Research Proposal

Title of Research

1. Introduction
Pakistan is a developing and energy deficient country. In spite of its large renewable
energy resources, Pakistan is facing a serious electrical energy crisis. The major part of
electricity is being generated by fossil fuels. It is a very costly fuel. Moreover, the burning of
fossil fuels produces CO2 and harmful gasses which affect the environment badly by global
warming, Ozone layer depletion and acid rains etc. The solution is the use of renewable
energy resources i.e., sunlight etc. Pakistan has a potential for solar.

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Pakistan annual direct normal solar radiations [1]

Solar energy can be converted into electrical energy by using Solar cells. When the
intensity of light on a Solar cell is increased, the efficiency also increases as shown below.

Current and Voltage output of a solar cell under varying light levels [2]
Solar cell is a photovoltaic device that converts the light energy into electrical energy.

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Photovoltaic effect: The generation of voltage across the PN junction in a

semiconductor due to the absorption of light radiation is called photovoltaic effect. The
Devices based on this effect is called photovoltaic device.
Based on the types of crystal used, soar cells can be classified as,
1. Monocrystalline silicon cells
2. Polycrystalline silicon cells
3. Amorphous silicon cells
The Monocrystalline silicon cell is produced from pure silicon (single crystal). Since
the Monocrystalline silicon is pure and defect free, the efficiency of cell will be higher.
In polycrystalline solar cell, liquid silicon is used as raw material and polycrystalline
silicon was obtained by solidification process. The materials contain various crystalline sizes.
Hence, the efficiency of this type of cell is less than Monocrystalline cell.
Amorphous silicon was obtained by depositing silicon film on the substrate like glass
plate.

Comparison of Solar Cell Types

Material

Efficiency (%)

Monocrystalline silicon

14-17

Polycrystalline silicon

13-15

Amorphous silicon

5-7

2- Problem Statement
Pakistan is facing serious crisis of electrical energy in spite of the fact that it also has
the Solar Power in abundant. There are many reasons due to which energy crisis is present in
Pakistan but the most crucial is that the free of cost renewable energy resource i.e., Solar is
not being used properly. There is not a cheap technological solution to convert the solar
energy resource on large scale.

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3- Objectives of research:

To find the techniques to increase the efficiency of solar cells.

To find the cheap technological solution to convert the solar energy.

4- Plan of research work

Study of solar energy and solar cells.

Study of different materials and designs that can increase efficiency of the solar cells.

Study of electromagnetic radiation band.

Surveys of different energy departments to collect data for solar energy.

Lab work to test the techniques to increase the efficiency of solar energy.

5- References
[1]. National Renewable Energy Lab USA website (2010), [Online], Available:
http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/tech_cap_factor.html
[2]. Murdoch University Australia website (2013). How do solar cells work?
[Online].Available: http://www.see.murdoch.edu.au/resources/info/Tech/pv/image011.jpg

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