Design of a solar energy system for use in home in Singapore

• Main Author: Tang, Shukong.
• Other Authors: So Ping Lam
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52599
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Solar power, as a form of renewable energy, has been playing an important role in providing us an alternative way to generate power that is eagerly demanded all over the world. Economy growth, for the modern world today, is tremendously dependent on energy, while there is also a call for clean and sustainable resources. Therefore, solar energy becomes a vital investment as well as an important research filed in a lot of countries. Singapore, the island sitting next to the equator, absorbs abundant sun light throughout the year. This has been a great advantage to conduct solar researches and build up applications, despite the shortage of land. Thus, solar energy study has been prompted particularly in Singapore. As an engineering student specialized in power and clean energy, it is very helpful and necessary to learn key concepts of this topic. This report demonstrates the whole learning process and an involvement in a ongoing ASTAR project. Firstly, a literature review is presented, regarding photovoltaic-related knowledge, converter/inverter sample applications, and a review of micro grid and maximum power point tracking. Following that is the first phase—sample PV modules design on Simulink. Two specific solar modules were simulated, and impact of different parameters was then discussed. The second phase was to apply the maximum power point tracking method to the real PV panel placed on the roof of S2 branch in NTU. The program was built in Labivew, and involved hardware operation, including simulator, converter and inverter. Lastly, difficulties encountered in the project are discussed, with possible improvement suggested for future experiments.