High Solar Potential Research Articles

Techno-economic evaluation of two hydrogen supply options to southern Germany: On-site production and import from Portugal

Hydrogen production through electrolysis using renewable electricity is considered a major pathway and component for a sustainable energy system of the future. For this production pathway, a high renewable energy potential, especially in solar energy, is crucial. Countries like Germany with a high energy demand and low solar potential strongly depend on hydrogen import. In the present work, a case study with two alternative hydrogen supply options is conducted to evaluate the economic viability of solar hydrogen delivered to a hydrogen pipeline in Stuttgart, Germany. For both options, hydrogen is generated through an 8 MW alkaline electrolyser, solar powered and supported by grid-based electricity to meet the required load. The first option is based on a hydrogen production system that is positioned in Sines, Portugal, an area with high global radiation and proximity to a deep sea port. The hydrogen is processed by liquefaction and transported to Stuttgart by tanker ship via Hamburg and by truck. The second supply option uses an on-site hydrogen production system in Stuttgart.The work shows that the production costs in Sines with 2.09 €/kgH2 (prices in €2021) are, as expected, significantly lower than in Stuttgart with 3.24 €/kgH2. However, this price difference of 1.15 €/kgH2 for hydrogen production drops to a marginal difference of 0.13 €/kgH2 when considering the whole value chain to the delivery point in Stuttgart. If the waste heat from electrolysis is used in a district heating system in Stuttgart, the price difference is down to 0.03 €/kgH2. The first supply option is dominated by costs for processing, especially liquefaction. These costs would need to be reduced to fully exploit the cost advantage of solar hydrogen production in Portugal. Also, a fundamental switch to pipeline transport of gaseous hydrogen should be considered. Both investigated hydrogen supply options show the potential to provide the pipeline in Stuttgart with hydrogen at lower costs than by using the alternative technology of steam reforming of natural gas.

Power system static and dynamic security studies for the 1st phase of Crete Island Interconnection

The island of Crete is currently served by an autonomous electrical system being fed by oil-fired (Heavy fuel or light Diesel oil) thermal power plants and renewables (wind and PVs). The peak load and annual electric energy consumption are approximately 600 MW and 3 TWh respectively; wind and photovoltaic parks contribute approximately 20% of the electricity needs of the island. Due to the expensive fuel used, the Cretan power system has very high electric energy generation cost compared to the Greek mainland. On the other side the limited size of the system poses severe limitations to the penetration of renewable energy sources, not allowing to further exploit the high wind and solar potential of the island. According to the Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) of the Greek TSO (Independent Power Transmission Operator S.A. IPTO S.A.), the interconnection of Crete to the mainland Transmission System of Greece will be realized through two links: A 150 kV HVAC link between the Peloponnese and the Crete (Phase I) and a HVDC link connecting the metropolitan area of Athens with Crete (Phase II). The total length of submarine and underground cable of the HVAC link will be approximately 174km; it is at the limits of the AC technology and the longest and deepest worldwide at 150 kV level. A number of studies have been conducted by a joint group of IPTO and Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) for the design of this interconnection. This paper presents briefly the power system static and dynamic studies conducted for the design of the AC link and its operation. Firstly, the paper presents the main results of the static security study regarding the calculation of the maximum power transfer capability of the link and the selection of the reactive power compensation scheme of the cable. Results from dynamic security analysis studies are also presented. The small-signal stability analysis concludes that a new (intra-area) electromechanical oscillation is introduced to the National System after the interconnection. The damping of the electromechanical oscillations is sufficient; however the operation of power system stabilizers at power plants located both at the mainland and at Crete power system can increase significantly the damping of important oscillation modes. Finally with respect to the risk of loss of synchronism after a significant disturbance in the system of Crete, such as a three-phase fault (“transient stability”)- enough safety margin is estimated by means of Critical Clearing Time calculations.

Floating photovoltaic plants as an electricity supply option in the Tocantins-Araguaia basin

Brazil has high solar potential. The yearly sum of solar irradiation is approximately 1924.07 kWh/m2, therefore, harnessing this potential is promising. The country is dependent on hydroelectric plants, however, increasingly frequent droughts have severely affected hydrogeneration. The installation of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems in existing hydropower reservoirs, would provide additional electricity to help compensate hydropower production during dry periods and reduce evaporation losses while helping to sustainably meet Brazil's electricity demand. This study provide an analysis of FPV potential in Brazil's region, named the Tocantins-Araguaia Basin, by using water surface data from 30 hydropower reservoirs. In addition to the new electricity production, evaporation savings and its extra potential hydroelectricity were also estimated. A survey of the reduction in CO2 emissions was conducted, given that the complementary electricity to hydroelectric plants would be through solar generation, thus avoiding the activation of thermoelectric plants. The main results indicate the high FPV potential, corresponding to an electricity production that varies from 25.04 to 2555.04 TWh/year, and a range of 19.86–2024.30 million tCO2/year of avoided emissions. Regarding the potential arising from the evaporation water savings, the values vary between 16.17 and 892.95 GWh/year.

Selection Strategy of Rational Zones for Installation of Photovoltaic Solar Panels in Algeria

This study concerns the preliminary phase of the project to installation solar panels in Algeria. The sites enjoy one of the most sunshine in the world, the Saharan region must be the spearhead in the development of energy which, moreover, with an abundant potential still under-exploited, photovoltaics constitute a formidable opportunity for the economic development of the region. In the perspective of a transition to “green energy” and in order to promote the emergence of solar energy in Algeria, a reflection on the development strategies of this energy must be combined with the strong challenges of the region, namely, the preservation of biodiversity, ecological continuities, as well as landscapes, the maintenance of agricultural land and forest areas and the fight against climate change. In this context, the contribution envisaged with this work is to contribute to the identification of a set of sites with high solar potential that can accommodate solar power plants.

Design, dynamic simulation, and optimal size selection of a hybrid solar/wind and battery-based system for off-grid energy supply

Remote energy systems are applicable, especially in critical circumstances like earthquakes, floods, etc. Besides, renewable energy systems are suitable energy sources in remote areas. Therefore, Due to high solar and wind potential and its location as an earthquake-prone, a solar-wind energy system for a remote application on a Conex is presented in this study. Considered wind turbines have power production of 1 kW and 3 kW. PV panels have an efficiency of about 20%. This Conex has 12 m2 of the area and resides three to five people and supplies 520 W power consumption of equipment except for the HVAC unit. A considered lifetime of the Conex is 20 years. The considered capacity of batteries is about 100–200 Ah. Six cities are selected as representatives of the six major climate types in Iran. The studied system is optimized for each city. The heating and cooling demand of Conex in cities are specified using TRNSYS software. The heat pump's electricity requirement as a cooling and heating unit with COP of four, lighting (20 W), laptops (140 W), and refrigerators (360 W) is calculated for Conex in each city. Mixed-integer linear programming is employed to optimize an off-grid renewable energy system to supply this electricity demand. The system's total cost, which includes the initial and O&M cost of PV panels and wind turbines, and the capital and replacement cost of the batteries together with the loss of power supply probability during a year, are considered two objective functions. The interest rate is assumed to be 15%. Achieved results show that Iran's solar and wind potential can balance the required load of the Conex with a probability of power outage as low as 1% of a year. However, there is a variance in the cost of the required renewable energy system for supplying Conex power consumption for different climate zones: in the Mediterranean region, the system costs 500–5000 $ as the most expensive one, and in the hot coastal dry region, it costs 900 $-2000 $ as the most cost-efficient region. Finally, results show that wind turbines can be cost-effective energy suppliers for most considered climates, especially considering O&M costs. This study can fill the gap of requiring off-grid temporary portable residences in different climates after disasters, which destroy buildings. Therefore, the lack of these temporary residences can be supplied without adding greenhouse gases to the environment, which reduces greenhouse emissions and electrical grid dependence of the building sector.

Performance Assessment of a Box Type Solar Cooker Using Jatropha Oil as a Heat Storage Material

Solar cookers are a good option in developing countries with high solar potential for environmentally friendly cooking and reduced pressure on forests. However, they are still affected by the intermittency of the sun. In order to overcome this problem, in this work, a box type solar cooker integrated Jatropha oil as a heat storage material is fabricated and experimented with. The design was examined with a maximum stagnation temperature of 157.7°C. The recorded cooking power vanished between 78.4 and 103.6 W, while thermal efficiency varied from 41.26% to 58.78%. The energy transfer cycle test, including charge and discharge revealed that 91.18% of the heat lost through the cooker could be recovered by the heat storage unit and a large amount is restored to the system during cloudiness or a temperature perturbation.

Dynamic simulation and life cycle cost analysis of a MSF desalination system driven by solar parabolic trough collectors using TRNSYS software: A comparative study in different world regions

In the present work, water desalination by solar energy is investigated based on life cycle cost. In the first step, regions under consideration are prioritized for solar energy utilization applying an appropriate ranking method based on desalinated water demand, saline water availability, annual average solar irradiation, and local water tensions. TRNSYS software is used for simulation and a multi-stage flash desalination system is defined in this software as a new component type by employing the Fortran program. Solar troughs and natural gas are used for solar energy extraction and heater, respectively. The considered system is investigated in seven different cities with high solar potential from the economic point of view. Also, an economic comparison is conducted in order to assess the multi-stage flash desalination system utilizing solar collector, auxiliary heater, and the system using natural gas without solar system. In this regard, the life cycle cost method is applied. The results of the study showed that using solar energy is more economical in comparison with natural gas for all of the case studies and the highest saving is obtained for Port Hedland in Australia. The lowest cycle cost of the system, utilizing solar energy and natural gas, is observed in Hurghada. In Hurghada, 88% of the energy required by the system is supplied by sun, and this city benefits the most from solar energy compared to other cities. Los Angeles and Manzanillo had the lowest share of solar energy at 59% and 57%, respectively.

Site selection for solar photovoltaic system installation using analytical hierarchy process model in Azerbaijan

The most suitable sites for solar photovoltaic power installations are determined through a comprehensive assessment of the meteorological, economic and environmental criteria of the energy potential areas. The basic criteria for location selection are evaluated using an analytical hierarchy process method based on multi-criteria decision-making technique for large-scale solar photovoltaic projects. The analytical hierarchy process model is also applied to evaluate areas of high solar potential and factors that are primary criteria for determinate the site suitability index modelling. This method considers various conditions, such as production and technological considerations, which aim to maximise the short-term profit from the project and the efficiency of power generation. In the study, a consistency ratio of suitable localities was determined and proper alternatives for the construction of photovoltaic installations were evaluated. In addition to local meteorology and related satellite measurement data, the country’s radiation values also were compared by converting a digital elevation model data using the tool «Area solar radiation» in GIS. As a result of calculating the site suitability index with the ArcGIS weighted overlay tool, it was concluded that 1.17 % (1016.8 km2) of the country are the most suitable sites for the installation of solar PV systems. These areas mainly include Khizi, Gobustan, Hajigabul, Beylagan, Sharur, Babek and Jeyranchol zones. The total number of locations identified accross the country, classified into 3 categories according to their level of suitability, includes 40 sites. Eight of these high suitability sites, all in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, contain 11 % (109.2 km2) of the total potential area. The remaining 32 sites, corresponding to areas with medium and low energy potential, cover 28 % (284.6 km2) and 61 % (623 km2), respectively. When these areas are completely covered with PV panels, it will be possible to fully supply the energy demand of the country with solar energy.

Expérimentation et analyse thermique d’un concentrateur hémisphérique stationnaire sous les conditions climatiques à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

This technology is used in drying, domestic water heating or in the production of electricity. However, it uses a solar tracking system that is too complex and expensive for countries with less equipment and high solar potential. In this study, we are interested in the experimentation and thermal analysis of a stationary hemispheric concentrator. The numerical resolution of the caustic equations of a spherical concentrator allowed to determine the dimensions and the position of the receiver, necessary for the design of the physical model and the assembly of the experimental device. The results of the 3D numerical simulation with the Comsol5.3a software allowed to highlight the ray tracing and the profile of the flow concentrated on the receiver. The results obtained experimentally show that the receiver and the air inside reached a maximum temperature of 224°C and 97.6°C respectively. The solar concentration device studied is therefore technically favorable for thermal applications requiring intermediate temperatures.

Review on solar water heating in Libya

This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the history and the best practices of solar water heaters in Libya. Although, Libya is blessed with high solar potential, there is no wide-spread implementation of this technology due to many reasons such as: the cheap price of both electricity and electric water heaters, lack of clear and systematic policy, and lack of environmental awareness. The Center for Solar Energy Research and Studies (CSERS) has given attention to this technology since its establishment in 1978, and the solar water heating system field test project is one of the research projects in the Center. The paper has shown that there was no attention paid to this technology and even to renewable energy in general in the previous years. However, preliminary information clearly shows the importance of continuing research in this field. Numerous valuable information on solar water heating systems from literature were dedicated and made available for researchers and decision makers. The studies conducted in this field for Libya are arranged in this review on the bases of the topic studied: performance evaluation, optimization, on-site measurements and policies and strategies. One of the most important results retrieved from these studies show that the daily quantity of hot water withdrawn per capita at 45 °C is estimated around 60 liters. The estimated annual amount of energy consumed for water heating per person is 510 kWh. For average Libyan family of six persons, the annual amount of energy consumed per dwelling is estimated about 3060 kWh. The review also presented the history of solar water heaters implementation, manufacturing and testing facilities for quality control in Libya. The study calls upon the Libyan decision makers to take their responsibility and put an urgent action plan to help the wide-spread implementation of solar water heaters in the residential, services and industrial sectors. Such a plan will surely alleviate the ever increasing demand for electricity, save fossil fuel reserves and mitigate GHG emissions.

Assessment of floating solar photovoltaics potential in existing hydropower reservoirs in Africa

Africa is characterised by a very high solar potential, with a yearly sum of solar irradiation exceeding 2000 kWh/m2. Many African countries are heavily dependent on hydropower, however, increasingly frequent droughts have been severely affecting hydropower generation in the last few decades. The installation of floating photovoltaics (FPV) in existing hydropower reservoirs, would provide solar electricity to help compensate hydropower production during dry periods and reduce evaporation losses while helping to sustainably satisfy the current and future energy needs of the fast-growing African population. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of FPV installation in Africa, by using highly accurate water surface data of the largest 146 hydropower reservoirs in the continent. In addition to the electricity production, evaporation savings and the potential extra hydroelectricity generated by these water savings are also estimated at reservoir level for four different cases and two types of floating structures. The results indicate that with a total coverage of less than 1%, the installed power capacity of existing hydropower plants can double and electricity output grow by 58%, producing an additional 46.04 TWh annually. In this case, the water savings could reach 743 million m3/year, increasing the annual hydroelectricity generation by 170.64 GWh.

PERBANDINGAN PENEMPATAN PANEL FOTOVOLTAIK DI ATAS TANAH (GROUND MOUNTING PV) ATAU DI ATAS ATAP (ROOFTOP PV) SEBAGAI IMPLEMENTASI PEMANFAATAN PLTS YANG EFISIEN DI ITERA

The use of photovoltaic panels (PV) as the latest material technology to conversion solar energyinto electrical energy, so as it can become a Solar Power Plant (PLTS) which is more continues to growin this world, including Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA). As a new campus technology-based inLampung Province which also has high solar potential, it is considered appropriate to be able to applyphotovoltaic as the key to the use of renewable energy. The PV panel studied is a comparison with theplacement conditions, specifically placement on the rooftop and on the groundmounting. In order to getthe best efficiency from the comparison of the installed photovoltaic panels, it is necessary to design anequivalent circuit with a load or no load in designing, as well as making observations for 7 days withthe same conditions. The results show that the placement of PV on the rooftop is 1,129.91 Wh for aloaded condition and 3,961.91 Wh for a no-load condition, while the placement of PV on thegroundmounting is 1,064.83 Wh for a loaded condition and 3,880.13 for a no-load condition. Fromthese results, it becomes the basis for the placement of PV as needed before planning the constructionof PLTS.

Determination of the optimal solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Sudan

Electricity access in Africa is a major challenge in rural areas. Despite considerable potential for the use of solar energy, investments in renewable energy projects are minimal due to poor promotion of solar energy. As a result, many people still rely on private diesel generators, which release significant levels of pollutants, and have negative effects on both humans and the environment. Situated in the sunbelt, Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa endowed with an extremely high solar irradiation potential. However, no work has been done in the literature with a strategic context to study specifically the feasibility of renewable energy systems in Sudan despite the abundance of solar resource. The aim of this study was to utilize Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) to identify the optimal solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Sudan’s conditions, identify the best locations, and analyze the costs and the pollution that might be avoided by employing a PV system in place of a diesel system. HOMER simulation results demonstrated that the optimal type of PV for Sudan is the Studer VarioTrack VT-65 with Generic PV. The utilization of a solar PV system will avoid the production of approximately 27 million kg/year of pollutants and will reduce the cost of energy to USD$ 0.08746/kWh. The optimal locations found in Sudan for utilizing solar energy were Wawa, followed by Kutum, Wadi Halfa, Dongola and Al-Goled due to their low costs of electricity, high clearness index and high levels of solar radiation. Given the recent rapid decrease in PV pricing and predictions for continued reductions, the costs of PV were varied to deliver an understanding on the impact of PV costs on the project economics. Reducing the PV costs by 25% has a significant impact; the cost of energy produced reduces in the range of USD$ 0.06697/kWh and USD$ 0.06808/kWh, while a reduction in PV costs of 50% further reduces the cost of energy, ranging between USD$ 0.05273/kWh and USD$ 0.05361/kWh in the top five locations in Sudan. The output of this study is projected to raising the potentiality awareness of renewable energy in Sudan and delivering a valuable reference regarding the optimal utilization of solar PV system in energy sector.

Impacts of Roof-top Solar Photovoltaic Modules on Building Energy Performance: Case Study of a Residence in HCM City, Vietnam

Vietnam is considered a country with high solar potential and solar irradiation is comparable to most countries in the region. However, high density solar project in areas causes overload state of transmission grid system and some plants wouldn’t operate at full design capacity. Therefore, roof-top solar PV projects in provinces and cities, which have large potential of solar irradiation, are promoted to reduce pressure on power supply. Besides, rooftop solar would be also affordable for home and business owners and communities by helping households halve electricity bills and gain energy efficiency. In this paper, we investigate case study of a residential building in HCM city, Vietnam for analysing impacts of roof-top solar photovoltaic modules on energy performance. The results showed not only the potential photovoltaic power, but also the reduction of roof heat transfer. In consequence, the building cooling load and total energy consumption are significantly reduced thanks to Roof-top PV installation. On the other hand, the reduction of solar incident on the building roof keeps cooling roof surface (outer and inner) and improves thermal comfort of attic space. Our research objective is to quantify indirect benefit of Roof-top PV on energy efficiency and to provide ideas for further researches.

СОЗДАНИЕ АВТОНОМНЫХ И СЕТЕВЫХ ЭНЕРГОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ КОМПЛЕКСОВ С ВОДОРОДНЫМ НАКОПИТЕЛЕМ ЭНЕРГИИ

В статье проведен анализ энергетических возможностей альтернативных источников Украины. Рассмотрены проекты с применением водородных технологий, направленных на привлечение энергии Солнца в инфраструктуру энерготехнологических комплексов, в частности для заправки автомобильного транспорта, расположенных в зонах с высоким потенциалом солнечной радиации. При эксплуатации автономных заправочных станций, использующих в качестве источника энергии солнечную энергетическую станцию (СЭС), весьма вероятно возникновение нештатных ситуаций, обусловленных прекращением энергоснабжения (вследствие пасмурной погоды), либо аварийным выходом из строя отдельных элементов системы. В данном случае требуется обеспечить вывод ее из эксплуатации без потери технологических возможностей (работоспособности). С этой целью необходимо предусмотреть включение в технологическую схему энерготехнологического комплекса дополнительного элемента, обеспечивающего работу блока в течение заданного времени, определяемого регламентом его эксплуатации. В качестве такого элемента предложена буферная система на основе водородного накопителя энергии. Современный уровень водородных технологий, которые реализуются в электрохимических установках, разработанных в Институте проблем машиностроения им. А. Н. Подгорного Национальной академии наук Украины (ИПМаш НАН Украины), позволяет производить и накапливать водород под высоким давлением, что исключает использование компрессорной техники. 
 Приведена принципиальная схема автономного солнечно-водородного энерготехнологического комплекса для заправки автомобильного транспорта.
 Описаны особенности подключения солнечных батарей в составе энерготехнологического комплекса. Библ. 20, табл. 1, рис. 6.

A New Design of an Integrated Solar Absorption Cooling System Driven by an Evacuated Tube Collector: A Case Study for Baghdad, Iraq

The electrical power consumption of refrigeration equipment leads to a significant influence on the supply network, especially on the hottest days during the cooling season (and this is besides the conventional electricity problem in Iraq). The aim of this work is to investigate the energy performance of a solar-driven air-conditioning system utilizing absorption technology under climate in Baghdad, Iraq. The solar fraction and the thermal performance of the solar air-conditioning system were analyzed for various months in the cooling season. It was found that the system operating in August shows the best monthly average solar fraction (of 59.4%) and coefficient of performance (COP) (of 0.52) due to the high solar potential in this month. Moreover, the seasonal integrated collector efficiency was 54%, providing a seasonal solar fraction of 58%, and the COP of the absorption chiller was 0.44, which was in limit, as reported in the literature for similar systems. A detailed parametric analysis was carried out to evaluate the thermal performance of the system and analyses, and the effect of design variables on the solar fraction of the system during the cooling season.

The environmental and economic analysis of grid-connected photovoltaic power systems with silicon solar panels, in accord with the new energy policy in Iran

In recent years, authorities in Iran have introduced supporting policies for renewable energy resources but there is no comprehensive and updated survey from this perspective. This work aims to give a comprehensive survey on the country’s background from energy outlook and its prominent policies for renewable energy resources. Due to the high CO2 emissions alongside with the high solar energy harvesting potential in Iran, We have presented a clear simulation on 20 kW and 1 MW grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power plants using RETScreen software to determine the environmental and economic aspects based on the net greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions reduction, the annual electricity exported to the grid, the cumulative cash flows, and the payback period for the initial investment. According to this simulation, the annual GHG emissions reduction and the annual electricity exported to the grid for 20 kW and 1 MW PV power plants are 22.06 tCO2, 1103 tCO2, 39 MWh, and 1953 MWh, respectively. From the economic outlook, based on the new feed-in tariff for power plants and the supposed initial costs, the payback period for the initial investments are between 3 and 4, and 5 years for 20 kW and 1 MW PV power plants, respectively.

Feasibility study of a zero emission PV/Wind turbine/Wave energy converter hybrid system for stand-alone power supply: A case study

The use of energy from the sea wave to produce electricity via wave converters is one of the most interesting methods to meet the electrical demand in coastal cities. Hybridization of wave energy with other renewable resources, such as solar, wind, or storage systems, is a reliable way to generate and provide electricity for remote cities. Considering high solar and wind potential and accessibility to three marine areas, including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Caspian Sea, Iran is an appropriate place to exploit hybrid energy systems. In this paper, for the first time, a techno-economic and environmental analysis for a hybrid renewable energy system consisting of Wave Energy Converter/PV/Wind Turbine/Battery is performed aiming to provide electricity for 3000 households in three different locations of Iran (Jask, Genaveh, and Anzali cities). The results indicate that the PV/Wind Turbine/Battery system (with the energy cost of 0.219, 0.233 and 0.242 dollars per kWh for Jask, Genaveh, and Anzali, respectively) is the best option for supplying electricity for 3000 households. Furthermore, according to the sensitivity analysis, Anzali demonstrates a higher potential to employ Pelamis in the optimum system, owing to the higher potential of waves in the Caspian Sea. The cost of energy in the hybrid system with a Pelamis converter is obtained 0.233 $/kWh to 0.348 $/kWh. This indicates greater economic profit and higher power capabilities for off-grid systems, compared to the global cost of wave energy converter systems.

Identification and assessment of sites for solar farms development using GIS and density based clustering technique- A case of Pakistan

Site selection plays a vital role in the entire life cycle of solar farm and merits further consideration. Current studies for the site selection have several limitations. First, application of criteria related to infrastructure in the initial phase can screen out prospective solar farms or make them less desirable. Second, infrastructure criteria are less significant in circumstances where new cities and town are to be planned. Lastly, clustering is often ignored in site selection problem to classify farms and determine their sizes. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a methodology that focuses primarily on areas that has maximum energy potential and excludes the infrastructure requirements initially from the analysis. The methodology uses Geographical Information System (GIS) for data acquisition and mapping, whereas a novel density-based clustering approach is employed to identify and group sites with high solar potential. The methodology is applied to the geographic boundaries of Pakistan. However, the methodology can be applied to any spatial context subject to the availability of similar data. The paper concludes with recommendations to energy policy makers by providing a list of potential clusters, with their sizes ranging between 10−289km2 located in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan.

Effects of dust, soiling, aging, and weather conditions on photovoltaic system performances in a Saharan environment—Case study in Algeria

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power represents one of the most promising future sources of energy in the world. Considered the cleanest form of energy, extensive research is being undertaken to widen its use. Notably, mega projects are being considered for installation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region because of its high solar potential, with hopes of eventually feeding Europe from the PV electricity generated in this region and transported through high voltage direct current (DC) lines. However, current implementation of PV systems has shown that their reliability and efficiency depend upon surrounding environmental factors, such as the ambient temperature, wind, and rainfall, as well as soiling, pollution, and aging. The aim of this study was to investigate, through experimental tests, the effects of such factors on the power output of a grid connected PV station. The results showed that the output power and efficiency are deeply affected by various environmental factors, which are weather dependent. These findings may help us develop appropriate solutions to overcome these drawbacks.