Solar power is slowly but surely gaining acceptance, whether with the use of lanterns in rural areas or high tech signal systems on urban roads. As modern technology is finding more and more convenient ways of packaging solar cells for innovative applications, more products are entering the market with the added incentive of lower costs and user convenience. This article examines some of the popular applications.

LED Street Lighting

The heart of any solar photovoltaic (SPV) system is the solar cell, a semiconductor (silicon) device, which when exposed to sunlight produces DC electricity. A number of such solar cells are interconnected in series combination and sealed with a toughened and highly transparent front glass cover to form a solar photovoltaic module. A number of these modules, in turn, are again suitably interconnected and mounted on metal structure form a SPV panel. Very low or negligible maintenance type lead acid batteries/sealed maintenance free batteries are used in solar LED power street lighting systems for the back-up purpose. The SPV array converts solar energy (sun light) directly into DC electricity. The electrical energy so generated, charges a storage battery through electronics controls. The stored energy in the battery is used to power the LED lighting system in night times. Electronic control sub-systems are generally used in the SPV power system for ensuring trouble-free, long life operation of the battery bank.

Solar LED Traffic Blinker

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which last up to 100 times longer and are up to three times more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, are now finding unimaginable applications. Traffic signals based on LEDs are making up a significant portion of today's traffic lights all over the world. Making a breakthrough into this field, Adithya Solar Energy Systems has introduced a Solar Traffic Blinker system that meets and beats the highest of expectations. Adithya Solar Energy blends the emerging LED lighting technology with the proven solar PV technology, the ultimate energy solution. The solar powered flasher consists of solar PV Module, LED traffic signal head, charge controller and battery. The power generation of solar powered flasher is the solar PV module. It is used for charging the 12 V battery during the day time. A solar charge controller is used to prevent the battery being over charged and also prevents battery being deep discharged.

LED Neon-Boards

LED neon-boards is the next generation of patented LED neon boards with light output equivalent to glass neon. Since Neon Plus has been engineered to achieve a lumen efficacy of 36.1 Lm/w and 63 Lm/Ft, LED neon boards for the first time can now be viewed as direct replacement to traditional glass neon.

The increased lumen output is a direct result of using high quality materials, high brightness LEDs coupled with an enhanced PVC mixture used in the main housing extrusion process. This optical gain enhancing PVC increases homogenisation of the light effect which translates the maximum amount of lumens consistently delivered to the surface of the Neon Plus.

In comparison to white glass neon, the luminous efficacy of white +Plus achieves an equivalent brightness of 36.1 Lm/W while using 6.6 times less energy. The lumens efficacy and power consumption of the primary colours red, green, blue, orange and yellow LED neon-boards are significantly comparable to glass neon as well. LED neon-boards are available in colours including white, warm white, ultra-warm white, red, yellow, orange, blue, green and hot pink.

Solar Powered Fence

The solar powered fence is scientific fence and works on solar energy with backup facility to run uninterruptedly during the nights as well as cloudy days. The whole system can be derived into two segments, one is the Electronic Unit and the other is the Fence. The electronic unit consists of a solar photo voltaic module, energizer, and fence voltage alarm (FVA), battery and charge control unit (CCU). The solar photovoltaic module in the electronic unit converts the sunshine into electrical energy and charges the battery through CCU. The energizer through the CCU takes 12 V supply as input and energizes the same into 7000 to 9900 V pulses. These pulses will travel through the fence wires at regular interval of around 1 pulse per 1.2 second with the duration of each pulse of about 3 milli seconds.

The Company

Adithya Solar Energy Systems was established in 2005 by a team of technocrats with core and considerable experience in solar PV markets. Being a professional PV module manufacturer with state-of-the-art production facility producing a range of modules from 3 Wp-270 Wp, the company is equipped to address various energy needs from PV module to total system. Addressing the huge potential and large requirement of solar energy for various markets, Adithya Solar Energy made a beginning with the supply of SPV modules, SPV systems and host of other power solutions along with turnkey project services and solutions to various institutions/organisations and end users in semi urban and rural parts of India. Since 1999 the company has been implementing numerous SPV projects in the rural markets of India by developing a series of innovative institutional and marketing strategies. Implementation of MNRE promoted programmes related to SPV water pumps, solar street lights, solar lanterns, solar home lighting kits, etc., in the tribal, rural, and semi urban areas of India has been one of the continuous endeavours of Adithya Solar Energy. The company has been associated with many NGOs and institutions in implementing various SPV projects and rural development programs promoting solar energy in India.

Manufacturing Facility

Adithya Solar Energy has a full fledge manufacturing facility with cutting edge technology, machinery and equipment conforming to latest international standards, approved and certified by CPRI and ETDC for achieving a zero defect product, with an installed capacity of 10 MW. The manufacturing process starts with Solar Cell Testing on world class testers for accurate power rating of cells, using Xenon single flash technology. The cells are scribed as per custom requirement if any, on a laser scriber (usually used to make smaller sized modules). The quality of laser used for scribing ensures desired results without any breakages in scribing. Tabbing, stringing and lay-up are processed in controlled environment, with dust proof and clean room concepts. Interconnects and other materials used are from the best approved vendors of the industry and are handled by experienced and skilled technical team. The lamination and curing oven used are designed for optimum usage of production ensuring perfect lamination and longevity of the PV module.

State-of-the-art testing equipment configured with latest design and test parameters operating on Xenon single flash technology for providing accurate module results; framing of solar PV module using best quality aluminium anodised and framed on custom designed framing machines for strength durability; and customised packing for easy handling are some of the mandatory process practiced in production. Emphasis on use of raw material supplied by the best vendors in the industry is strictly observed to maintain the quality of the manufactured products. Key raw materials like solar cell, EVA, back sheet, glass, aluminium frames, interconnects, etc., are sourced from the best of the suppliers known globally in order to achieve an internationally approved and accepted quality product. A through and stringent quality management conforming to international standards is practiced to ensure minimum defects not only in process of the solar module but also the raw material accepted from vendors used for process of manufacturing.

The company has certifications like ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004, and has been approved by institutions and statutory bodies like MNRE, NEDCAP, CPRI and ETDC. Registered with NSIC and NEDCAP, its products are available on DGS&D rate contract.

SPV Modules

The company offers SPV modules that are a combination of PV cells and EVA in between glass and tedler. These are also known for high mechanical strength and weather resistant, as these are insulated and framed in anodized aluminium channels. Further, this also assures convenient and safe installation. These modules are high in efficiency, rugged, light weight, and provide high energy output throughout the day.

Solar Home Lighting

Solar home lighting systems that clients can avail from us are known for generating electricity from the sunlight. The electricity generated in an efficient and environment friendly manner can be used to run lamps and fans. Hence, these are widely used in commercial, domestic as well as in industrial applications.

(Adithya Solar Energy Systems, Hyderabad. Mobile: +(91)-99661-39777, 99661-39333. Tel: 040-23770285. Email: adithyasolarenergy@yahoo.com)