STRONGER SOLAR PANELS
SANTEZ project named “Solar Energy Investment Optimization and Project Toolkit” will allow more effective and clean energy from sun. Within the project, two solar test plants have been built in Ankara and Izmir and energy production characteristics are measured under different whether conditions. Most efficient use of solar panels became possible with the implementation of the project.
Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar, IUE Director of Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, pointed out that ‘sunniness’ and ‘heat’ parameters were considered in solar panels up so far and after the study ‘humidity’ factor was also found out. Prof. Dr. Aşkar stated that project testing lasted about 2 years and continued, “We have built two solar test plants; one in Ankara, and another one in Izmir Chamber of Commerce Organized Industrial Zone located in Tekeli, Izmir. Single and double sided solar panels have been built and checked continuously in accordance with the elevation and direction of sun rays. 12 different solar panels from 9 companies have been tested and their energy production characteristics are measured under different whether conditions.”
Prof. Dr. Aşkar, who stated that theoretical knowledge was put to test, and most efficient use of sun rays was identified with the help of the project, said that local meteorological stations built near the solar test plants provided detailed weather condition measurements. He mentioned that, especially cloudy weather played an important role in benefitting from solar energy, and energy prediction models have been developed using neural network approach.
