Low-cost Solar Panels Research Articles

Low-cost AI-based solar panel detection drone design and implementation for solar power systems

PurposeThis paper aims to design an AI-based drone that can facilitate the complicated and time-intensive control process for detecting healthy and defective solar panels. Today, the use of solar panels is becoming widespread, and control problems are increasing. Physical control of the solar panels is critical in obtaining electrical power. Controlling solar panel power plants and rooftop panel applications installed in large areas can be difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, this paper designs a system that aims to panel detection.Design/methodology/approachThis paper designed a low-cost AI-based unmanned aerial vehicle to reduce the difficulty of the control process. Convolutional neural network based AI models were developed to classify solar panels as damaged, dusty and normal. Two approaches to the solar panel detection model were adopted: Approach 1 and Approach 2.FindingsThe training was conducted with YOLOv5, YOLOv6 and YOLOv8 models in Approach 1. The best F1 score was 81% at 150 epochs with YOLOv5m. In total, 87% and 89% of the best F1 score and mAP values were obtained with the YOLOv5s model at 100 epochs in Approach 2 as a proposed method. The best models at Approaches 1 and 2 were used with a developed AI-based drone in the real-time test application.Originality/valueThe AI-based low-cost solar panel detection drone was developed with an original data set of 1,100 images. A detailed comparative analysis of YOLOv5, YOLOv6 and YOLOv8 models regarding performance metrics was realized. Gaussian, salt-pepper noise addition and wavelet transform noise removal preprocessing techniques were applied to the created data set under the proposed method. The proposed method demonstrated expressive and remarkable performance in panel detection applications.

Localizing the solar value chain in Kenya?

ABSTRACT The debate on the benefits of renewable electrification in late industrializing economies has mostly focused on improved electricity access and climate mitigation arguments. The literature pays less attention to understanding the opportunities for sustainable industrialization. This paper contributes to the latter with insights from a case study of Solinc East Africa, a Kenyan solar module manufacturer that has remained in the market, despite intense competition from imports of low-cost solar panels. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork in the solar energy sector in Kenya, we apply a global value chain framework to explore how and why Solinc has been able to sustain its business. Our findings highlight the challenges of localizing solar manufacturing in Kenya and suggest it may only be possible in rare instances. Specifically, a unique combination of circumstances and factors were revealed that enabled Solinc to gain several advantages including (i) initial access to knowledge and materials from upstream linkages; (ii) downstream integration and partnerships with key distributors and customers; (iii) close proximity to customers; and (iv) provision of complementary and increasingly high value-added services. Our findings present a more positive perspective on the localization of related services, which we argue deserves more attention in the sustainable industrialization debate.

Natural dye (chlorophyll, anthocyanin, carotenoid, flavonoid) photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cell: A review

For many years, dye-sensitized sunlight cells (DSSC), which are feasible and have significant potential to harvest and convert light into renewable energy, have been the subject of serious research. DSSC is a great alternative for low-cost solar panels due to its simplicity in fabrication and acceptable efficiency. While synthetic dyes can produce higher efficiency, their production costs and complexity in synthesizing toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment, people, and the environment present another problem. Therefore, several studies have focused on natural dyes extracted from plants (chlorophyll-anthocyanin, flavonoid and carotenoid) because of their advantages such as high absorption, low cost, no toxicity, eco-friendly and easy extraction. This review also highlights the development of dye-sensitized sun cells by using natural dyes as photosensitizers.

Assessment of in-house build low cost solar panel simulator

It is well known that solar simulator is a very important equipment in solar panels research and development (R&D). Solar simulator is mainly used to assess the efficiency of solar panels. However, the cost to acquire such system is expensive and prone to malfunction when used repeatedly. The cost to repair solar simulator when malfunction is also expensive and time consuming. As an alternative, low cost solar simulator has been built independently by a group of researcher from Faculty of Electrical Engineering Technology (FTKE), University of Malaysia, Perlis (UniMAP) using 88 GU-10 halogen bulbs. This paper presents the assessment of the in-house build low cost solar panel simulator. The simulator was tested in three separate experiments to plot the current-voltage (IV) curve. The IV curves obtained from these experiments were analysed to determine the irradiance input (in Wm −2) of the solar simulator. Results have shown that the in-house build solar simulator has an input of 350 ∼ 400 Wm −2 if solar panels are suspended 20 cm above the halogen bulbs.

Photonic curing of solution-deposited ZrO2 dielectric on PEN: a path towards high-throughput processing of oxide electronics

High-throughput manufacturing of oxide electronics will enable new applications ranging from large-area displays to flexible medical devices and low-cost solar panels. However, high-quality oxide films from solution-based precursors typically require 20 min or more of thermal annealing at high temperature (>250 °C) for each layer, severely limiting both the throughput and substrate choice. Here, we report high-speed photonic curing of ZrO2 dielectric thin films on flexible plastic substrates. The curing and patterning processes can be achieved simultaneously by using shadow mask patterning or adjusting conditions to convert oxide only on top of underlying metal contacts, i.e. self-aligned patterning. Metal–insulator–metal capacitors using two layers of ZrO2 films photonically cured in just 100 s per layer show non-dispersive capacitance–frequency behaviour from 102 to 106 Hz, high areal capacitance of 200 nF/cm2 and low dissipation factor of 0.03 at 105 Hz, leakage current density of ~10−7 A/cm2 at an applied field of 2 MV/cm, and a breakdown field of nearly 8 MV/cm. Using an upgraded tool, similar dielectric properties are achieved in as short as 100 ms using a single pulse of light, revealing a pathway to oxide film processing beyond 30 m/min.

Simulator Panel Surya Ekonomis untuk Pengujian MPPT pada Kondisi Berbayang Sebagian (Low Cost PV Photovoltaic Simulator for MPPT Testing under Partial Shading)

This paper describes a low-cost solar panel simulator for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) method testing, especially under partially shading conditions. The simulator consists of a DC power supply and a solar panel. The simulator works to emulate the characteristics of solar panels without depending on artificial illumination or sunlight. The simulator can represent the needed irradiation through the settings on the DC power supply. The experimental setup is developed to emulate the characteristics of solar panels at Standard Test Conditions (STC) irradiation conditions as well as varying irradiation conditions. Testing is done to emulate irradiation varies from 200-1,000 W/m2. To emulate the characteristics of solar panels in partial shading conditions, two DC power supply units and two solar panels are used. Each solar panel is simulated to receive different solar irradiations. The test results show that the simulator can emulate the characteristics of solar panels under partial shading conditions which has several maximum power points. Furthermore, partial shading conditions are simulated under varying irradiation conditions which resulted varying maximum power point values.

Güneş Paneli Temizliği ve Bakımı için Robotik Sistemin Uygulanması

In this study, a portable and low-cost solar panel cleaning robot with a functioning to blow away dust was designed and built to incur labor costs.The robot is service effective, environmentally friendly, energy independent, self-automated, long durable, and cost-effective. After cleaning operation, output voltage and current in solar panelincreased by 8.02% and 18.78%, respectively. Moreover, the image processing with the photos taken by a camera fixed on the robot made classification according to color changes in the solar panel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the automated and multifunctional robot may facilitate the solar panel surface cleaning and be an applicable maintenance method through remote monitoring of the surface conditions.

Construcción de Paneles de Bajo Costo para uso Generalizado en la Producción de Energía Eléctrica

En esta tesis se propone diseñar y desarrollar la tecnología necesaria para la construcción de paneles solares de bajo costo construidos con materiales disponibles en el mercado local. por lo tanto, será necesaria la búsqueda del recubrimiento adecuado y el proceso de fabricación qué mejor se adapte a las características de la tecnología nacional.

Underwater wireless optical communication using a lens-free solar panel receiver

In this paper, we first propose that self-powered solar panels featuring large receiving area and lens-free operation have great application prospect in underwater vehicles or underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) for data collection. It is envisioned to solve the problem of link alignment. The low-cost solar panel used in the experiment has a large receiving area of 5 cm2 and a receiving angle of 20°. Over a 1-m air channel, a 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal at a data rate of 20.02 Mb/s is successfully transmitted within the receiving angle of 20°. Over a 7-m tap water channel, we achieve data rates of 20.02 Mb/s using 16-QAM, 18.80 Mb/s using 32-QAM and 22.56 Mb/s using 64-QAM, respectively. By adding different quantities of Mg(OH)2 powders into the water, the impact of water turbidity on the solar panel-based underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is also investigated.

Defining a successful commercial asteroid mining program

This paper summarizes a commercial Asteroid Mining Architecture synthesized by the Senior Space Design Class at the University of Washington in Winter/Spring Quarters of 2013. The main author was the instructor for that class. These results use design-to-cost development methods and focused infrastructure advancements to identify and characterize a workable space industrialization architecture including space transportation elements, asteroid exploration and mining equipment, and the earth orbit infrastructure needed to make it all work. Cost analysis predicts that for an initial investment in time and money equivalent to that for the US North Slope Oil Field, the yearly world supply of Platinum Group Metals could be increased by 50%, roughly 1500t of LOX/LH2 propellant/year would be available in LEO, and very low cost solar panels could be assembled at GEO using asteroidal materials. The investment also would have a discounted net present value return on investment of 22% over twenty years.

Design and Fabrication of an Autonomous Mobile Robot for Obstacle Avoidance and Path Planning in Partially Known Environment

In this paper, an autonomous mobile robot has been designed and fabricated which can be used in both indoor and outdoor for industrial and household applications. Here using six servo motors and four DC motors with their controllers (servo controller and L293D DC Motor controller) the mobile robot can pick any object from its workspace and by avoiding collision it can place the object in the desired location. ASCII ultrasonic sensor and motion sensor are used along with ATmega 2560 microcontroller which is programmed to take the sensors output as its input and controls the dc motor and servo motors to pick and place objects and avoid obstacle during motion of the mobile robot. Here low-cost solar panels have been used to recharge the Li-ion batteries used for the motors and microcontroller in case of outdoor environment. The obstacle avoidance and path planning algorithms have been developed and a case study has been presented in this paper.

Ultrafast fiber laser delivers high energy and long-term reliability

Conventional lasers used for materials processing often introduce undesirable side effects. Those operating at visible to near-IR wavelengths typically leave behind thermal damage, such as rough edges or changes to the material structure.1 UV lasers induce unwanted alterations in the basic chemistry of target materials.2 By contrast, ultrashort-pulse (USP) lasers—for which the pulse duration is shorter than the heat-diffusion time of the target material—can produce extremely fine features in almost any material without side effects.3 USP lasers that are cost-effective, reliable, and easy to use will enable commercial production of advanced medical implants (see Figure 1), lowcost solar panels,1 and many other devices. Researchers have demonstrated compelling applications for USP lasers using large and cumbersome systems based on solid-state-crystal amplification (i.e., titanium sapphire). These systems employ many free-space optical components4 and therefore require regular maintenance by a highly skilled technician or researcher. Commercially available systems use optical-fiber-based technology to bringmore compact but lowerpulse-energy USP lasers to the market place.5 Still, none of the existing laser architectures provide hands-off operation (i.e., no laser tuning or maintenance) with sufficient pulse energy and average power output. To address this technology gap, we have combined robust, uniquely configured fiber-optic telecom technology with microprocessors and embedded stabilization software to produce high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective USP lasers. In our platform, the software operating system does all of the monitoring and adjusting functions normally performed by a person. Our use of fiber to route the beam through the system largely avoids optical misalignment associated with using free-space components like mirrors and lenses. Scaling this platform to high energy requires expanding the mode-field area in the Latter amplifier stages, reducing losses in the Figure 1. Microscope image of the uniformmaterial structure and welldefined edge of a biodegradable stent (a wire-mesh tube) made with an ultrashort-pulse laser. The device was not subjected to any postprocessing.