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive a steam turbine, using lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems.
Initially, photovoltaic were only utilised to power tiny and medium-sized applications, ranging from a calculator powered by a single solar cell to isolated dwellings powered by an off-grid rooftop PV system. The first commercial concentrated solar power facilities were built in the 1980s. Grid-connected solar PV systems have increased more or less exponentially since then, as the cost of solar power has decreased. Millions of installations and giga watt-scale photovoltaic power plants are still being erected, with solar accounting for half of new generating capacity in 2021.
Solar will generate 3.8% (1040 TW/h) of global power in 2021, up from 1% (253 TW/h) in 2015, when the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change was signed. In 2021, wind and solar will have produced more than 10% of the world’s power. Utility-scale solar, along with onshore wind, has the lowest levelised cost of power.
Technologies of Solar Power
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solar cell
A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic cell, is a device that uses the photovoltaic effect to convert light into electric current. Charles Fritts invented the first solar cell in the 1880s. Among those who recognized the significance of this discovery was the German industrialist Ernst Werner von Siemens.
Bruno Lange, a German engineer, invented a photo cell in 1931 that used silver selenide instead of copper oxide, though the prototype selenium cells converted less than 1% of incident light into electricity.
After Russell Ohl’s work in the 1940s, Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller, and Daryl Chapin invented the silicon solar cell in 1954. These early solar cells cost $286 per watt and had efficiency ranging from 4.5 to 6%. At Bell Laboratories, Mohamed M. Attalla invented the technology of silicon surface passivation by thermal oxidation in 1957. Since then, the surface passivation process has been important to solar cell efficiency.
By 2022, crystalline silicon will account for more than 90% of the market. The array of a photovoltaic system, or PV system, generates direct current (DC) power that varies with the intensity of the sunlight. In most cases, this requires conversion to alternating current (AC) via the employment of inverters.
Within panels, many solar cells are linked. Panels are joined together to create arrays, which are then connected to an inverter, which provides electricity at the required voltage and frequency/phase for AC.
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Solar Thin-Film
A thin-film solar cell (TFSC) is a second generation solar cell manufactured by depositing one or more thin layers, or thin films (TF), of photovoltaic material over a substrate such as glass, plastic, or metal. Thin-film solar cells, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium dieseline (CIGS), and amorphous thin-film silicon, are commercially employed in a variety of technologies (a-Si, TF-Si).
Given thin film solar’s growing efficiency, putting it atop metal roofs has become cost competitive with standard Mono-crystalline and Polycrystalline solar cells. The thin film panels are flexible and flow along the standing seam metal roofs, adhering to the metal roof with Adhesive, requiring no holes for installation.
The connecting cables go along the top of the roof, under the ridge cap. In comparison to Mono-crystalline, which is 17-22% efficient and costs $3.00-$3.50 per watt of installed capacity, efficiency varies from 10-18% but costs just approximately $2.00-$3.00 per watt of installed capacity.
At 7-10 ounces per square foot, thin film solar is lightweight. Thin film solar panels have a shorter ROI than standard solar panels and last 10-20 years. Metal roofs last 40-70 years before replacement, compared to 12-20 years for an asphalt shingle roof.
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Solar concentrating power
The focus point of a parabolic collector concentrates sunlight onto a tube.
Concentrated solar power (CSP), sometimes known as “concentrated solar thermal,” concentrates sunlight using lenses or mirrors and tracking systems, then uses the generated heat to create electricity using conventional steam-driven turbines.
There are several concentrating technologies, the most well-known of which are the parabolic trough, the compact linear Fresnel reflector, the dish Stirling, and the solar power tower. To monitor the sun and concentrate light, many approaches are utilised. In all of these systems, concentrated sunlight heats a working fluid, which is subsequently employed for power generation or energy storage.
Thermal storage enables for effective overnight power generation, complementing PV. CSP provides a very tiny portion of solar electricity, and the IEA stated in 2022 that CSP should be properly compensated for its storage.
As of 2021, the levelized cost of energy from CSP is more than double that of PV; nonetheless, their extremely high temperatures may be beneficial in decarbonizing businesses that require higher temperatures than electricity can deliver (possibly via hydrogen).
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Hybrid systems of solar power
A hybrid system combines solar energy with energy storage and/or one or more additional sources of energy. Solar is frequently paired with hydro, wind, and batteries. The combined generation may allow the system to alter power production in response to demand, or at the very least smooth out solar power fluctuations.
There is a lot of hydro across the world, and installing solar panels on or near existing hydro reservoirs is especially beneficial because hydro is typically more flexible than wind and cheaper at scale than batteries, and existing power lines may sometimes be utilised.
How is solar power using?
Solar energy is a particularly adaptable energy technology: it may be produced as distributed generation (placed at or near the point of consumption) or as a utility-scale, central-station solar power plant (similar to traditional power plants).
Using cutting-edge solar + storage technology, both of these techniques can also store the energy they generate for distribution when the sun goes down. Solar operates inside the United States’ complex and interconnected electrical grid, collaborating with other technologies like as wind power to help the country move to a clean energy economy.
To guarantee that consumers and businesses have equal access to sustainable energy technology like solar, all of these applications rely on supporting regulatory frameworks at the local, state, and federal levels.
The Top five Solar Power Countries in the World
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China- 392 GW
China’s solar prowess is mind-boggling. At 392 GW, the country is the world’s largest producer of solar energy.
The country installed more than 30.88 GW of solar PV systems in the first six months of 2022. Furthermore, it has set a target of installing 108 GW of solar electricity this year.
China accounts for more than 80% of all solar panel production phases. In China, subsidy-free solar electricity is now cheaper than coal.
Furthermore, the country has set lofty ambitions for the future.
China has set a target of 33% renewable energy generation in 2025 in its 14th Five-Year Plan, which was unveiled in June 2022. Moreover, the People’s Republic of China’s president, Xi Jinping, has declared intentions to build 1200 GW of solar and wind energy capacity by 2030.
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The United States of America- 135.7 GW
The United States is second in the list of top solar countries, with 135.7 GW of solar generating capacity. From a meagre 0.34 GW capacity in 2008, the country has gone a long way in the solar realm.
Solar power plants currently provide 3% of the electricity in the United States.
Furthermore, the solar potential in the United States is enormous. According to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory research, a solar panel-covered surface the size of Lake Michigan (about 22,000 square miles) would be adequate to power the whole country. Its space might be cut in half if the efficiency of the panels is increased.
The solar market in the United States is also rapidly expanding. According to sources, the number of solar jobs in the United States has surged by 167%.
The country is progressively developing favourable regulations to stimulate the move to solar. Moreover, President Joe Biden’s administration has set a target of achieving 100% sustainable energy by 2025. Solar power would fulfil 40% of total electricity consumption.
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Japan- 84.9 GW
Japan was ranked fourth in terms of solar power capacity a few years ago. With a total capacity of 84.9 GW, the country is now ranked third.
In 2021, solar power will account for over 10% of total electricity output in Japan. This is a significant increase over the previous year’s 0.3% share of the energy mix.
The country is regarded as the fastest expanding in terms of supporting solar PV. Moreover, Japan leads the globe in the solar business, producing 45% of the world’s photovoltaic cells.
According to Japan’s Environment and Trade Ministries, the country plans to install 20 GW of solar power over the next eight years to meet the 108 GW objectives. To meet this goal, the Japanese government intends to install solar panels in more than half of central government and local buildings.
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Germany- 66.5 GW
Germany leads the European Union in renewable energy. The nation’s solar capacity was 66.5 GW as of 2021. Germany produced more than 3.8 GW of capacity in the first half of 2022.
Solar power accounted for 10% of total electricity consumption in the nation by 2021.
The Ukrainian war has heightened tensions between numerous European countries and Russia. Germany is also feeling the effects of this conflict in the form of a gas shortage. To address the energy problem, the German government is working to implement laws and boost renewable energy generation.
To satisfy growing electricity demand, the nation has issued a tender for the development of 1.5 GW of extra solar energy.
Furthermore, the government intends to achieve net neutrality by 2045. To achieve this aim, the country has set a target of adding 215 GW of solar generating capacity by 2030.
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India- 63.3 GW
India is the world’s fifth biggest solar country, with about 63.3 GW of installed solar capacity. The country has enormous solar potential, since most Indian states receive sunlight for more than 300 days each year.
To capitalise on this potential, the Indian government is continually enacting regulations and activities that encourage the public to switch to solar. The country is also keen to lessen its reliance on imports in the solar sector and to develop indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
The Indian government authorised the Performance Linked Initiative (PLI) plan for High-Efficiency Solar PV panels in September 2022. This move seeks to promote firms to sell locally made solar equipment, hence strengthening the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-sufficiency) project.
The nation installed 7.2 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2022. Furthermore, the country has set a goal of developing 280 GW of solar power capacity by 2030.
Advantage of Solar Power
- Source of Renewable Energy
- Lowers electricity bills
- Various Uses
- Low Operating Expenses
- Technological Advancement
Disadvantage of Solar Power
- The initial investment is significant.
- Climate-Related
- The cost of solar energy storage is prohibitively expensive.
- Occupies a lot of space
Forecasts
Actual annual solar PV deployments vs. IEA predictions from 2002 to 2016. Predictions have consistently understated actual growth.
Solar is expected to surpass coal as the largest source of installed power capacity between 2022 and 2027.
26 Utility scales are expected to have the highest capacity in all regions except Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to a 2021 study, the global electricity generation potential of rooftop solar panels is estimated to be 27 PW/h per year, with costs ranging from $40 (Asia) to $240 per MW/h (US, Europe). Its practical implementation, however, will be contingent on the availability and cost of scalable electricity storage solutions.
Conclusion
Solar power has seen tremendous growth in recent years, becoming the third biggest renewable energy resource after wind and hydropower. The economic feasibility of solar energy combined with its widespread availability has contributed to this expansion.
Solar power is generated through photovoltaic (PV) or concentrated solar power, which convert sunlight energy into electricity. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current, while concentrated solar power systems focus sunlight to a hot spot to drive a steam turbine.
Solar technologies include solar cells, solar thin-film, solar concentrating power, and hybrid systems of solar power. Solar energy is highly adaptable and can be produced as distributed generation or as a utility-scale, central-station solar power plant. The top five solar power countries in the world are China, the United States, Japan, Germany, and India.
References
- “Global Solar Atlas”. Global solar atlas.info. Retrieved 12 August 2022. https://globalsolaratlas.info/map
- “Energy Sources: Solar”. Department of Energy. Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.