RENEWABLE AND Dr.

Qudsiya Irum
Lecturer

ALTERNATE Electrical Engineering

Department, COMSATS

ENERGY SYSTEMS
University Islamabad
qudsiya.irum@comsats.
edu.pk
EEE-488 | LECTURE 3
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
 SOLAR RADIATION
•Solar radiation refers to the energy emitted by the Sun, which
reaches the Earth in the form of electromagnetic waves.
•Solar radiation is the primary energy source for various
renewable energy systems, including photovoltaic (PV)
solar panels, solar thermal collectors, and concentrated
solar power (CSP) plants.
•Optical windows refer to specific wavelength ranges in the
electromagnetic spectrum where Earth's atmosphere is
relatively transparent, allowing solar radiation to pass through
with minimal absorption or scattering.
•(0.3 to 5.0 μm; window I)

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

 THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Main Sources &
Applications
Type of Wave Wavelength Range

Communication (radio, TV,

Radio Waves >1m
mobile signals)

Radar, cooking, satellite

Microwaves 1 mm – 1 m
communication
Remote controls, thermal
Infrared (IR) 700 nm – 1 mm
imaging
Human vision,
Visible Light 400 – 700 nm
photosynthesis
Sterilization, sunburn,
Ultraviolet (UV) 10 – 400 nm
vitamin D production
Medical imaging, security
X-rays 0.01 – 10 nm
scanning
Nuclear reactions, cancer
Gamma Rays < 0.01 nm RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
treatment
SOLAR RADIATION

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

 SOLAR SPECTRUM AND COMPOSITION

Radiation Wavelength % of total Importance

Type range (nm) energy
UV 10-400nm 8% Mostly
absorbed by
ozone layer; not
used in solar
energy
conversion
Visible light 400-700nm 42% The most useful
part for PV
energy
conversion
IR 700nm-1mm 50% Provides heat
for solar
thermal
systems( water
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
WEAKENING OF
RADIATION
(ATTENUATION OF
SOLAR RADIATION)
Main Causes of Radiation
Weakening
1. Absorption
 Certain gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide
(CO₂), and ozone, in the atmosphere absorb specific
wavelengths of radiation, converting them into heat.
Key Absorbers:
 Ozone (O₃) absorbs most UV radiation (< 300 nm),
preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface.
 Water Vapor (H₂O) absorbs infrared radiation.
 Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Methane (CH₄)
absorb infrared radiation affecting solar thermal
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
applications.
2. SCATTERING
Scattering occurs when solar radiation is deflected from its
original path by particles or molecules in the atmosphere
Types of Scattering:
Rayleigh Scattering This is the scattering of shorter
wavelengths (like blue and violet light) by small particles or
molecules (such as oxygen and nitrogen). This is why the sky
appears blue during the day.
Mie Scattering (by larger particles like aerosols, affects all
wavelengths reduces solar intensity→ contributes to haze and
fog)
Non-Selective Scattering This occurs when larger particles, like
dust or water droplets, scatter light. This type of scattering tends
to affect longer wavelengths like red and orange, especially when
the sun is near the horizon (causing sunset colors). making clouds
appear white)
Scattering reduces the amount of direct sunlight reaching the
Earth's surface
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
3. REFLECTION
(ALBEDO EFFECT)
Solar radiation can also be reflected back into space by
clouds, snow, ice, and other reflective surfaces. This is
known as albedo.. Surfaces with a high albedo, such
as ice or clouds, reflect a significant portion of solar
radiation, reducing the amount that reaches the Earth.
The albedo (reflectivity) of different surfaces affects
how much radiation is lost.
Due to these factors, only about 1000 W/m² of solar
radiation reaches Earth's surface under clear skies.

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

4. AEROSOLS AND
POLLUTION
Human activities and natural processes release
aerosols (tiny particles or droplets in the air) and
pollutants, such as soot, dust, and smoke, into the
atmosphere.
These particles can scatter and absorb solar radiation,
further reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches
the surface. Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and
industrial activities are examples of processes that
introduce aerosols into the atmosphere.

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

EFFECTS OF RADIATION
WEAKENING

Reduction in Solar Power Generation – Less solar

radiation means lower efficiency of photovoltaic and
solar thermal systems.
Temperature Changes – High aerosol concentration
can cause cooling by reducing incoming solar
radiation.
Impact on Climate & Weather – Changes in
radiation affect cloud formation, precipitation, and
climate patterns.

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

Here is the plotted graph of the solar
radiation spectrum before and
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
after passing through Earth's
GRAPHICAL
REPRESENTATION
The extraterrestrial spectrum (before
atmosphere) is smooth, resembling a
blackbody curve.
The terrestrial spectrum (after
atmosphere) shows:
 Dips in the UV region (due to ozone
absorption).
 Reduced infrared intensity (due to CO₂
and H₂O absorption).
 General reduction in intensity due to
scattering and reflection.
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
SOLAR RADIATION
SPECTRUM
The orange curve represents the extraterrestrial
spectrum (before entering the atmosphere), which
closely follows a blackbody radiation distribution.
The blue curve represents the terrestrial spectrum
(after passing through the atmosphere), showing
reductions in intensity due to absorption and
scattering.
The gray shaded areas highlight major absorption
bands caused by atmospheric gases like ozone (O₃),
water vapor (H₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

UNDERSTANDING SOLAR
ENERGY AVAILABILITY
The solar radiation spectrum includes various types of
electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun, such as:
Ultraviolet (UV): Harmful but can be absorbed by the
atmosphere.
Visible Light: The portion of sunlight that we can see, and
it's also what solar cells are most effective at converting into
electricity.
Infrared (IR): Contains heat energy and is crucial for
technologies like solar thermal systems

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV)
SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION

Solar panels are designed to absorb specific parts of the

solar radiation spectrum, primarily the visible and near-
infrared light. The efficiency of these panels depends on
their ability to absorb and convert photons into electricity.
Spectral Sensitivity: Different materials used in PV
cells are sensitive to specific wavelengths. For instance,
silicon-based solar cells are optimized to capture light in
the visible and near-infrared regions, while other
advanced materials may target different parts of the
spectrum.
Understanding the spectrum helps optimize the design of
multi-junction solar cells, which are engineered to
capture a broader range of wavelengths, enhancing the
efficiency of conversion.
RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488
SOLAR THERMAL
SYSTEMS
Solar thermal energy relies on the absorption of solar
radiation to heat a fluid, which is then used for heating
water, space, or generating electricity. The spectrum
helps in:
Choosing Materials for Absorption: The efficiency
of solar thermal collectors depends on how well they
absorb infrared radiation (which carries heat). Different
materials and coatings are designed to maximize
absorption in the infrared portion of the spectrum.
Thermal Energy Management: Understanding the
amount of energy in the infrared spectrum is crucial for
sizing and designing solar thermal systems.

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488

TYPES OF SOLAR
RADIATION ON EARTH'S
SURFACE
Solar energy is categorized based on how it reaches
the surface:
Direct Beam Radiation (Ib)
 Comes directly from the Sun without scattering.
 Essential for concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.

Diffuse Radiation (Id)

 Scattered by atmosphere and clouds.
 Important for photovoltaic (PV) panels, as they can utilize both
direct and diffuse radiation.

Global Solar Radiation (Ig)

 The total radiation received at a surface: Ig=Ib+Id

RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS | EEE-488