Lower Levelized Cost Of Energy Research Articles

Prospect of waste-to-energy technologies in selected regions of lower and lower-middle-income countries of the world

Waste-to-energy (WTE) is one of the pathways to deal with the large amount of waste generated due to urbanization and population growth. As lower and lower-middle income countries are struggling to cope up with large electricity demands, this study focuses on the feasibility analysis of implementing three of the most popular WTE technologies (incineration, landfill gas recovery and anaerobic digestion) in the five selected regions of lower and lower-middle income countries of the world, i.e., Bangladesh, Egypt, Afghanistan, Ghana and Indonesia. The selected WTE methods were assessed in terms of electricity generation potential, economic viability and socio-environmental impacts. Except for the study areas of Bangladesh and Afghanistan, incineration has shown the highest electricity generation potential having 684.21 GWh/yr, 467.93 GWh/yr and 3341.23 GWh/yr in the selected regions of Egypt, Indonesia and Ghana, respectively. The economic analysis showed that except for the study area of Ghana, incineration has the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) making this pathway the most economical one in the selected regions. The environmental analysis of the WTE pathways showed that although incineration emits the least greenhouse gases (GHG), it emits more acidic gases and organic pollutants compared to anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis showed that the net present value (NPV) is highly sensitive to the inflation rate. An increase of 27% inflation rate will increase the NPV by 66.50% for landfill gas recovery process, which is the highest among the three techniques. The overall feasibility analysis suggests that incineration will be the best option for the selected regions (except for Ghana) for its satisfactory results. The proposed WTE pathways will open doorway to the unemployed by creating more jobs as observed from the analysis of the job creation potentials.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Central Receiver Plants According to the Optical Error of the Solar Field

Among the concentrated solar power technologies (CSP), the central receiver (CR) technology is the most promissing to achieve the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and the one expected to play one of the major roles in the energetic mix in the next years. For that purpose, succesful CR projects are needed, starting by the contruction and erection of a reliable heliostat field that fulfils its design specifications. In this work, the loss of energy production and the consequently rise of LCOE is investigated as function of the optical error of the heliostats. For that, a reference CR plant is defined in which the heliostat field layout and the receiver are optimized to collect the maximum annual energy. An aiming strategy is also implemented to obtain more realistic results. For instance, for a reasonable deviation of about 40-50% compared to the optical reference error, the annual collected energy can drop to a considerable 5%.

A Numerical Method for the Dynamics Analysis of Blade Fracture Faults in Wind Turbines Using Geometrically Exact Beam Theory and Its Validation

In pursuit of China’s goals for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, wind turbines are continually evolving to achieve a lower levelized cost of energy. The primary technological focus in the wind power industry is on large-scale, lightweight designs for entire turbines to enhance cost competitiveness. However, this advancement has led to an increased risk of blade fractures under extreme operating conditions. This paper addresses this challenging issue by using geometrically exact beam theory to develop a nonlinear simulation model for long, flexible blades. The model accounts for sudden changes in blade properties at the moment of failure, covering both the extensive motions and deformations of the fractured blade. The validation of the proposed model is carried out by comparing the results from power production cases with bladed simulations and further validating the simulations of blade fracture load cases against measurement data. The methodologies and findings presented in this study offer valuable insights for diagnosing faults in wind turbines.

Feasibility of hydrogen hybrid energy systems for sustainable on- and off-grid integration: An Australian REZs case study

The escalating effects of climate change and the finite nature of fossil fuels underscore the imperative for transitioning to renewable energy. This study assesses the feasibility of hybrid energy systems that harness renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, alongside hydrogen technologies and solid-state lithium-ion batteries in diverse energy landscapes. Concentrating on five of Australia's renewable energy zones (REZs)—Broken Hill in New South Wales, Murray River in Victoria, Darling Downs in Queensland, Riverland in South Australia, and North East Tasmania—the research employs the Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER Pro) microgrid software. This software optimizes the sizing of system components to ascertain the most cost-effective configurations for each REZ, considering varied scenarios, including resource availability and demand patterns. The findings indicate that Broken Hill and Murray River exhibit the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for off-grid and on-grid configurations, respectively, at $0.32/kWh and $0.030/kWh. Conversely, North East Tasmania has the highest LCOE for both configurations, at $0.38/kWh and $0.034/kWh, respectively. Furthermore, the study suggests that beyond grid extension distances of 350–530 km, off-grid solutions may be more economically viable than grid extensions. Moreover, on-grid configurations demonstrate the lowest net present cost (NPC), benefiting from the option to sell surplus electricity back to the utility grid, thereby enhancing their economic advantage over off-grid options. The strategic implications of these results are significant for global energy planning, advocating for a portfolio approach that incorporates a mix of on-grid, off-grid, and extended-grid systems, crucial for sustainably meeting future energy demands. These insights have the potential to guide research, policy, and investment decisions, promoting the cost-efficient deployment of renewable hydrogen hybrid energy systems. The outcomes of this study reinforce that a sustainable energy economy is necessary and achievable through the informed and strategic deployment of technology tailored to geographical and economic specificities.

Alternative clean energy for sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian telecommunications sector

Telecommunications plays a crucial role in facilitating the transmission of voice, data, and multimedia over extended distances. This paper explores the significance of telecommunications, particularly in Nigeria, the largest ICT market in Africa, where telecom and internet usage hold substantial importance. However, the sector's heavy reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in environmental challenges. This research underscores the imperative to transition to clean energy sources, aligning with the commitment of the Nigerian Communications Commission. The paper presents a case study of a solar hybrid system designed to enhance Base Transceiver Station (BTS) coverage, emphasizing notable challenges such as elevated costs and the industry's familiarity with fossil fuels. The optimal power configuration for a BTS, as identified in the study, features a 16kW PV (photovoltaic) array, 14kW Diesel Generator (DG), 32kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and Utility, achieving the lowest Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) at $0.255/kWh. The production summary for the Solar PV array is 24,767 kWh/year (76%), the Diesel Generator is 1,250 kWh/year (4%), and the Utility is 6,503 kWh/year (20%). Consequently, the total estimated production is 32,520 kWh/year, constituting 100% of the energy requirement for the BTS. The study proposes solutions to challenges, including local clean energy component production, capacity building, and regulatory alignment. In conclusion, the adoption of clean energy is deemed essential for sustainability, with recommendations for policy adoption and efficient equipment utilisation.

Economy decarbonization using green hydrogen and electricity, forecasts and sensitivity analysis for the Canarian Islands in 2040

The complete implementation of clean energies in the final uses of energy is essential to meet the challenge of total decarbonization of the European economy. Although the autonomous operation of full renewable systems is difficult without the support of reliable generation sources. Therefore, this work explores their use in the Canary Archipelago, which has a high energy demand of about 19 TWh/year according to forecasts for 2040. Currently, the archipelago faces economic, social and environmental challenges to overcome its deep dependence on fossil fuels. One of the most delicate issues to solve stems from the intrinsic variability of the meteorological conditions on which the two main sources of renewable generation, the sun and the wind, are based. Therefore, the use of renewable systems is inescapably linked to the use of storage technologies and/or other generation sources that provide system reliability. For these purposes, this research work has modeled using HOMER software two scenarios that are considered the most probable for the year 2040. These scenarios include the consideration of the two currently used energy carriers, electricity and hydrogen. The first scenario maximizes the use of electricity in final energy consumption, while the second maximizes hydrogen demands. In both cases, the optimal generation mix has been determined, primarily based on economic criteria, but also taking into consideration the different aspects of engineering and land occupation, finally obtaining the lowest Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE). Then, the islands' most widespread renewable resources, solar and wind, have been harnessed. But other natural resources of the islands have also been used, such as geothermal energy, given the volcanic origin of the islands, as well as their own biomass resources. In addition, storage in the form of reversible pumping has also been maximized, taking full advantage of the different locations on the islands, given their rugged terrain. The simulations reach system LCOEs below 10 c€/kWh and surpluses below 10 % of the generated energy. Demonstrating the suitability and capacity of these fully renewable systems to operate reliably and autonomously, being able to generate, store and distribute the necessary energy to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and, therefore, be free of greenhouse gases (GHG).

Driving Urban Energy Sustainability: A Techno-Economic Perspective on Nanogrid Solutions

In response to technological advances, environmental concerns, and the depletion of conventional energy sources, the world is increasingly focusing on renewable energy sources (RES) as a means of generating electricity in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Türkiye, with its advantageous geographical location, long hours of sunshine, and favourable climatic conditions, has a high potential for the use of solar energy. The objective of this study was to identify an energy system that minimizes investment costs while optimizing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and minimizing greenhouse-gas (GHG) and carbon dioxide emissions. To achieve this, the study used the concept of nanogrids (NGs) and carried out different evaluations for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) at different energy levels connected to the grid. The research focused on classic apartment buildings and multistory condominium-style buildings in Istanbul, Türkiye. Using HOMER Grid 1.11.1 version software, the study identified two optimal configurations: a PV–GRID system with 7 kW photovoltaic capacity and a PV–WT–GRID system with 90 kW PV capacity and 6 kW wind-turbine capacity. These configurations had a significantly lower LCOE compared to the cost of electricity from the conventional grid. When examining the sensitivity to economic factors, it was observed that the net present cost (NPC) and LCOE values fluctuated with electricity prices, inflation rates, and equipment costs. In particular, the two optimal configurations did not include a battery energy-storage system (BESS) due to the low energy demand in the PV–GRID system and the efficiency of the wind turbines in the PV–WT–GRID system. This highlights the need to tailor energy solutions to specific consumption patterns and resource types. In conclusion, the adoption of PV–GRID and PV–WT–GRID systems in Istanbul’s urban buildings demonstrates economic viability and environmental benefits, highlighting the importance of renewable energy sources, particularly solar PV, in mitigating energy-related environmental challenges, such as reducing CO2 emissions and reducing dependence on conventional grid electricity.

Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Optimal Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for the Mining Industry in South Africa

This paper presents an exploration of the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs), combining floating solar photovoltaics (FPV), wind turbines, and vanadium redox flow (VRF) battery energy storage systems (BESSs) to expedite the transition from conventional to renewable energy for the mining sector in South Africa. The feasibility study assesses how to enhance the overall efficiency and minimize greenhouse gas emissions from an economic standpoint by using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) grid software version 1.11.1 and PVsyst version 7.4. Furthermore, the BESS Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) dispatch algorithm is proposed to make the most of the battery storage capacity and capability, aligning it with the dynamic energy demand and supply patterns of an HRES. The proposed HRES includes a highly efficient SFPV with a performance ratio of 0.855 and an annual energy production of 15,835 MWh; a wind turbine (WT) operating for 2977 h annually, achieving a 25% wind penetration rate; and a dynamic VRF-BESS with a 15,439 kWh life throughput and a 3 s dispatch response time. This HRES has a CapEx of R172 million, a 23.5% Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and an investment payback period of 4.9 years. It offers a low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) at 4.27 R/kWh, a competitive Blended Cost of Energy (BCoE) at 1.91 R/kWh, and a positive net present cost (NPC), making it economically advantageous without external subsidies. Moreover, it annually reduces CO2 emissions by 1,715,468 kg, SO2 emissions by 7437 kg, and NOx emissions by 3637 kg, contributing to a significant environmental benefit.

Theoretical analysis on temperature-lifting cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion

A significant obstacle to the widespread large-scale utilization of ocean thermal energy is the low temperature of the heat source, which restricts the turbine inlet to saturated steam conditions and results in notably reduced turbine efficiency. In this paper, a novel temperature-lifting based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion cycle (OTEC) is proposed. The cycle combines the second-type absorption heat pump and the Rankine power cycle to overheat the working fluid at the turbine inlet using both surface and deep seawater, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of low surface seawater temperatures on energy conversion. The thermodynamic model is developed for this proposed cycle, 22 wet working fluids are selected for the Rankine sub-cycle. A comparative analysis with the traditional Rankine cycles is conducted to evaluate the cycle performance. The results show that the overheated temperature at the turbine inlet reaches up to 44.7 °C relying on the ocean thermal energy. In contrast to the traditional Rankine cycle, the proposed cycle achieved an average thermal efficiency improvement of 40 % and a substantial increase in exergy efficiency, ranging from 17.99–57.58 % to 32.83–68.88 %. The economic analysis reveals that the optimal cost is reduced by 38 % compared to the Rankine cycle, leading to a lower levelized cost of energy, down from 0.18 $/kWh to 0.13 $/kWh. This novel cycle offers an economically efficient and easily implementable approach to enhance low-grade thermal energy conversion.

Techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of a hybrid renewable energy system employing an enhanced combined dispatch strategy

Developing countries face challenges in maintaining a reliable power supply due to factors such as ageing infrastructure and rapid urbanization. Relying on backup diesel generators during outages is not only ecologically hazardous but also economically inefficient. Integrating multiple renewable sources with conventional energy systems is crucial to meeting growing energy demands and reducing carbon emissions. This study assesses dispatch strategies for optimal operation in hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) connected to an unreliable national grid (GRD). An enhanced combined dispatch (ECD) strategy is introduced for effective energy distribution, considering load demands, energy resource availability, and grid unreliability. Compared to load following (LF) and cycle charging (CC) strategies, the ECD strategy proves superior, resulting in an optimized HRES configuration with a 248 kW solar PV array, a 2 kW wind turbine (WDT), a 22 kW biogas generator (BGG), a 92 kW diesel generator (DiG), and a 658 kWh battery storage (BSS). Achieving a low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) at 0.148 USD per kilowatt-hour and a Net Present Cost (NPC) of 1.99 million USD. Adopting the ECD strategy also exhibits substantial reductions in CO2, CO, SO2, and NOx emissions when compared to CC and LF. ECD achieves approximately 25% lower CO2 emissions, 34% lower CO emissions, and a 40% reduction in SO2 and NOx emissions. These findings highlight the ECD strategy's potential for effective, economically viable, and environmentally conscious energy solutions, particularly relevant in developing nations like Nigeria, where Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems could play a crucial role in the energy sector.

Adaptive systematic optimization of a multi-axis ocean wave energy converter

Due to the growing global energy needs, renewable energy systems, particularly wave energy converters (WECs), are a feasible solution to satisfy current energy demand. Recently, wave farms with diverse technologies, geometries, and layouts have been developed; however, evaluating the performance of these devices is complicated and requires precise hydrodynamic modeling to efficiently deploy wave farms. This study proposes a multi-scenario model using boundary element method (BEM) solver, NEMOH, integrated with evolutionary many-objective algorithms to evaluate the performance of a multi-axis point absorber WEC with respect to cylindrical, triangular, quadrilateral, and octagonal geometries and varying dimensions, that is, radius, draft, and height. To this end, six objective functions were considered to maximize the energy absorption and significant velocity and to minimize the separation distance, levelized cost of energy, net present value, and q-factor. Accordingly, three EMnO frameworks were utilized: the non-dominated sorings genetic algorithm (NSGA-III), reference point-based NSGA-III (R-NSGA-III), and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm by decomposition (MOEA/D). The results of the three optimization algorithms indicate that R-NSGA-III converges faster than the other two and also found that the cylindrical and octagonal geometries produce more annual energy among other forms. Comparing the performances of the three different layouts for cylindrical and octagonal geometries reveals that the arrow layout with thirty buoys produced more energy and had a lower levelized cost of energy and net present value.

Analysis of a small recyclable wind turbine blade

The wind energy industry is constantly seeking lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and also to improve its environmental and social sustainability. Thermoplastic resins are considered to be key to recycling wind turbine blades in the best possible way to reuse the main raw materials at the end of their life. In this work, a new thermoplastic liquid resin, AKELITE, patented by CSIC, is used to produce a new generation of 100% circular, sustainable wind turbine blades. The aim is to recover the two main components, the fibres and the resin, in optimal conditions to produce a new wind blade. First, the recycling protocol of composite laminates was optimised and the properties of the recycled composite were analysed. Interestingly, the first recycling process resulted in an improvement in the mechanical properties compared to the original laminate, which is ascribed to the presence of a thin layer of resin on the fibre surface that improves the adhesion between the layers. Thus, it is expected that the new blade will have a good performance, using almost 100% of recyclable materials. A 1.9 m recycled wind turbine blade is currently being manufactured to validate the results of this study. The successful development of such blades could have a significant impact on the sustainability of wind energy, providing a path towards circularity and reducing the environmental impact of wind turbine blades at the end of their life cycle.

Multi-objective optimization of a hybrid renewable energy system supplying a residential building using NSGA-II and MOPSO algorithms

Multi-objective optimization of a hybrid system is investigated to supply an autonomous residential building. The proposed system consists of photovoltaic panel, wind turbine, ground source heat pump, diesel generator, battery bank, and fuel cell. This study presents an innovative approach in optimization considering all economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. Objective functions include loss of power supply probability (LPSP), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), CO2 emission, and human development index (HDI) that are optimized simultaneously. Also, the simulation-based approach in NSGA-II and MOPSO algorithms is used to estimate the Pareto front. The Pareto front solutions are the optimum points that help decision-makers choose the best system configuration based on priorities. Due to the importance of renewable energy utilization and reliability, two conditions of renewable fraction (RF) > 70% and LPSP < 0.05 are considered to select the optimal systems. Among the selected systems, the solutions with the highest RF also generated more extra energy. Diesel generators are much less expensive than fuel cells; however, the environmental benefits of the fuel cell make this technology attractive. Therefore, systems that use only the diesel generator as a backup unit have lower LCOE and higher CO2 emissions. LCOE in selected solutions is reduced by 51 to 88% by selling extra power to the grid. The environmental assessment results show that CO2 emissions in selected systems compared to coal-based power plants and natural gas power plants are decreased by 46–100% and 3–100%, respectively. Also, Pareto fronts evaluation shows that the NSGA-II algorithm's solutions covered a more extensive range and scattered more uniformly.

Renewable energy scenarios for water desalination and conveyance: Case of red sea-dead sea project

The objective of the Jordan Red Sea-Dead Sea (RSDS) project is to transport desalinated water from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea. It aims to resolve two fundamental issues in Jordan: the lack of potable water in the country's center and the low water level in the Dead Sea. Desalinated seawater should be pumped from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea as part of the RSDS project.This study is not only the first study to focus on the feasibility of using renewable energy sources to meet the project's energy needs, but the approach taken in this research is also novel. It employs a variety of software packages in order to accomplish the research goals. Thus, a number of operational scenarios for the RSDS project employing renewable energy technologies, as these resources are essential for sustainable development, are proposed. Based on the availability of renewable energy sources in the project region, only solar and wind technologies are included in the technology selection process. The selection of a suitable technology from renewable energy technologies was based on eight scenarios that were developed using several selection criteria. The social, technical, environmental, risk evaluation, and financial impact scenarios were investigated. Analytic hierarchy process and multi-criteria decision analysis were utilized to evaluate the electricity generation options for the project. The results indicated that the economic scenario is the optimal scenario for covering the entire load. Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) and payback period are sub-criteria for this scenario. The primary goal of this scenario is to cover the load with the lowest LCOE and shortest payback period possible. The results indicated that a 945 MW Photovoltaic plant and a 630 MW wind energy plant are required to cover the total loads for desalination and water pumping. Energy storage is essential in any scenario where renewable energy sources are used to meet demand. Electric vehicles are employed in this research as a kind of energy storage to lessen the demand for more traditional storage methods. The number of 85 kWh electric vehicles needed to replace traditional storage medium is estimated. It is determined that 53,614 and 57,584 electric vehicles in the 24 hour and 12 hour operating times, respectively, are required under the economic scenario.

Towards smart communities using solar photovoltaic technologies: A comparative assessment by novel wins in league theory

In the present work, hybrid energy systems based on various types of solar photovoltaic technologies is investigated for rural electricity supply. Five configurations are considered based on solar tracking systems, including biaxial, uniaxial and non-tracking. Solar photovoltaic size is optimized by HOMER software. Choosing the appropriate configuration is based on considering the simultaneous effect of six criteria, including renewable fraction (RF), solar capacity factor (CF), initial equipment cost, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), CO2 emission and energy security. In this study, for the first time the theory of Wins in League (WIL) is used to select the best system. This theory is a form of classical multicriteria decision-making methods. Technical evaluations showed that the highest amount of RF and CF is related to the vertical uniaxial and biaxial tracking system, respectively. The solar system without tracking has the lowest LCOE, but the horizontal uniaxial tracking system has the highest LCOE. In general, LCOE between different configurations ranges from 0.198 to 0.207 $/kWh, and solar energy is proper for electrification in Iranian rural areas. The results of the WIL theory also show that, the biaxial solar tracking system is best option in rural areas.

Techno-economic investigation of an environmentally friendly small-scale solar tracker-based PV/wind/Battery hybrid system for off-grid rural electrification in the mount bamboutos, Cameroon

The present work demonstrates the techno-economic analysis of an environmentally friendly small-scale PV/Wind/Battery hybrid system for off-grid rural electrification in the city of Mbouda. The major contributions of this work are fourfold: (i) PV/Wind/Battery hybrid system is proposed for the very first time in this locality; (ii) six PV tracking techniques namely: horizontal axis (monthly adjustment), horizontal axis (weekly adjustment), horizontal axis (daily adjustment), horizontal axis (continuous adjustment), vertical axis (continuous adjustment) and dual-axis tracker are implemented in the present hybrid system; (iii) the impact of ambient air temperature on the PV power production is evaluated; (iv) the influence of three different hub heights (17 m, 50 m, 150 m) on the wind turbine power output is investigated. The electric load for the basic needs of a community of 152 consumers (households, hospitals, schools, businesses) such as; lighting, radio, television, phone charger, water heater, electric iron, and laptop, is estimated. HOMER Pro is used for the optimization and sensitivity analysis of the proposed hybrid system. The solutions obtained in the present work showed that compared to the PV power generated by fixed solar panels, the dual-axis solar tracker system was the system that offered the maximum power production (about 7.02%–30.73% more power). In addition, compared to the PV penetration of fixed solar panels, the dual solar tracker also offered the maximum PV penetration (about 7.64%–31.50% more PV penetration). It was also concluded that increasing the hub height (from 17 m to 150 m), significantly increased the wind power generation and penetration. Concerning the economic aspect of the work, it was noticed that the dual-axis solar tracking system presented the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and net present cost (NPC) when compared with the other aforementioned solar tracking systems. The results also indicated that taking into account the ambient air temperature, impacted the PV and wind power productions. The analysis of emissions allowed us to confirm that the system was environmentally friendly since no greenhouse gas was produced.

Levelized Cost of Energy-Based Economic Analysis of Microgrid Equipped with Multi Energy Storage System

Energy storage system (ESS) plays a critical role in maintaining the reliability of microgrids. ESS selection for microgrids depends on energy density, specific power, specific energy, and economics. This paper analyses the economic benefits of various combinations of short-, medium-, and long-term ESS, i.e., multi-energy storage systems (MESS) in a microgrid. The economic feasibility of the system is analyzed using Homer software. The net present cost (NPC), the Levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and pollutant gas emission are chosen as parameters for analyzing the economic feasibility of the microgrids. The results show that amongst all the scenarios, the system with Hydrogen Storage System (HSS) with Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and electrolyzer is the most feasible solution with the lowest LCOE and pollutant emission.

Techno-Economic Assessment of hydrogen production from three different solar photovoltaic technologies

Hydrogen has the potential to be considered almost the cleanest fuel of the future and a key contributor toward a low-carbon economy. This latter can be achieved through the production of green hydrogen by electrolysis using renewable energy sources. This work investigates the production of green hydrogen using solar PV-electrolysis configuration. Three different photovoltaic technologies including monocrystalline (m-Si), polycrystalline (p-Si) and amorphous (a-Si) have been used in this study. The aim of this paper is to identify the most suitable PV system for hydrogen production in mountain temperate climate conditions. Therefore, a performance assessment of the aforementioned PV systems has been conducted using data collected for an operation period of 6 years. In addition, the rate of degradation of each technology has been determined, and its effects on hydrogen generation and cost have been examined. The obtained results have shown that p-Si technology has the lowest degradation rate of (0.28%), followed by m-Si (0.41%), and a-Si (0.75%). In addition, key metrics including the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) as well as the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) have been calculated. The findings indicate that the lowest LCOE and LCOH are achieved by p-Si (0.021 $/kWh, 3.59 $/kg), followed by a-Si technology (0.027 $/kWh, 4 $/kg), and m-Si (0.032 $/kWh, 4.34 $/kg). Therefore, the results demonstrates that p-Si is the most cost-effective and favorable technology for hydrogen production in the considered temperate climate.

Materials and device designs for thermophotovoltaic power conversion

AbstractTwo IV–VI semiconductor alloys, Pb0.81Sn0.19Se and Pb0.8Sr0.2Se, are proposed for use in designing multiple quantum well (MQW) materials and devices for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power conversion. These materials can be epitaxially grown on silicon substrates, so they offer the potential for a low cost TPV device manufacturing technology. MQW materials examples are provided for fabricating triple junction TPV devices for power conversion with a 1400°C radiator. Optimal n‐type and p‐type layer thicknesses for each junction were determined using internal quantum efficiency expressions derived assuming all photogenerated charge collection is by diffusion. Depending on MQW material quality and assumed optical absorption levels, predicted power generation for current matched triple junction devices ranged from 1.7 to 4.6 W/cm2 and power conversion efficiencies ranged from 15.9% to 35.7%. These device performance parameters were used in a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) calculation to predict the cost of energy provided by TPV devices with a molten silicon thermal energy storage system. Results show that even for TPV devices fabricated from low quality materials, such energy storage systems will have a low enough LCOE to be competitive with other forms of energy storage and power generation.

A comparative analysis of the performance of multiple meta-heuristic algorithms in sizing hybrid energy systems connected to an unreliable grid

The availability of affordable and reliable power supply fosters social and economic growth and raises the standard of living. In most developing nations, there is a considerable gap between energy supply and demand, often resulting in load shedding and blackouts. Integrating two or more renewable power sources is a potential solution for the inconsistent nature of renewable energy, thereby supplying clean and sustainable electricity. However, proper component sizing and operation planning for different system components are necessary for a reliable and cost-effective system. This paper compares the performance of three widely used optimisation techniques (Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO)) in determining the size of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with the lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE) to meet the energy needs of a dairy farm in a rural settlement. PSO is observed to be the best-performed algorithm proposing a system with an LCOE of $0.162 per kWh, a net present cost (NPC) of 2.05 million dollars and a payback period of 5 years and 7 months when compared with the existing power system. The proposed HRES is determined to reduce annual diesel usage by 96%. Therefore, significantly decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The PSO algorithm performs satisfactorily in terms of results and convergence time compared to the results from commercially available hybrid optimisation software (HOMER Pro).