Comments on: About the TiE-ISB Event http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: plodder http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/comment-page-1/#comment-132740 plodder Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:06:51 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/#comment-132740 An interesting debate on the possibility of solar energy to address India’s energy needs.... Currently, photovoltaic technology is still not practical enough for converting solar into electric energy, primarily for reasons of efficiency. Commercial systems use photovoltaic cells that have efficiencies (i.e. solar to electric conversion) ranging from 10 – 20%. Of course technological advances have improved efficiencies to as high as 40% in the lab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell). So there is hope that this will change for the better in the future However, the use of solar energy applications such as water heating, cooking, drying (clothes, crops etc.) and home space heating (during the winter) have been found to be commercially viable. For example, the conversion efficiency for commercial water heating systems is around 30% (http://itdg.org/docs/technical_information_service/solar_water_heating.pdf). Solar based water heating is currently used in commercial installations all over India. Also, instead of the photovoltaic method, using solar thermal energy to produce electricity seems to show much more promise with mega projects going on line (http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/mega-solar-the-worlds-13-biggest-solar-thermal-energy-projects/). Perhaps, one could consider using the Thar desert as a prime location for such solar thermal projects? An interesting debate on the possibility of solar energy to address India’s energy needs….
Currently, photovoltaic technology is still not practical enough for converting solar into electric energy, primarily for reasons of efficiency. Commercial systems use photovoltaic cells that have efficiencies (i.e. solar to electric conversion) ranging from 10 – 20%. Of course technological advances have improved efficiencies to as high as 40% in the lab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell). So there is hope that this will change for the better in the future

However, the use of solar energy applications such as water heating, cooking, drying (clothes, crops etc.) and home space heating (during the winter) have been found to be commercially viable. For example, the conversion efficiency for commercial water heating systems is around 30% (http://itdg.org/docs/technical_information_service/solar_water_heating.pdf). Solar based water heating is currently used in commercial installations all over India.

Also, instead of the photovoltaic method, using solar thermal energy to produce electricity seems to show much more promise with mega projects going on line (http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/mega-solar-the-worlds-13-biggest-solar-thermal-energy-projects/). Perhaps, one could consider using the Thar desert as a prime location for such solar thermal projects?

]]> By: Employment, Employability and Education http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/comment-page-1/#comment-132677 Employment, Employability and Education Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:54:21 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/#comment-132677 [...] up to part 1 and part [...] [...] up to part 1 and part [...]

]]> By: About the ISB Event — Part 2 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/comment-page-1/#comment-132058 About the ISB Event — Part 2 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:10:50 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/11/12/about-the-tie-isb-event/#comment-132058 [...] {Followup to part 1.} [...] [...] {Followup to part 1.} [...]

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