Technical science/ 5. Energetics

Kalmykov Yehor Petrovich

NTUU “Kiev Polytechnic University”

Status, problems and prospects of solar energy development in Ukraine

As it is known, for the last decades a considerable amount of attention of the world community has been dedicated to alternative and renewable energy sources. As solar energy proved to be the most perspective and promising source, taking control and advantage of it became the mankind’s main objective.

The total amount of solar energy, which comes on earth surface in a week’s time, exceeds all energy reserves of oil, gas, coal and uranium. That is why the development of solar energetics is one of the priority tasks and will most likely pay off in the long run. 

All types of energy based on solar energy are considered renewable energy source according to the UN-approved terminology. The use of the renewable energy keeps growing. Here are some examples. Japan finished the development of two programs: "SunLight" and "MoonLight”. As a result of their work the share of alternative energy sector in Japan increased threefold. In the last thirty years the cost of solar cell electricity decreased more than hundredfold. Roof- and wall-mounted solar energetic cells are already available for sale.

In Germany, the government has a program that provides tax incentives to manufacturers of rooftop-mounted solar panels. A law under which every citizen is entitled to receive interest-free bank loan for the purchase of solar cell capacity from 3 to 5 kilowatts. Moreover, the program called "One hundred thousand solar roofs" has been active for several years already.

A similar program, called "A Million of Solar Roofs" runs in the USA. However, they have several experimental photoelectric stations with capacity from 0.3 MW to 605 MW, running on the grid. In the USA the center of the solar energy is Sacramento, the average annual increase capacity in solar energetics is approximately 30%.

Ukraine belongs to the regions with an average intensity of solar radiation, the amount of which is around 1000-1350 kWh / m² (average of 1200 kWh / m² per year) per area unit during the year.

As projects, implemented in the last three years, have shown, the annual production of thermal energy in Ukraine is about 500 - 600 kWh / m². Considering the generally accepted in the West countries potential use of solar collectors for developed countries (1 m² per person) and the performance of solar cells in conditions of Ukraine the yearly resources of solar hot water supply and heating can reach 28 billion KW / h of heat energy. Realizing this potential can save 34 million tons of equivalent fuel per year. This can happen in spite of Ukraine annually consuming about 76 million tons of fuel equivalent. Back in 1997, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved "The program for the development of alternative and renewable energy sources and small hydro and thermal power sources." It formed the most promising areas of solar energy use: the direct conversion to low potential thermal energy for hot water supply and heating, and direct conversion into electricity direct current.

A complex program on the use of alternative and renewable energy sources was also developed by the State Committee of Ukraine on Urban Planning and Architecture. This program recommended three types of solar cells: solar hookups to the boiler, seasonal action system for individual objects and modular cells of solar water heating. A number of stimulating measures is provided by the new law "On alternative sources of energy."

However, in practice there are numerous barriers and obstacles for market growth of solar energy. They are, first and foremost, economical: price of the solar system and the payback period are relatively high, the lack of specific actions to stimulate the production of solar cells (like subsidies, tax exemptions, preferential tariff policy, etc.).

The development of solar technology is constrained by:

• Lack of state policy;

• Lack of coordination in the field of solar technology;

• Absence of informational system for notifying the population about the availability of solar technologies, their parameters and environmental benefits.

Finally, let us define the main factors that can positively affect the enforcement of solar technology:

• Governmental encouragement of consumer rights and the development production rate.

• Development and implementation of cheap solar modules, modern and affordable designs of solar cells.

• Creation of national and regional structures for the promotion of solar technologies.

• Increase in industry, large-scale production equipment organization, providing conditions for certification, installation and service of solar cells.

• Increasing the community, including schools and universities.

• Direct work with potential solar heat and electricity users.

References:

1. Hohmeyer O. Social Cost of Energy Consumption. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1988.

2. Clean electricity from photovoltaics / by Archer M.D., Hill R. – London: Imperial College Press, 2001.

3. Galowey T. Solar House: A Guide for the Solar Designer. – Elsevier, 2004.

4. Ageev V. A. untraditional and renewable energy sources. (Lection course, Moscow).