In many countries in the world, including Lebanon, there are dams and lakes that help convert mechanical energy stored in water flow into electrical energy, and there are countries that convert mechanical energy. wind to electrical energy, but these two require the state budget because it requires huge funds, especially the construction of dams on rivers or the installation and operation of giant fan blades (the latter is evolving at an accelerated pace, so we now have smaller air systems that don’t require a large budget).
As for solar energy, which is the most affordable in our region in terms of the number of hours per day and the number of sunny days per year, in Lebanon the sun is rising approximately -about 290 days per year with a good radiation angle, which proves. the ability to benefit greatly from this amount of free energy.Convert solar energy (light) into electricity?
solar energy production system
The solar energy production system mainly consists of:
1. Photovoltaic panels.
2. Battery.
3. Power conversion system.
When sunlight reaches the solar panels, they transfer electrons to the materials that make up the panels, which then creates a continuous low-voltage electrical current, or what is known as direct current. . Each solar panel produces a certain amount of electrical energy, which varies depending on its quality and size (from 100 watt hours) to 600 watt hours, and now there are products that produce more lots of energy).
But the problem with this electricity produced by solar panels is that it is not AC and therefore cannot be used to directly run household or industrial electrical appliances, and here comes the role of the power conversion system or inverter that performs. convert it to AC. up to 220 volts (domestic electricity) or higher voltage in the case of operating industrial equipment (which is what can be controlled by an inverter), and to increase the energy produced, we usually increase the number of solar panels, and excess energy is transferred to batteries for charging and use as needed (lack of sun due to cloudy or dark).
As for the night and after the absence of sun, batteries work as a store of energy that we collect during the day from sunlight, so we use them at night in the form of alternating current. also and always through the electricity transmission system, and accordingly we can achieve some rationalization of the dream number in Lebanon 24/24 hours of uninterrupted electricity.
Easy to install
Accordingly, this system is easy to install in houses and does not require large areas, except for about 6 square meters (at least) on the roofs of buildings, which are easily repaired and necessary to collect the famous days, so it becomes easy to solve the problem. the problem of generating electricity away from fossil energy sources (oil), whether this electricity is made formal or with the help of local generators.
But if you think outside the box, you can come up with some solutions, for example, for some neighbors to share the installation of a single system in a house, which will reduce the cost then split by more people, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the size of such systems can be increased by covering more areas of common buildings (surfaces) with more solar panels, thus introducing the possibility of operating basic subscribers to buildings on a sustainable basis (elevators, water pumps, lighting…) and municipalities in villages can invest in non-agricultural (and, of course, non-forest) lands. even during the day only, thus saving fuel during night hours or winter days. This could be a huge investment in solar energy, even if decentralized so that it only generates its own needs.
Main features
These systems are very easy to maintain and require minimal maintenance, as shown in the attached infographic. As for the basic technical characteristics, they vary greatly from one house to another or even in objects, and here enters the electrical engineer, who evaluates the load of the object intending to run it on. solar energy, and thus determines the number and power of solar panels, as well as the number of batteries needed, and here we must pay attention to the main point, that these systems, by storing of energy, not doing it, So it’s like a water tank with a tap, The more you open it, the faster it will empty, but in the case of rationalization, you can balance between filling and leaving and achieving a state of continuous sufficiency. We also need to pay attention to a very important idea, especially the capacity of the batteries, which is the biggest barrier for the system during night hours or in the absence of daylight, as the infographic shows.
Problems
What problems might prevent you from switching to this option?
First: the high cost of these systems, especially the fact that they are charged in foreign currency, because almost 100% of them are imported. A 5 amp home system can cost about $ 3,000 most recently, and it won’t reach these systems. of all.people at present. However, Shadi, a young doctor who adopted this system, said: “It may cost a lot to someone, but if we think about it differently, we will find ourselves completely unsubscribed. to a nearby generator and saves approximately $ 70/month (for 5 amps), that is $ 840. Every year and over four years, the savings will be $ 3,360, which is more than the amount paid for the installation. ”
Individual solutions that are not monitored by the state will, after some time, face environmental and technical problems.
And he actually took this step, despite the opposition of those around him, pointing out that “now they regret their miscalculation, because they pay twice as much as he paid, not reaching full -time feeding . ”
Second: the instability of solar energy, especially during the winter months (December, January and February), leading to a decrease in production of up to 70% and driving for a return, at least partially, in local generator in light of the almost complete absence of official electricity.
Third, the narrowing of the space required to place solar panels, especially in cities where the population is larger and the common areas are smaller.
state initiative
Going back to the basics, the main reason for the growth of electricity generation from solar energy is the increase in production costs from fossil fuels from oil and gas in the first place, as well as an attempt to control global warming. by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from burning oil and its derivatives, especially in countries considered the world’s factories, such as China and India. As for European growth, this is due to an attempt to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Accordingly, there is no doubt that the future depends on renewable energy at all levels, but these decisions are still individual in the face of one of the greatest economic and social collapses in the world as a whole. taking advantage of these individual initiatives and putting them in the service of society as a whole, it not only makes decisions to avoid installation without providing solutions. which reduces the energy consumed in exchange for what is produced), but as before, we do not know the status other than aggressions.
Battery Poisoning Risk
There is no doubt that generating electricity from solar energy significantly saves the environment in terms of reducing the use of generators in neighborhoods and thus reducing harmful emissions to the population, which significantly increases the level of nitrogen oxides. NOx and sulfur oxide SO3. over the past two years, which has been extremely dangerous for public health, especially since most of these generators are not equipped with filters and are poorly maintained.
Moreover, these environmental savings are achieved not only at the level of district generators, but also at the level of official construction stations.Houses equipped with solar energy generation systems do not require of electricity through the grid during the day, leading to a significant rationalization in electricity consumption, which, of course both, will show reduced demand.During the day, this means less fossil fuel consumption and lower emissions.
But, on the other hand, the materials used in these systems are not 100% pure, the batteries contain toxic substances for the environment and humans, such as lead, and these components are not common. disposed of in Lebanon with appropriate procedures. the observations in the battery scrap market confirm that acid is released in them. will be released this way, because each current system contains some battery that will expire after a few years and need to be replaced.
Here you can imagine industries using the parts and materials of these batteries to make other products from them, and perhaps re -manufacturing batteries in general, as is happening today in Pakistan and India.
As for the panels, they are relatively safe and almost completely recycled in specialized laboratories, and their shelf life is not short, but can reach 25 years.
Source: Al Akhbar
