Recent Trends in Renewable Energy Research and Education for Sustainable Energy Future Fuad Abulfotuh Professor Emeritus (Solar Energy ), Department of Materials Science, Institute Of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University. President of IEF (International Energy Foundation) North African Regional Headquarters. E-mail: fuadpv1@iseet.org
OUTLINE Electric Energy: Principal component for A Sustainable Energy Future
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THE CONCEPT Meet today s Needs Without Compromising the Ability of the Future Generation. REALIZATION Develop Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Systems and Technologies TOOLS ADVANCES OF TECHNOLOGY (R&D, R&TD : Education and Training) ADEQUATE POLICIES & REGULATIONS Sustainable Resources (Energy, Water, and Healthy Environment
WHY ENERGY? STRONG ECONOMY NATIONAL SECURITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CLEAR VISSION To Identify Balanced Energy Portfolio of all available resources (including RE and Fossil) OWNERSHIP of TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP WHAT DO WE NEED?
How Much Solar Electric Power Will Be Part Of The Solution? PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY (PV) PV is the only direct conversion process of Solar Solar energy into electric power
Advanced/Clean Electric Power Generation Technologies Renewable Technologies Distributed Technologies Hydro Wind Solar-Thermal Biomass PV Small Engine Gen- sets Fuel cells Batteries Small Combustion Turbines
Today s Central Utility Tomorrow's Distributed Utility Central Generation Central Generation Wind Generator Home Load Fuel Cell PV Customer Battery
PV and Sustainability PV can provide considerable portion of the Electric Power needs through direct conversion of sun light. PV technology is now economically and technologically feasible. PV is friendly to the environment. Large scale application of PV technology started to show a considerable impact on socioeconomic development. VLS-PV development, on the other hand, can provide a long-term solution if it gets consistent supportive policies.
PV Electricity from the desert Sahara 8,600,000 km 2 If 6.5%of the dessert is covered by 15% Efficient PV modules 470 EJ/year of PV Electricity will be generated (assuming 12% system efficiency and 50% space factor) Total Earth surface Total Land surface World Primary Energy Supply In2006 = 510 EJ/year ( 107PWh/y 107 10 12 KWh/y) (1EJ 10 18 J )
Photovoltaic Technology Development Trends PV EE
The Photovoltaic Effect
Concentrator Photovoltaics Use optics to reduce the cell area (from 2 to more than 1000 times) Flat Plate Concentrator lens or mirror solar cell Shifts the major system cost from the cell to the optics Can afford more efficient, expensive cells
CPV Systems Solar Systems (reflective) Amonix (refractive) www.amonix.com www.solarsystems.com.au Solfocus (reflective & optical rod) www.solfocus.com
Single-junction cells respond to a specific portion of the solar spectrum 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 Energy (ev)
Multijunction cells use multiple materials to more fully match the solar spectrum 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 Energy (ev) in
0% Efficiency 100% 74% 68% 58% 54% 49% 44% 39% 31% { multiple junction (n ) hot carrier, MEG (multiple junction (n = 6) (multiple junction (n = 3) im pact ionisation (multiple junction (n = 2) down converters single-junction cell
Hydrogen Fuel (Closed Energy Cycle) Hydrogen Utilization Oxygen Hydrogen Generation Hydrogen Electricity Heat Water Solar Electricity Water
Photovoltaic Multiply Oil Reserves 0.129 Kwh + Sand PV Module + Sun Light 1 kwh electricity At higher production efficiency(0.1kwh)
Global, Economic, Technological Significance/Value-Added Diffusion, Distribution, & Techno- Education Age 2005-2010+ Industrial Age Neoteric Energy & Medical Science Age Materials, Biotechnology, & Nanotechnology Age 1990-2005 Information Age 1985-2000 2000-2010 Agrarian Age 1945-1955 1730-1750 Time ( Relative Scale )
Technology Development Pathways TOOLS Fundamental science Applied science and technology Transformational science &technology
Center of Electric Energy Education Development (CEEED) Structure & Links Executive Authority (University Administration) Department of Economy / BA/ Management Technology E E Department Industry & Business
Examples of education programs needed to support EE graduates in the Job market Power systems transitioning to sustainable energy future Advanced concepts in the design, installation, and performance of electric power generation Alternative electric energy engineering technology program Hands-on lab courses to demonstrate the fundamentals of RE electric power generation Fundamentals of solar electric and grid-tied system design
Concluding Remarks: Electrical Energy is the major player to sustain development. PV Technology is a major source of Green Electric Energy. Business Oriented Education & Training Programs are needed. Education, Training, and Communication are essential to overcome barriers to deployment and practices. Partnerships between Academia, Industry, and Business is the key to a successful education process able to realize sustainable energy goals. But who is carrying the responsibility? Academia OR Industry OR Business Better be All Together
Thank You