Abstract
Solar-powered air conditioners offer a high potential for energy-efficient cooling with a high economic feasibility. They can significantly reduce the energy consumption in the building sector, which is essential to meet the greater ambition of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in the EU by 2050. This paper presents a computational model development capable of simulating the behaviour of a photovoltaic-assisted heat pump in different locations and working conditions. In addition, this model has been used to optimise a solar on-grid air conditioning system. The generated model has been validated with experimental data obtained in a real facility for a whole summer of operation (more than 100 tested days) in a Mediterranean climate (Alicante, Spain). According to the simulation results, the average Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of the system is 16.0, 10.7 and 7.8 in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, respectively. The optimisation analysis has proven that the severity of the climatic region increases the costs as well as the optimum PV power to drive the AC unit. The obtained values for the the PV power and the annualised cost are 400 W and 506.2 € for Barcelona, 900 W and 536.7 € for Madrid, and 1300 W and 564.7 € for Seville. The annualised cost and the CO2 emission levels are higher for the conventional system (no PV panels) than for the solar on-grid system, regardless of the installed PV power. This difference can be up to 66.64 € (10.55%) and 112.94 kg CO2 (64.83%) per summer season in the case of Seville.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The reported results for June and September, are underpredicted when compared to the observed values. This may be due to the fact that the actual experimental climatic conditions during these months were more severe than those taken into account in the simulation tool
The Efficiency Ratio (EER) of the system is directly related to the EER of the equipment, which we have seen was higher in the case of Barcelona and the solar contribution, which is higher for this location (SCBarcelona = 65.3%, SCMadrid = 57.0%, and SCSeville = 45.7%)
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The 2030 climate and energy framework includes EU-wide targets and policy objectives for the decade. Key targets for 2030 are: at least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels); at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency, and at least a share of 32% of renewable energy. The building sector is crucial for achieving the EU’s energy and environmental goals. Better and more energy-efficient buildings improve the quality of citizens’ life while bringing additional benefits to the economy and the society. All new buildings must be nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB)
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