What is Good Solar Energy , Wind or Electricity

Capt

Capt. Rajeshwar Singh

Solar Power in Agriculture:

Solar Energy
  1. Energy Generation: Solar power harnesses sunlight to generate electricity through photovoltaic (PV) panels or thermal systems. It offers a renewable and sustainable energy source for various agricultural applications.
  2. Cost Efficiency: Once the initial installation costs are covered, solar power can significantly reduce energy expenses in the long term. Farmers can save money on electricity bills by generating their own power and potentially even selling excess energy back to the grid.
  3. Versatility: Solar power can be utilized in diverse agricultural activities, such as powering irrigation systems, livestock water pumps, lighting, and ventilation in barns, and operating machinery and equipment.
  4. Environmental Impact: Solar energy is clean and produces no direct emissions or pollution during operation. It helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.
  5. Reliability: Solar panels have a long lifespan and require minimal maintenance. They can function in remote locations with adequate sunlight, providing a reliable energy source for off-grid agricultural operations.

Wind Power in Agriculture:

  1. Energy Generation: Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity, offering a renewable power source for agricultural activities.
  2. Abundant Resource: Wind energy is generally available in many regions and can be harnessed to generate electricity on a significant scale, making it suitable for large-scale agricultural operations.
  3. Cost and Efficiency: Initial investment costs for wind turbines can be higher compared to solar installations. However, wind power can be cost-effective in areas with consistent and strong winds, as it provides higher energy output per unit compared to solar panels.
  4. Land Requirements: Wind turbines typically require more land area compared to solar installations, which can be a constraint for farmers with limited space. However, agricultural land can be used for both wind power generation and farming simultaneously.
  5. Environmental Impact: Wind power is a clean energy source and emits no pollutants or greenhouse gases during operation. It contributes to reducing carbon emissions and helps combat climate change.

Electricity Use in Agriculture:

Electricity
  1. Energy Demand: Agriculture relies on electricity for various purposes, including powering machinery and equipment, operating irrigation systems, lighting, refrigeration, and heating or cooling systems in agricultural buildings.
  2. Grid Dependence: Electricity in agriculture is often sourced from the power grid, which can be reliable in areas with good infrastructure. However, dependence on the grid can lead to vulnerability during power outages or high electricity costs.
  3. Energy Efficiency: The efficiency of electricity use depends on the equipment and technologies employed in agricultural practices. Energy-efficient machinery and appliances can help reduce overall energy consumption and associated costs.
  4. Customization: Electricity offers flexibility in terms of power supply, as farmers can choose the required voltage and wattage suitable for their specific needs. It allows for customization and adaptation to different farming operations.
  5. Environmental Impact: The environmental impact of electricity in agriculture depends on the source of electricity generation. If the power grid relies heavily on fossil fuels, it can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Transitioning to renewable energy sources can mitigate these environmental concerns.

Overall, solar and wind power provide renewable alternatives to conventional electricity use in agriculture. They offer cost savings, reduced environmental impact, and independence from the power grid. However, the choice between solar, wind, or conventional electricity ultimately depends on factors such as location, available resources, energy demands, and financial considerations.

DESIGN OF SOLAR DC TO AC CONVERTER WITH OUT BATTERY

A solar DC to AC converter, also known as a solar inverter, is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) electricity from solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used to power appliances and devices in a home or building. A solar inverter without a battery operates by directly converting the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that is fed into the electrical grid.

Here’s a simple design of a solar DC to AC converter without a battery:

  1. Rectification: The first step in the conversion process is to convert the incoming AC power from the solar panels into DC power. This is done using a rectifier circuit, which converts the AC voltage into a pulsed DC voltage.
  2. DC-DC Conversion: The pulsed DC voltage is then filtered to produce a smooth DC voltage.
  3. Inverter Circuit: The smooth DC voltage is then fed into an inverter circuit, which converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage. The inverter circuit uses high-frequency oscillators and power electronic switches to generate an AC voltage waveform.
  4. Output Filter: The AC voltage waveform is then filtered to remove any high-frequency components and produce a clean AC waveform.
  5. AC Grid Synchronization: The AC output from the inverter is then synchronized with the AC electrical grid, which ensures that the AC voltage and frequency are within acceptable limits.
  6. Overcurrent and Overvoltage Protection: To protect the system from overcurrent and overvoltage conditions, a protection circuit is included in the design. This circuit monitors the output voltage and current and disconnects the inverter from the grid if it exceeds the safe levels.
  7. AC Output: The final AC output is then fed into the electrical grid, ready to be used to power appliances and devices in the home or building.

This design can be improved with the addition of a microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP) to provide advanced control and monitoring capabilities, as well as to ensure high efficiency and reliability.

Electric Vehicle Stocks

Solar Car

You may have heard about electric vehicles (EVs) and are thinking about getting one. EVs are efficient, environmentally friendly ways to get around town, but they come with a few caveats that you should consider before committing to the vehicle that will take you from point A to B. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of owning an electric vehicle so you can make an informed decision if this is right for you.

Charge on go,set ,go

EV Advantages

The first advantage to EV cars is that they are far more environmentally friendly than their gas-guzzling counterparts. EVs use no fossil fuels, so they’re causing a lot less pollution than any normal vehicle. The electricity needed to power EVs can be generated from renewable resources like wind, solar, hydroelectric or geothermal sources, meaning that even better, these vehicles are helping toward a greener planet! Another huge benefit to electric vehicles is how much money you save on fuel costs. Depending on your current car’s MPG rating, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars every year just by driving an EV instead. The basic principle behind electric vehicles (EVs) has been around since 1832 when Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction while experimenting with wires wrapped around a magnet—the basis for today’s motors in EVs.

EV Disadvantages


EVs are generally more expensive than their fossil-fuel counterparts, not only because you have to replace their battery pack every 3-5 years, but also because most EVs aren’t as affordable as their ICE counterparts. And while we’re on the topic of pricey EVs, let’s discuss another potential issue—the cost to charge your EV. Most charging stations require a small fee to fill up your EV tank and these fees can accumulate quickly. For example, if you were to drive from Mumbai to Pune and back (about 300 kms) using one of best superchargers, it would cost about Rs 250 to Rs. 500 in charging costs alone.

Solar Car

Key Tips

Because traditional vehicle engines have been in use for so long, it’s hard to change over to something new. The greatest challenges for EV car owners today are figuring out how to charge their car and finding places to plug them in. Technology also gets outdated quickly, so you’ll want to make sure your car is up-to-date with anything that could make it faster or more efficient, such as solar cells or batteries. And lastly, EVs can be expensive! While they do cost less to maintain than gas-powered cars, they often cost thousands of dollars more than comparable gas vehicles. However, if you plan on keeping your car for a while, it might be worth looking into buying an electric model instead. Tips: Because traditional vehicle engines have been in use for so long, it’s hard to change over to something new.

Charge with Solar :True Energy Saver

Solar is future

Two scientists at UCLA calculated that, if you drove a typical EV 12,000 miles per year, solar-powered charging would cost less than $1 a month. Factoring in battery degradation (which occurs whether or not you use solar power), they say it would be worth about $20 to charge your EV with renewable energy. That means if you don’t install solar panels on your house, it could cost around $2,000 to offset your car’s carbon emissions over its lifetime with other renewables like wind power. Of course, if you’re going to shell out several thousand dollars for a new car in any case, installing some rooftop solar seems like a smart investment. It can also save you money on electricity bills: The average U.S. household spends about 10 percent of their annual income on utility bills, so even small changes can add up to big savings over time—and electric cars are one way to make those changes happen sooner rather than later. Plus, if you’re concerned about climate change but can’t afford an electric vehicle yet, think of how much better off your grandkids will be when they have EVs instead of gas guzzlers clogging up America’s roads!

Solar Pump Subsidy

PM Kusum Scheme

Solar Pump

Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had launched Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) scheme for the promotion of solar energy last year. The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crore . The Scheme consists of three components.  Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW. Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP and Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP. Under Component B,  individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP. Under PM Kusum Scheme,  20 lakh farmers will be provided subsidy for setting up stand-alone solar pumps. Another 15 lakh farmers to be helped to solarise their grid-connected pump sets. This scheme will enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their barren lands and to sell it to the power grid.

Solar Power Driven Agriculture Pump

Surya Prakash

SOLAR DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Niyant Singh, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai.

Abstract

Today, India has the largest decentralized solar energy programme, the second largest biogas and improved stove programmes, and the fifth largest wind power programme in the world. Primarily my aim is to explain people about the emerging solar field in India. The main reason for no quick development is because general public is still unaware about solar products and the benefits of renewable energy. Photovoltaic’s can provide tiny amounts of power for watches, large amounts for the electric grid, and everything in between. Concentrating solar power technologies use reflective materials to concentrate the sun’s heat energy, which ultimately drives a generator to produce electricity. Hence in this report I have covered every single aspect of solar power from basic solar cell to uses applications, products, market and future plans. This report gives an overview of the menu of technologies and the scope for solar development in India. It tells the people in brief about the current position of solar energy in India, the potential in various areas and the targets that the country has set for itself, thus preparing the ground for more comprehensive information and a ready reckoner. We realize the purchase of a photovoltaic system can be a challenging task. Here you can find information about how solar power is generated, how solar systems are constructed and function.

To learn more download our file and understand more about the development of solar energy.

Solar Pumps

Solar-powered pumps run on electricity generated by photovoltics panels or the radiated thermal energy available from collected sunlight as opposed to grid electricity or diesel run water pumps.

Generally, solar powered pumps consist of a solar panel array, solar charge controller (MPPT), DC water pump, fuse box/breakers, electrical wiring and a water storage tank.[

The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical mainly due to the lower operation and maintenance costs and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable and alternative sources (in particular wind) do not provide sufficient energy

Components

A photovoltaic solar powered pump system has three parts:

  • solar panels.
  • the controller
  • the pump

The solar panels make up most (up to 80%) of the systems cost. The size of the PV-system is directly dependent on the size of the pump, the amount of water that is required (m³/d) and the solar irradiance available.

The purpose of the controller is twofold. Firstly, it matches the output power that the pump receives with the input power available from the solar panels. Secondly, a controller usually provides a low voltage protection, whereby the system is switched off, if the voltage is too low or too high for the operating voltage range of the pump. This increases the lifetime of the pump thus reducing the need for maintenance. Other ancillary functions include automatically shutting down the system when water source level is low or when the storage tank is full, regulating water output pressure, blending power input between the solar panels and an alternate power source such as the grid or a petrol generator, and remotely monitoring and managing the system through an online portal offered as a cloud service by the manufacturer.

Voltage of the solar pump motors can be AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current). Direct current motors are used for small to medium applications up to about 4 kW rating, and are suitable for applications such as garden fountains, landscaping, drinking water for livestock, or small irrigation projects. Since DC systems tend to have overall higher efficiency levels than AC pumps of a similar size, the costs are reduced as smaller solar panels can be used.

Finally, if an alternating current solar pump is used, an inverter is necessary that changes the direct current from the solar panels into alternating current for the pump. The supported power range of inverters extends from 0.15 to 55 kW and can be used for larger irrigation systems. However, the panel and inverters must be sized accordingly to accommodate the inrush characteristic of an AC motor. To aid in proper sizing, leading manufacturers provide proprietary sizing software tested by third party certifying companies. The sizing software may include the projected monthly water output which varies due to seasonal change in insolation.

Water pumping

Solar powered water pumps can deliver drinking water as well as water for livestock or irrigation purposes.] Solar water pumps may be especially useful in small scale or community based irrigation, as large scale irrigation requires large volumes of water that in turn require a large solar PV array. As the water may only be required during some parts of the year, a large PV array would provide excess energy that is not necessarily required, thus making the system inefficient.

Solar PV water pumping systems are used for irrigation and drinking water in India. The majority of the pumps are fitted with a 2 – 3.7 kW motor that receives energy from a 4.8 kWp PV array. The 3.7 kW systems can deliver about 124,000 liters of water/day from a total of 50 meters setoff head and 70 meters dynamic head. By 30 August 2016, a total of 120,000 solar PV water pumping systems have been installed in India and many other places around the world.  Energy storage in the form of water storage is better than energy storage in the form of batteries for solar water pumps because there is no intermediary transformation of one form of energy to another. The most common pump mechanics used are centrifugal pumps, multistage pumps, borehole pumps, and helical pumps. Important scientific concepts of fluid dynamics like pressure vs. head, pump heads, pump curves, system curves, and net suction head are really important for the successful deployment and design of solar powered pumps.