Development Of Solar Technology Research Articles

SISTEM 2.04kWp OFF-GRID CONNECTED PHOTOVALTAIC DI POLITEKNIK TUN SYED NASIR SYED ISMAIL SEBAGAI MEDIUM PENILAIAN PRAKTIKAL BAGI KURSUS POWER SYSTEM

One of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) agenda is to reduce the carbon footprint by transforming the economy towards sustainability. This effort further accelerates the solar technology development industry in Malaysia. The Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) has developed various programs under the polytechnics POLYgreen blueprint to support the country's green technology. Therefore, ADDIE model, as an instructional design, is used in developing the practical assessment for Power System course under the subtopic of Renewable Energy (RE) solar energy that is based on the current curriculum syllabus. The 2.04kWp Off-Grid Connected Photovoltaic (OGPV) system at Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir Syed Ismail (PTSN) is used as the medium of learning for this study. The findings and discussions revolve around three targeted objectives. The first objective is to study the 2.04kWp OGPV system at PTSN, the second objective is to develop a practical assessment for the Power System course based on the 2.04kWp OGPV system at PTSN, and the third objective is to propose the purchase of practical assessment testing equipment for the Power System course based on the 2.04kWp OGPV system at PTSN. Overall, the gist of this practical assessment development refinement is to provide graduates who can position themselves in the job market using the latest technology, especially in the field of solar energy industry. This effort is also to produce competent and knowledgeable workers supporting the country's sustainable development.

Design of Photovoltaic Power Generation Servo System Based on Discrete Adaptive Network Dynamic Surface Control Technology

In recent years, under the development of the dual carbon goal, the energy crisis has become increasingly serious, and China has also experienced serious power rationing. However, the research on dynamic surface control technology in solar tracking systems in nonlinear control systems is mostly based on continuous-time systems, while adaptive dynamic surface control based on discrete-time nonlinear control systems can describe an actual control system more accurately in the production process. It can effectively suppress interference with extremely high stability and safety. To solve the problem of low efficiency in photovoltaic power generation, this research first built a photovoltaic power generation servo system model based on the parameter of uncertainty. Then, a discrete adaptive neural network dynamic surface (DANNDS) controller was designed to solve the problems in the design of the traditional backstepping method. Finally, based on the designed method of a dynamic surface controller, a discrete adaptive neural network quantization controller (DANNQC) for the photovoltaic power generation servo system was designed by introducing external disturbance. The control parameters and their studied ranges were as follows: The reference signals were or1=sin(0.1t) and or2=cos(0.1t). The parameters of the virtual control law and the final control law were m11=0.01, m22=0.01, m12=0.02, m13=0.02, and m23=0.02. The time constant of the low-pass filter was ζ12=ζ13=ζ22=ζ23=0.005. The parameters of the parameter regulation law were ρ12=ρ13=ρ22=ρ23=0.0005 and a12=a13=20, a22=a23=22. The research results show that the MTE, RMSTE, and 2NTE scores of the height angle servo motor of the DANNDS control method were 0.0026, 7.0279 × 10−4, and 0.3552, respectively. The scores for each index of the azimuth servo motor were 0.0028, 8.9237 × 10−4, and 0.4511, respectively. The height angle tracking error for the DANNQC control method was [−0.02,0.022]. The azimuth tracking error was [−0.03,0.03]. In summary, the photovoltaic power generation servo system based on the DANNQC has a better control performance. By controlling the height angle and azimuth angles, it can better track the position of the sun and adjust the position of the photovoltaic panel in real time. The sun’s rays illuminate the photovoltaic panel at an appropriate angle to achieve maximum power generation efficiency, which is of great practical significance for the development of solar technology.

Novel flat-plate solar collector with an inclined N-S axis and relative E-W tracking absorbers and the numerical analysis of its potentials

The current flat-plate solar collectors perform best when their absorbers rotate around their axis. However, with their concentrators, reflectors, and tracking mechanisms, they take up a lot of space and are thus commercially speaking, not the best solutions. This paper proposes a novel solar collector design which employs the (relative) rotation of absorbers, but strives to combine the benefits of fixed and (absolute) tracking solar systems, i.e. volume occupancy from the former and thermal performance from the latter. The findings of our numerical analysis show that, the solar irradiance efficiency of this novel design is 20% higher than that of a fixed flat-plate collector during clear-sky days, and it is equally lower than that of an absolute tracking collector. This paper also introduces a new criterion for describing single-axis tracking solar collectors which should be included in the classifications of solar collectors. Finally, the article, which represents a continuation of our research in the field of solar energy utilization, can contribute to the future development of solar technologies and solve some of the current challenges.

From Materials to Devices: Rationally Designing Solar Steam System for Advanced Applications

Solar-driven water vaporization for freshwater production attracts significant interest due to its potential for solving global water scarcity problems. In this review, the recent development of management strategies via diverse rational designs in terms of light, thermal, water, and anti-salt fouling for enhancement of overall vaporization efficiency, is summarized. For device design, a host-guest concept is raised for clearly elaborating the detailed function and interaction between the solar-thermal material and the substrates. In addition, the rising technologies derived from solar vaporization, such as energy generation, photocatalysis, dehumidification, salt harvesting, sterilization, and biofuel production, are also highlighted. This review provides a new horizon toward the development of solar technologies and practical applications.

Optimal strategy of investing in solar energy for meeting the renewable portfolio standard requirement in America

Renewable portfolio standard (RPS) is a legislative requirement for regulating the utility to increase the output of renewable energy, however, it’s not easy for the government to optimally design the target. To address this problem, this study investigates solar investing problems by theoretically investigating a novel game model. To meet the RPS requirement, the utility has to procure not only traditional energy but also solar energy. This paper aims to capture all the frictions among the stakeholders including the regulator, the utility and also a photovoltaic (PV) developer. The results show that the regulator can benefit from the strategy with higher RPS requirements if there is less resistance to regulation and a high penalty rate. Besides, the development of solar technology will increase the optimal PV panel price and investment in solar. Given a high requirement of renewable output, it’s better off to increase the solar investment for more green output. This study also finds the developer enjoys a high requirement because it promotes the PV adoption and increases the panel price as well. Additionally, a dynamic system was developed to study the players’ long-term behavior as well. The stable region and optimal strategy of behavior have been figured out. Interestingly, for the developer and the utility, a salutation of profit regarding the raising of the regulator’s adjusting speed of decision is observed. Highlights Study a novel problem of solar investment. Capture the frictions among the stakeholders under the Renewable Portfolio Standard regulation. Reveal the optimal strategy for the players. Investigate the players’ behavior in long term operations. Observe profit ramping phenomena for the developer and utility.

Management and Supervision of Solar Battery Charge and Discharge Using Artificial Neural Networks

Growing concerns about the depletion of the world's natural resources and future energy supply have spurred the development, the adoption, and the integration of renewable energy sources (solar, wind and biomass ...). The latter is characterized by the non-polluting, green, environmentally friendly. One of the most widely known advances in the development of solar technology has been the photovoltaic (PV), a clean, green and renewable energy system that uses photovoltaic cells to convert solar radiation into electricity. In the presence of the many advantages of using photovoltaic energy sources, their random operation that depends on the presence of solar irradiation and temperature presents a challenge. In this paper, the focus is on a PV system that stores energy in a battery using a bidirectional DC-DC converter controlled by a neural network. The overall system has been designed and simulated on MATLAB Simulink. The simulation results are used to verify the performance of the management system under different test conditions.

Wind and solar resource assessment and prediction using Artificial Neural Network and semi-empirical model: case study of the Colombian Caribbean region

This work is focused on the importance of developing and promoting the use of wind and solar energy resources in the Colombian Caribbean coast. This region has a considerable interest for the development of solar technology due to the available climatic characteristics. Therefore, a detailed solarimetric analysis has been carried out in the department of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, located in the Colombian Caribbean region, using a semi-empirical radiation model, based on the Bird & Hulstrom model, and the parameterizations of the Mächler & Iqbal model, which allowed obtaining an average total irradiation value of 6.5 kWh/m2day. In addition, a statistical analysis of the wind resource was carried out based on meteorological data, which yielded an average multiannual wind speed of 3.4 m/s, and a maximum wind speed of 15.2 m/s during the month of October. The meteorological input data used for this analysis were provided by the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), in order to perform initial calculations and obtain a climatic profile of the areas with clear, medium and cloudy atmospheres throughout the year. Regarding the comparative study, the analysis was complemented with a prediction of solar radiation using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), where irradiance could be predicted with a fairly good agreement, which was validated with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.87 using the temperature, the relative humidity, the pressure and the wind speed as the input data.

Integration of solar heating systems for low-temperature heat demand in food processing industry – A review

The future of climate-resilient energy systems relies on the transition to incorporate renewable energy with energy storage, such as solar energy. Solar thermal provides desirable thermal energy (heat) for industry, commercial, and residential sectors. Significant attempts have been made to improve the design and its integrated systems, thus reducing the costs and making the technology more competitive for industrial applications. This paper evaluates the solar thermal potential and the economic feasibility standard of the technology from low-temperature heat demand up to 100 °C by focusing on the food industry. Throughout this review, theoretical concepts, design types, and recent developments related to this sector's integration systems are explored. This study also highlights the integrated systems gap and emphasises the assessment of integration points and the range of operating temperature. This review aims to assist industries in the food processing sector to keep them abreast with the latest solar technology developments for the food industry. Up to 2020, at least 95 solar thermal plants with a total capacity of 41 MWth had been installed globally for the food industry. The flat plate collectors were the most applied solar collectors in the food industry, represented by 38%. It has been shown that the most common heat applications are pre-heating, cleaning and pasteurisation. The configuration and design of the integration framework for this sector rely primarily on each application's specific features and nature of the process. Based on the installed solar thermal plant, 27% was used for heating of make-up water.

The Use of Photovoltaic Conversion in Innovative Solutions

The year 2021 is inevitably coming, in which all newly built buildings should meet the standard of almost zero-energy all newly build constructions (nZEB). This means that buildings should have almost zero or low energy consumption. The energy demand should be covered to a very high degree from renewable sources, including renewable energy produced on-site or nearby. One of the renewable that can be used is solar energy, which for the 9th time in a row has achieved the largest share (42.5%) of new investments utilising renewable energy sources. Currently, solar energy is most often used by photovoltaic cells, which converts it into electricity. Over the past 15 years, the accumulated annual growth rate of photovoltaic production has been over 40%, which means that the photovoltaic industry is the fastest growing in the world. The annual capacity of new solar installations installed has increased from 29.5 GWp in 2012 to 107 GWp in 2018. The development of solar technology is huge. Previously known technologies are improving and refined, which stands for that the efficiency of electricity conversion is increasing. New innovative technologies using photovoltaic cells are also emerging. These include cells dedicated to the building facade BIPV, used in louvres of curtain blinds, filling mullion-transom facades, roof skylights or balustrades. NanoPV windows are a new product appearing on the market. This is a product that uses innovative material - quantum dots, i.e. small semiconductors with the sizes of several or several dozens of nanometers, having the ability to absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation. In this work, the authors present the development of photovoltaic technology and the most interesting solutions according to the authors regarding the use of solar technologies.

(Invited) Multifunctional Materials for Emerging Optoelectronic Technologies

As the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end, now more than ever there is the need for more efficient and sustainable renewable energy technologies. This presentation will give an overview on recent developments in solar technologies that aim to address the energy challenge. In particular, nanostructured materials synthesized via the bottom–up approach present an opportunity for future generation low cost manufacturing of devices [1]. We demonstrate various multifunctional materials, namely materials that exhibit more than one functionality, and structure/property relationships in such systems, including new strategies for the synthesis of multifunctional nanoscale materials to be used for applications in photovoltaics, solar hydrogen production, luminescent solar concentrators and other emerging optoelectronic technologies. [2-31].

A review on performance evaluation of solar dryer and its material for drying agricultural products

The drying process is generally carried out by burning wood and fossil fuels. However, this method is expensive and may damage the environment which has an adverse impact on climate. The world is facing the problem of shortage of fossil fuels. Some researchers did historical work on design and development of solar technology which is faster, more efficient, and hygienic and better quality of the product. Several solar dryers reviewed and enlisted the performance of dryers as per application. This paper gives an idea about the recent development in solar dryers. Some solar dryers are equipped with thermal storage to enhance the efficiency and drying rate in off-sunshine hours. To overcome the sunshine irregularity, some solar dryers have come up with solar thermal reservoirs. A comprehensive review on different dryers according to the product has been carried out, which helps in development and redesign of the solar dryer. From this paper, an idea regarding products drying likes chili, turmeric, peanut, grapes, copra and fish are presented. Which type of dryer is suitable and what kind of improvement could be possible in the future is obtained. For performance evaluation of the solar dryer, researchers used parameters like moisture reduction, moisture removal rate and different efficiencies. Solar dryer did not receive commercial utility because of high initial investment, long payback period and intermittent application. The study shows that the solar dryer not only saves fossil fuel for drying but also adds great worth to improve the product quality in terms of taste and color. It also doesn’t have any harmful effect on the environment. Solar dryer is therefore ideal to use for preservation of food in rural areas. This study may help farmers and new researchers for the design new type of solar dryer for products.

Real-Time Automatic Cloud Detection Using a Low-Cost Sky Camera

Characterizing the atmosphere is one of the most complex studies one can undertake due to the non-linearity and phenomenological variability. Clouds are also among the most variable atmospheric constituents, changing their size and shape over a short period of time. There are several sectors in which the study of cloudiness is of vital importance. In the renewable field, the increasing development of solar technology and the emerging trend for constructing and operating solar plants across the earth’s surface requires very precise control systems that provide optimal energy production management. Similarly, airports are hubs where cloud coverage is required to provide high-precision periodic observations that inform airport operators about the state of the atmosphere. This work presents an autonomous cloud detection system, in real time, based on the digital image processing of a low-cost sky camera. An algorithm was developed to identify the clouds in the whole image using the relationships established between the channels of the RGB and Hue, Saturation, Value (HSV) color spaces. The system’s overall success rate is approximately 94% for all types of sky conditions; this is a novel development which makes it possible to identify clouds from a ground perspective without the use of radiometric parameters.

System Performance of a Grid Integrated Distributed Generator using ETAP

Uneconomical augmentation of the grid framework has prompted the usage of electric power toward the end users and has been demonstrated to be practical and to a degree effective. With expanded criticalness on eco-accommodating innovations the utilization of sustainable power sources, for example, small scale hydro, wind, solar, biomass and biogas is being investigated. This paper introduces the potential effects of matrix associated photovoltaic (PV) array on electrical systems demonstrated using the Electrical Transient and Analysis Program (ETAP) software by validating the system performance parameters of the Deetyakhedi Feeder in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan under different loading conditions on Grid failure and the Sub-feeder disconnection case. This paper elaborates by underlining the significance of generating power from PV panels which exhibits and explains the development in solar technology. Effects of framework associated with solar PV Electricity on Power Systems are additionally discussed in this paper pursued by the authors' synopsis from the various writing's and discoveries with respect to the greatest suitable Solar PV infiltration that can be securely incorporated into existing systems by analyzing the System performance of the Grid Integrated Distributed Generator using ETAP Software. The conclusion covers the various Loading conditions at the Grid failure case and the Sub-Feeder disconnection case evaluating various conditions under which the system again regains its stability after specific time intervals.

Control of Hybrid Diesel/PV/Battery/Ultra-Capacitor Systems for Future Shipboard Microgrids

In recent times, concerns over fossil fuel consumption and severe environmental pollution have grabbed attention in marine vessels. The fast development in solar technology and the significant reduction in cost over the past decade have allowed the integration of solar technology in marine vessels. However, the highly intermittent nature of photovoltaic (PV) modules might cause instability in shipboard microgrids. Moreover, the penetration is much more in the case of utilizing PV panels on ships due to the continuous movement. This paper, therefore, presents a frequency sharing approach to smooth the effect of the highly intermittent nature of PV panels integrated with the shipboard microgrids. A hybrid system based on an ultra-capacitor and a lithium-ion battery is developed such that high power and short term fluctuations are catered by an ultra-capacitor, whereas long duration and high energy density fluctuations are catered by the lithium-ion battery. Further, in order to cater for the fluctuations caused by weather or variation in sea states, a battery energy storage system (BESS) is utilized in parallel to the dc-link capacitor using a buck-boost converter. Hence, to verify the dynamic behavior of the proposed approach, the model is designed in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed model helps to smooth the fluctuations and to stabilize the DC bus voltage.

(Invited) Multifunctional Materials for Emerging Technologies

As the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end, now more than ever there is the need for more efficient and sustainable renewable energy technologies. This presentation will give an overview on recent developments in solar technologies that aim to address the energy challenge. In particular, nanostructured materials synthesized via the bottom–up approach present an opportunity for future generation low cost manufacturing of devices [1]. We demonstrate various multifunctional materials, namely materials that exhibit more than one functionality, and structure/property relationships in such systems, including new strategies for the synthesis of multifunctional nanoscale materials to be used for applications in photovoltaics, solar hydrogen production, luminescent solar concentrators and other emerging optoelectronic technologies. [2-31].

A Machine Learning Approach for Solar Power Technology Review and Patent Evolution Analysis

Solar power systems and their related technologies have developed into a globally utilized green energy source. Given the relatively high installation costs, low conversion rates and battery capacity issues, solar energy is still not a widely applied energy source when compared to traditional energy sources. Despite the challenges, there are many innovative studies of new materials and new methods for improving solar energy transformation efficiency to improve the competitiveness of solar energy in the marketplace. This research searches for promising solar power technologies by text mining 2280 global patents and 5610 literature papers of the past decade (January 2008 to June 2018). First, a solar power knowledge ontology schema (or a key term relationship map) is constructed from the comprehensive literature and patent review. Non-supervised machine learning techniques for clustering patents and literature combined with the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling algorithm identify sub-technology clusters and their main topics. A word-embedding algorithm is applied to identify the patent documents of the specified technologies. Cross-validation of the results is used to model the technology progress with a patent evolution map. Initial analysis show that many patents focus on solar hydropower storage systems, transferring light generated power to waterpower gravity systems. Batteries are also used but have several limitations. The objectives of this research are to review solar technology development progress and describe the innovation path that has evolved for the solar power domain. By adopting unsupervised learning approaches for literature and patent mining, this research develops a novel technology e-discovery methodology and presents the detailed reviews and analyses of the solar power technology using the proposed e-discovery workflow. The insights of global solar technology development, based on both comprehensive literature and patent reviews and cross-analyses, helps energy companies select advanced technologies related to their key technical R&D strengths and business interests. The structured solar-related technology mining can be extended to the analysis of other forms of renewable energy development.

Multifunctional Materials for Emerging Technologies

As the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end, now more than ever there is the need for more efficient and sustainable renewable energy technologies. This presentation will give an overview on recent developments in solar technologies that may address, in part the energy challenge. In particular, nanostructured materials synthesized via plasma based approaches present an opportunity for future generation low cost manufacturing of devices [1]. We demonstrate various multifunctional materials, namely materials that exhibit more than one functionality, and structure/property relationships in such systems, including new strategies for the synthesis of multifunctional nanoscale materials to be used for applications in electronics and photovoltaics [2-31].

STRATEGIC ORIENTATION TO SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTIONAND LONG TERM FINANCIAL BENEFITS

<p>The strategy for developing and improving the application of green, clean, renewable and gratis solar energy is a challenge for multidisciplinary teams of scientists. Exquisite examples of positive world practice of the largest solar power plants are presented in this paper, with all the characteristics, starting from the materials of photovoltaic panels and technical performance to the cost and financial benefits. The aim was to analyze the development of solar technologies in the function of defining further perspectives. The techno economic feasibility of the strategic orientation towards solar energy has been demonstrated in the model of the solar power plant, carried out by experiment, profitability calculation and multi-criteria analysis. The conclusion is that long-term financial and holistic benefits can be achieved by investing in solar power plants.</p>

Sunset or sunrise? Understanding the barriers and options for the massive deployment of solar technologies in Chile

The use of solar technologies should proliferate in Chile as half of the country has a solar irradiance (GHI) above 5kWh/(m2d). Moreover, the Atacama Desert exhibits further advantageous conditions with 7kWh/(m2d), clear skies and a large energy-consuming mining industry. Since 2012 the solar sector takes off, totalizing over 1600MWe of solar power and about 100MWt of solar heat installed by the end of 2016. However, only about 10% of the filed projects are operative; many barriers are slowing down the further development of solar technologies. While several barrier studies for solar technologies exist in the literature, they are often country-specific and there is no publication found regarding the Chilean solar sector. In the present paper, the barriers obstructing the way of Chile becoming a solar power country are found through interviews and then analyzed and classified into six groups (economic, market, system integration, technical, regulatory and information barriers). For these barriers, an overview of emerging mitigation options are provided and future solutions, including opportunities for research, are proposed.

Effects of radiative forcing of building integrated photovoltaic systems in different urban climates

Recent years have witnessed a remarkable reduction in solar-panel costs, such that low-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics (PV) currently prevail over more complex, high-efficiency technologies. Although solar-energy-generating installations provide a renewable energy source often considered emission-free, a number of externalities are frequently ignored that favor technologies with a reduced efficiency as long as they are available at lower cost. Whenever PV systems are installed, the absorption properties of the surface are changed and less sunlight from the Earth’s surface is reflected into space. By including this radiative forcing in the form of the Earth’s surface reflection coefficient albedo (α), we take these externalities into consideration in the overall equivalent global warming potential (GWP) of a PV system. Three different effects need to be considered when changing the absorption properties of the Earth’s surface: (1) global albedo impact, (2) regional atmospheric heat islands, and (3) locally heated surfaces. The unintended radiative forcing adversely affects the net efficiency of building-integrated solar installations in warm urban climates, as more energy is required for cooling to ensure human comfort. The total GWP of four different PV technologies was examined for three different urban climates, temperate, moderate, and warm. To minimize the system energy payback time (EPBT) it is most sensible to install high-efficiency solar-energy systems outside cities and urban developments in locations with high annual irradiance. Only when taking radiative forcing into environmental and economic considerations is it expected that solar-technology development will correct its trajectory away from low-cost systems and toward high-efficiency installations with lower overall GWP.