Abstract

Investigation of the amount of voltage output from the solar panel when the angle of light hitting the solar panel changes

Group A

chay_yu_hung@s2021.ssts.edu.sg, sairam_suresh@s2021.ssts.edu.sg, lim_ming_sheng@s2021.ssts.edu.sg

Abstract

For a long time, people have been using unsustainable sources of energy for electricity such as fossil fuels and natural gas. Such sources of fuel pollute the environment and would not be able to power our homes and devices forever as they are finite resources. However, scientists found new sustainable energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass. For our experiment, we decided to focus on the absorption of solar energy. This experiment specifically focuses on the angle of the light relative to the solar panels on the voltage output of the solar cells. Because the sun moves from the east to the west, we want to find the optimal angle for the most energy to be generated to allow solar panels to be more efficient. We got the relevant materials, and 3D printed a base for the solar panel for the experiment. We will tailor this 3D printed base to suit our requirements, such as having a gap in the middle to allow light from the torchlight to pass through and hit the solar panel in the slot made below, and the semicircle on the two sides to allow us to accurately place a torch along the markings made in the model to allow us to know where to put it. These markings would be the angle it is a. For example, there would be the number 15 at the place where the angle of the torch would be 15 degrees relative to it being directly above the solar panel when placed at that angle. Since it is in the shape of a semicircle, we can be sure that the data we get is accurate since a semicircle would have the same distance from the center to the edge. Although the model will not fully automate the experiment, it will make it much easier to conduct. After experimenting, we figured out that solar panels are most effective when the light source is directly above them, which is a 90-degree angle. We have also created a bar graph with a trend line to show the benefits of having the light hit the solar panels at a 90-degree angle. One practical use of such research is to create systems that can aim the solar panels at the optimum angle for them to produce the most energy. It can also be used to create active solar trackers, which can be used in such systems since they are much more accurate than a passive solar tracker, and they can more accurately find the sun’s position to allow the solar panels to generate the most amount of energy. Therefore, we would not have to rely on unsustainable fuel sources since we can maximize the efficiency of the solar panels to make them produce more electricity. Thus, we can work towards the 2 UNSDG goals: Affordable and Clean Energy (UNSDG 7) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (UNSDG 11).