ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Abstract

Energy resources and their utilization relate to sustainable development. In atta-ining sustainable development, increasing the energy efficiencies of processes utilizing sustainable energy resources plays an important role. Exergy analysis has been widely used in the design, simulation and performance evaluation of solar energy systems. Solar energy is clean, abundant and easily available renewable energy. The power from the sun intercepted by the earth is about 1.8×1011 MW, which is many times larger than the present rate of all the energy consumption. This paper reviews exergetic analysis of solar energy system. A detailed energy and exergy analysis is carried out to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters, tipical solar collector. Further, a equation for the exergy efficiency of a collector is derived in terms of design and climatic parameters. In this regard, general relations between energy and exergy are given. This very useful knowledge is also needed for identifying energy efficiency and/or energy conservation opportunities, as well as for dictating the right energy and exergy management strategies of a country.