Large-scale Photovoltaic Power Generation Research Articles

Study of Evaluation Technique of PV System Performance by Output Analysis

The photovoltaic power generation system (PV system) has been expected as a clean energy source. However, it is supposed that the system reliability is not so high. In this study, the operational performance on large-scale photovoltaic power generation system was evaluated by using 12 systems. The standard rated output of each system was 4kW. As the results of the evaluation analysis, the rate of output deviation of System4 decreased 25% or less, in comparison with estimated output and the operation efficiency was unstable. It was obtained that the decrease of operation efficiency was caused by String3. From the results of inspections of the module, the solar radiation and the power conditioner, there was difference in conversion ratio between a DC-DC converter of a normal string and that of String3. The conversion ratio affected on the output of the string. It was able to find malfunction. Moreover, the regression analysis was investigated by using the output data of the PV system and irradiance. Performance of the PV system was evaluated using the regression coefficient. Stability of the PV system was also investigated using the method of this study.

Road to very large scale photovoltaic power generation systems

Very large scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) systems are one of the promising options for large-scale deployment of PV systems. In the future, VLS-PV systems would be able to become an option for many large remote and desert regions in the world.

The Hokuto mega-solar project

Solar generation systems are one of the measures for reducing global warming. An installed capacity target of solar generation systems in our country will be set 4.82 GW in 2010, while the total installed capacity is still 1.92 GW in 2007. About 80% of the systems are mainly residential use and each is very small. Constructions of some large-scale solar generation systems will be expected and intensive development of related technologies are urgent. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) advertised for consignment research business “Verification of Grid Stabilization with Large-scale Photovoltaic (PV) Power Generation Systems” in 2006. The verification tests are carried out in two sites of Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture and Wakkanai City, Hokkaido. The outlines and the developing targets and some of studying results of the Hokuto mega-solar project (HMSP) are introduced in this paper.

A preliminary study of potential for very large-scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) system in the Gobi desert from economic and environmental viewpoints : Ito, M. et al. Solr Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2003, 75, (3–4), 507–517

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth in China for the period 1977–2011. Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach (ARDL) to cointegration and Johansen cointegration techniques are employed by including intermittent variables namely carbon dioxide emissions and labor. We also employed Granger causality test in order to determine the direction of the causality among the variables. The results show that there is a bi-directional long term causality between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. This finding implies that growing economy in China is propitious for the development of renewable energy sector which in turn helps to boost economic growth. We also find that labor influences renewable energy consumption in the short term. However, there is no evidence of long or short run causality between carbon emissions and renewable energy consumption. This implies that actual level of renewable energy in China is still insignificant and not considerably exploited in order to contribute to the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions.

A preliminary study on potential for very large-scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) system in the Gobi desert from economic and environmental viewpoints

Abstract A 100 MW very large-scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) system is designed assuming that it will be installed in the Gobi desert, which is one of the major deserts in the world. Array arrangement, array support, foundation, wiring, and so on are designed in detail. Then energy payback time (EPT), life-cycle CO2 emission rate and generation cost of the system are estimated based on the methodology of life-cycle analysis. As a result of the estimation, 1.7 year of EPT and 12 g C/kWh of CO2 emission rate are obtained. These show that VLS-PV in the Gobi desert would be very promising for the global energy and environmental issues. The generation cost is calculated at 8.6 cent/kWh assuming that PV module price is one US $/W and system lifetime is 30 years.

Integrated high-concentration PV near-term alternative for low-cost large-scale solar electric power

Large-scale photovoltaic electric power generation deployment and utilization is no longer dictated by limitations in technology, but rather by the economics of PV systems vs. other renewable or traditional options. This paper describes a near-term alternative option for cost-effective solar electric power generation based on a novel sunlight concentrating technology: integrated high-concentration PV(IHCPV). The advantages of high-concentration systems have been well analyzed, but development was constrained by the lack of solar cell capable of withstanding the rigors of concentrated sunlight. The development of a stable, high-concentration back-junction, point-contact cell, by Amonix, paved the way for high-concentration system development. System designers had to insure that the cost savings inherent in concentration systems through the reduction of costly solar cell content were not over-shadowed by the ancillary costs of structure and tracking elements used in concentrating arrays. The IHCPV system has met these goals. Economic factors specific to the IHCPV system are presented including (1) low cost of entry, (2) enhanced energy production, (3) reduced and utilization, and (4) accelerated benefits of volume production.