Abstract:
Renewable energy is now accepted as the preferred alternative for electricity
generation and as the replacement for fossil fuels. Worldwide demand for
energy derived from renewable resources, especially hydro energy, is rising in
tandem with rising fuel prices and environmental concerns. Our power station
aims to harness the renewable energy potential of solar and hydroelectric
power, combining them in an innovative and efficient manner. The prototype
power station incorporates two main components: solar photovoltaic (PV)
arrays and a pumped storage hydroelectric system. The solar PV arrays consist
of a network of solar panels that capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.
The generated solar power is used for both immediate consumption and for
pumping water to a higher elevation. Efficiency and efficacy differ substantially
between the values obtained from upstream and downstream. Significantly
surpassing downstream, upstream generates 30W of electricity at 20V of
voltage and 1.5A of current. By comparison, downstream has to work with a
voltage of 42mV, a current of 0.04A, and a power production of just 0.00168W.
These differences amply show that the upstream arrangement makes better use
of solar energy. As such, upstream proves to be the superior choice for using
solar energy because of its increased productivity and performance.
