2.1 Overview of the sector
The world today suffers a global energy crisis, affecting both
oil producing countries as well as non-oil producers. Yet these countries are
developing strategies to cope. In Cameroon, the demand for energy is not
satisfactory and the rate of access to conventional energy is very low in the
order of 15% for electricity and 18% for domestic gas. In addition, access to
electricity is less than 5% in rural areas against 50% in urban areas. After an
analysis of the World Bank, the investment in electricity for developing
countries will be about $ 185 billion per year over the period
2011-2020.However, in the context of diversification of sources of energies,
Cameroon among others interested in an energy of solar origin characterized by
its availability and inexpensive cost. In fact Cameroon is located in the Gulf
of Guinea. It covers an area of 475,442 km2, with an estimated population of
16.3 million and enjoys sunshine estimated 4kwh/j/m2.
In Cameroon, the energetic problem exists because of the lack
of domestic production and AES-Sonel source cuts (load shedding) are permanent
daily. The electric sector in Cameroon is ambiguous.
Electricity sector in Cameroon has faced Challenges such as: -
Increased electrification in all areas both rural and urban:
? Improvement of the access rate to electricity
? Improvement of the quality of service of electricity
? Reduction cost of household consumption through the funding
support of the state
Nevertheless, solar energy is an option to solve the
challenges of the Government in terms of urban and rural electrification.
2.2 Definition of photovoltaic panel
A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) refers to an
electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity
by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell (in that its
electrical characteristics-- e.g. current, voltage, or resistance--varies when
light is incident upon it) which, when exposed to light, can generate and
support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage
source. (Figure 2)
2.3 Concepts and method of use of a photovoltaic panels
2.3.1 The Concepts of photovoltaic panels
We will now try to understand how the electricity is generated
from the light, and how that electricity is produced.
Everyone knows that: «Nothing is lost, nothing lives
without transformation, and everything is transformed»4. The
function of a solar cell is to convert light energy into electricity. All
transformers are therefore photo generating energies which, when exposed to
light, produce electrical energy.
Photovoltaic cells are manufactured as electronic chips, the
transistors from semiconductor materials. Nevertheless, the materials have
electrical conduction properties intermediate between those of metals and
insulators and in particular they are the property of converting light into
electrical load they receive5. Here is a diagram explaining the
operation of a solar cell. (Figure 3)
When light enters a semiconductor, its photons provide an
energy allowing electrons to break free and to move into the light, as a result
there is electric current under light exposure.
4 A.LABOURET, P.CUMUNEL, J-P BRAUN, B.FARAGGI «LES BASES
DE L'ENERGIE PHOTOVOLTAIQUES» p.34.
5 EMMANUEL RIOLET `'L'ENERGIE SOLAIRE ET PHOTOVOLATAIQUE POUR
LE PARTICULIER `'p.10.
2.3.2 Method of use of a photovoltaic panels
It is utmost important to reflect on the good use of solar
energy, by specifying what is possible and what is not yet possible. The main
advantage of the solar panel is the ability to provide a range of operating a
device necessitating a source of independent power.
The electrical equipment are fully autonomous but can be
moderated and placed outside or can be powered by panels exposed to the
outside6, the different types are:
? Lighting and home-entertainment system using a DC with a solar
module and battery.
? Houses and isolated using a telecommunication system has DC
with several solar modules and a string of batteries
? Pumping water using a system without a DC battery
? Professional equipment and solar
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