Increasing The Efficiency of Photovoltaic Generation Using Parabolic Reflector

Abstract

There is an increasing demand for energy in today's world which warrants the need for a cheap, sustainable and eco-friendly source of energy. Solar power is abundantly available in Sri Lanka as the country lies within the equatorial belt. The annual average Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) varies from 4.5 kWh/m2 to 6 kWh/m2 across the country. Thus, Sri Lanka has a very high potential for the development of solar power. The intensity of this irradiation can be increased by using parabolic concentrators, which increases the efficiency of photovoltaic modules. This research project's main objectives are to develop an efficient method to harness solar energy using a parabolic reflector and use this energy to run a load consisting of an L.E.D. chip using a voltage regulator. The power generated using this system is compared with that of the flat-mounted solar panel.