Solar Energy in the UAE - Research Paper Example

Solar Energy in the UAE Introduction Solar is a form of energy that people acquire from the sun and convert into electrical or heat energy (Ramsey, 2007). It falls under a multipurpose source of renewable energy whose use can be put into a stunning number of applications. It provides power for everything ranging from vehicles and water vessels to homes and airplanes. Scientists refer to solar power as clean and environmentally friendly. For many decades, solar energy’s use circulated in a traditional setting. In the current years, however, it has captured keen interest, as the high price and limited supply of fossil fuels continues to become a rising issue in some developed regions of the world. Many companies and organizations are researching better ways to harness solar energy. They wish to make its use more recognized and effective. This paper will carry out a research of solar energy in the United Arab Emirates. Its purpose is to establish solar energy use in the region. Solar energy is already in extensive use, in some remote places where the people residing there cannot access other energy sources. They convert power from the sun into solar power through the use of solar collectors; these solar collectors take the name solar panels (Ramsey, 2007). Solar panels compose of solar cells intended to attract energy from the sun. The solar panels used in heating air and liquid differ from those whose uses are mainly giving out electricity. For a solar panel to store the highest possible amount of solar power, they must be faced to the sun. Energy from the sun can be transformed into solar energy in two ways. The first way engages the use of solar thermal applications. Solar thermal applications use the sun's energy to give direct heat to air or liquid. The second way of acquiring solar energy involves the use of photoelectric applications (Beckman, 2006). A solution that this research brings about is to set up solar power stations in various regions of the UAE. This is because is exposed to high amounts of the sun and this makes it reasonable for the UAE to take advantage of the situation. With the current technological advancements taking place in the UAE, they can innovate PV projects come up with projects of setting up both small and large-scale power stations. Literature review This section will explain in details the materials used in research. The research used nine sources to come up with its findings. Below follows a detailed review of the nine sources of the research material. One of the sources, Solar Energy International’s manual of the Photovoltaic (PV): Design and Installation brought significant contributions to the research. It argues that creating electricity from the sun through photovoltaic systems has become a leading industry globally. Setting up and preserving such systems require skills and education. Now, with Photovoltaic: Design and Installation Manual, top-class solar power training assistant; Solar Energy International offers the crucial information to effectively designing, installing and preserving photovoltaic systems. The manual holds a summary of photovoltaic electricity plus a detailed explanation of photovoltaic system components, including photovoltaic elements, cells, regulators and inverters. The second book, Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry written by Travis Bradford mainly focuses on the financial basis of the photovoltaic models showing that in the coming two decades, solar power will be the most appropriate choice for electricity and power applications. The book outlines ways through which the shift to solar technology and sustainable energy applications will arise. Growth in the photovoltaic industry over the past decade has made direct electricity generation from photovoltaic cells a cheaper and sufficient energy source, despite the common belief that photovoltaic technology appeals only to a small market (Bradford, 2008). The third source of the research reviews Dan Ramsey’s book of The Complete Guide to Solar Power. The book refers to solar energy as a multi-billion dollar industry, and it will, in future, grow rapidly. The reason being, Ramsey says, mounted pressure on the narrow fossil fuel resources diverts attention to solar power. With this, there have been advances made to solar technology to ease the costs of solar energy. This book assists readers to recognize the basics of solar power and explore whether solar power creates a sense in development. Eric Smith’s book, the forth source; precise, and broad, acts as a guide for countries looking to installing solar electric systems. It states that energy from the sun provides a basic consideration of electricity, solar power and the sun, and solar site evaluation (Smith, 2009). It talks about types of photovoltaic systems; advances in photovoltaic, charge regulators, inverters, cells, and generators, as well as, the setting up and preservation of the photovoltaic system. This book, written for large scale producers, creates awareness of the advantages of solar electricity. It provides an excellent summary of the options available and assists power companies to make wise resolutions during the design and install the solar electric systems. Rex Ewing in his book; Got Sun Go Solar tells of how to benefit from the free energy of the sun to cut or even do away with their electric bills. He comes up with a clear indication of what to anticipate from the power production. Countries in the Middle East will benefit most due to their high amount of heat experienced in the region. Alternative power has come with reasonably priced up to date technology. Now with incentives from most nations, setting up a solar system favors the economy and environment (Ewing, 2005). In the sixth source, Martin Green’s book, Third Generation Photovoltaic talks about the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity, as being the fastest rising technology for energy generation. The old generation products used microelectronics. The middle generation used thin-films, now entering the market. They have the power to develop the economy through reducing the material price (Green, 2005). Martin Green argues in this book that middle generation photovoltaic will eventually overcome its own material price restraints, producing a third generation of high function thin-films. The seventh source, Principles of Solar Engineering written by D. Yogi; covers the most recent developments of countries concerned with solar power applications. With the scientific basics included, the book covers vital fields such as detoxification, heating plus cooling, passive solar applications and biomass energy change. This complete textbook gives examples of ways of solar engineering from around the globe and includes examples, resolutions and data appropriate to worldwide solar energy problems. The eighth source, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes written by William Beckman; states that solar technologies provide electricity for heating, lighting for homes, companies, and industries. Since solar power can only account for a tenth percent of primary energy needs, small build ups in market diffusion can result to extremely rapid growth rates in the industry; this being thought as what will be for coming years as the world diverts from carbon energy creation (Beckman, 2006). Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes gives the most recent thoughts and practices for engineering solar technologies and putting them to use in a variety of markets. The final source, Photovoltaic Systems, say that need for a renewable energy is growing fast, requiring a higher number of skillful system technicians. The author, James Dunlop, defines his book a complete channel to the design and set up of several types of national photovoltaic systems. The book looks at the principles of photovoltaic energy and ways to include it into electrical systems. Many illustrations explain the ideas behind how photovoltaic arrays and other components operate. The book also covers the subjects needed for solar installers. Photovoltaic System views as the vital guide to all aspects of photovoltaic systems. Methodology This stage will give a general guideline system for developing the solar system power stations, with precise components such as techniques, tasks, schemes, phases and apparatus. It will aim to track companies in the following business fields of solar energy. Those who produce the solar energy equipment; sellers of materials to solar equipment producers; companies that profit a noteworthy portion of their business from solar energy system setting up, integration or finance; plus businesses that specialize in selling electricity created from solar energy. Solar energy includes two main categories: solar photovoltaic energy, which involves the, change of sun’s energy into electricity through the photovoltaic process; and, thermal solar energy, which engages in using energy from the sun to heat fluids to create electricity (Yogi, 2000). This methodology will focus on the leading category of solar photovoltaic energy. The steps for the setting up include creating uncertainty in approximating solar emission intensity using two diverse methods, contrasting the photovoltaic energy output (system performance), and joining the two methods to establish a new approach. Step 1: Quantify uncertainty in approximating solar emission intensity An uncertainty in supply for solar radiation intensity was determined for every hour and month for the Dane District Airport in Wisconsin, USA using findings from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB). This data source was selected because it rates as a high uncertainty area with uncertain weather conditions during winter. This weather uncertainty prediction owes to using an experimental probability density function plus cumulative density function (Smith, 2009). Step 2: Create the original photovoltaic efficiency model This step involves carrying out physical experiments on an amorphous silicon photovoltaic battery to determine its efficiency as the purpose of solar radiation intensity. Step 3: Creating uncertainties from the solar radiation intensity and experimental photovoltaic models To establish the necessary reliability of the photovoltaic model, uncertainties from the solar radiation intensity model and the current photovoltaic model will promulgate using both a set-based approach and a simulation-based approach using Monte Carlo Simulation. Step 4: Evaluate the profits and restrictions of the two methods The set will involve a method of setting up a proper method for acquiring the uncertainty bound. This should be economical in every field. The main aim is to determine ways in which uncertainty propagates over the entire system. In United Arab Emirates’ case, reason for uncertainty propagates from the solar radiation intensity statistics into total power output stands to be the maximum because of the high amount of solar energy experienced in the region (Smith, 2009). Findings The Solar photovoltaic market notes to be booming, with solar power systems expected to expand in 2012. With regards to the Solar Market Insight, they found out that, in 2011, the solar Photovoltaic systems had more than doubled in many regions of the world, compared to last year, reaching a high capacity of 1.85 GW within the year. The value estimated totals to around $8.4 billion. Approximately 40% of these Photovoltaic systems (around 760 MW) where set up for utility purposes with the industry showing a real increase of around 300% (nearly 3 times more than relevant set ups in 2010) (Dunlop, 2009). The most valuable thing being that the solar market projections for 2012 analysts predict an increase to around 54%. The projections being a total anticipated figure of 2.8 GW. The main factor inciting the growth of solar power market was the decline of prices of solar Photovoltaic systems. The drop amounts to 20% in the previous year with solar manufacturers suffering heavy losses (Dunlop, 2009). Secondly, the termination of financial incentives for solar energy systems in 2011 acts as a motivation to installers to carry on with their intended projects in time before the end of 2011, this being evident by the huge increase of photovoltaic systems within the last quarter of the year (Bradford, 2008). Photovoltaic systems fell around 755MW in comparison to 650MW for 2010. Other issues driving the boost being the technological advancements in the Photovoltaic industry; which leads to improved efficiencies of photovoltaic systems and the taking on of large scale photovoltaic installations in the utility industry which its use almost tripled with comparisons to the same time in 2010. In the last quarter, of 2011, utility photovoltaic projects reached a stunning number of 400 MW; by far this being highest quarter in 2011. One appealing area of the internal, solar energy market falls under analyzing the results. The results should be analyzed by kinds of solar power technologies and comparing outcomes of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV). The outcomes should be in comparisons of PV and CSP installations for 2011. The installation of PV projects fell around 10 in 2011 compared to none for CSP. However, a station of around 1 GW of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is at the present under construction and expected to be operational in 2013. In general, the total set up size by 2011 estimates at around 4 GW and 0.5 GW for PV and CSP set ups respectively (Bradford, 2008). Gathering solar energy then changing it into electricity did not find its adaptation in these recent times. However, it comes with significant advantages of solar power compared to fossils fuel (Yogi, 2000). Solar energy in space rates to be eight times larger per unit area than on earth surface. The collection of solar, space energy cannot be disrupted by nightfall and rainy weather, thus avoiding the need for expensive energy storage. This means that solar energy will be available in a 24/7 basis without running out hence the urge of the United Arab Emirates to engage in the form of power production. Everything that comes with its advantages also has disadvantages. Engaging in solar power has minor disadvantages as compared to their advantages. One challenge that the solar industry experience falls under enlightening the community in ways they can become beneficiaries of solar power system (Ewing, 2005). Despite the prices of solar modules going down by 30% since the beginning of 2010 and housing solar leasing models that permit consumers to adapt solar systems with no upfront cost, 48% of its users stated cost as their biggest worry when engaging solar energy (Ewing, 2005). The second challenge falls under the idea of location. The factor will continue to be a problem for solar power use. Rainy seasons will corrode open parts more rapidly and will consume up the country’s finance during maintenance, should areas continue to experience a lot of rain. Cloudy regions may not experience sufficient sun exposure. Clouds do not cause significant a problem; this being evident in Germany’s use of photovoltaic. The list stands to be minimal this being the only serious challenges of using the PV systems (Green, 2005). Recommendations and conclusions Challenges arising from the use of solar energy are present, but most of them ease with the improvement in technology. The UAE should assess their solar situations wisely. They should establish the number of watts their grid system consumes on average and at peak consumption. They should look at their sun exposure in details. They should sort this information into a category of advantages and disadvantages of the solar power applying to their situation. Then they can figure out how PV power can cater to them. The findings from the research showcase that designers of high uncertainty systems should look to improve their understanding of the nature of uncertainty prior to using set-based or simulation ways. Leading uncertainties can be resolute by first promulgating them, and studying the underlying thoughts of the methods. Set-based and simulation methods may be efficiently put together in order to lessen time and cost of promulgating uncertainties so as to improve crucial sub-system models. In the case of a sustainable design of PV batteries, a better skill of uncertainty promulgation will permit designers to estimate their power output, especially for areas with unpredictable weather conditions where the current PV use rates lowly. Future work includes adding together components such as the inverter subsystem model to the PV batteries model, then considering the entire reliability of the system as a whole. The impact of subsystem reliability on system performance may then be quantified by estimating overall uncertainty in the system. In conclusion, The United Arab Emirates government should acknowledge the significance of the solar industry particularly at times following the worldwide economic recession; solar energy industry adaptation leads not only to environmental sustainability and compacting climatic challenges only, but also has an immense value for job creation and economic affluence. It can thus be the answer towards environmental, economic and social goals. References Beckman, W. (2006). Solar engineering of thermal processes. Toronto: Wiley Publishers. Boxwell, M (2004). Photovoltaic: Design and installation manual. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. Bradford, T. (2008). Solar revolution: The economic transformation of the global energy industry. Massachusetts: The MIT press. Dunlop, J. (2009). Photovoltaic systems. Orland Park: American Technical Publishers. Ewing, R. (2005). Got sun? Go solar. Masonville: PixyJack Press. Green, M. (2005). Third generation photovoltaic. New York: Springer Publishers. Ramsey, D. (2007). The complete guide to solar power. Aukland City: Alpha Publishers. Smith, E. (2009). Solar electricity handbook. Warwickshire: Code Green Publishers. Yogi, D. (2000). Principles of solar engineering. New York: CRC Press. Read More