Residential Photovoltaic Panels Research Articles

Residential Use of Photovoltaic Panels and Their Implications on Regional Power Webs

More and more families are starting to construct a whole solar energy system in their houses with photovoltaic panels and battery components. This research primarily focuses on how residential and affordable photovoltaic panels implanted on houses' roofs can create a better and more sustainable regional power web. This research mainly focuses on the beneficial effects of connecting the residential photovoltaic panels to the regional power web from a family perspective and a regional power web perspective. The aim of this research is to find the answer for how domestic and affordable photovoltaic panels can develop a better sustainable energy cycle among families and electricity companies. Through using the general electricity data in America with some calculations to find how much money photovoltaic panels can save, along with some existing case studies, the result of this research shows that residential photovoltaic panels may not only can bring the economic retributions through selling and inputting the produced and surplus electricity to the regional power web but also bring the increasingly stable and abundant regional power web.

Life cycle cost optimization analysis of battery storage system for residential photovoltaic panels

The current climate and energy policies of the European Union aim at achieving carbon dioxide emissions reduction and the promotion of clean energy. The priorities set concentrate on decarbonizing the energy sector, mainly by promoting renewables. At the same time, it is of great importance to effectively manage the energy generated in-situ within a community. That community can be approached as a micro-grid able either to be connected to the main grid or to be independent. In addition to this, storage of electricity seems the unavoidable solution for the effective energy management with the micro-grid. Due to the technological developments and the reduction in production costs that are expected to decrease even further in the coming years (50% reduction), batteries are a crucial factor for the effective integration of renewables on a residential scale. Thereafter, the proper size of a battery system plays an important role for the total minimization of system's cost during its lifetime. The purpose of the paper is to present a mathematical tool, able to manage the energy produced by residential photovoltaic panels, the energy stored in the batteries and the energy purchased from the main grid. Continuing with the energy management, the framework should come up with an optimized life cycle cost solution, regarding both the energy management within the grid and the optimum size of energy battery system. Main findings of the paper indicate that storage is a feasible option, whenever selling electricity to the main grid is not applicable, as for that case the battery capital cost should decrease to 400 (€/kWh); this is a 20% cost reduction compared to current prices and 30 (€/kWh).

A Two-Stage Game-Theoretic Method for Residential PV Panels Planning Considering Energy Sharing Mechanism

This paper proposes a novel two-stage game-theoretic residential photovoltaic (PV) panels planning framework for distribution grids with potential PV prosumers. One innovative contribution is that a residential PV panels location-allocation model is integrated with the energy sharing mechanism to increase economic benefits to PV prosumers and meanwhile facilitate the reasonable installation of residential PV panels. The optimization of residential PV panels planning decisions is formulated as a two-stage model. In the first stage, we develop a Stackelberg game based stochastic bi-level energy sharing model to determine the optimal sizing of PV panels with uncertain PV energy output, load demand, and electricity price. Instead of directly solving the proposed bi-level energy sharing problem by using commercial solvers, we develop an efficient descend search algorithm-based solution method which can significantly improve the computation efficiency. In the second stage, we propose a stochastic programming based residential PV panels deployment model for all PV prosumers. This model is formulated as an optimal power flow (OPF) problem to minimize active power loss. Finally, simulations on an IEEE 33-node and 123-node test systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Systems approach to end-of-life management of residential photovoltaic panels and battery energy storage system in Australia

Understanding the complexities around managing the end-of-life (EoL) residential solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) is a precursor to a better decision-making process that mitigates unintended product life-cycle impacts. In this paper, a participatory Systems Thinking approach was utilised to build a causal loop diagram (CLD) for this system based on the collective knowledge of stakeholders. The developed CLD was categorised into three sub-systems: (1) waste flows; (2) regulatory aspects; and (3) industry strategies and government incentives. Two main system archetypes were identified in a reflection to the CLD, namely fixes that fail and drifting goals. The identified feedback loops indicate the need to introduce a comprehensive national product stewardship scheme, complimentary landfill restrictions, and provide sufficient incentives to industries for promoting recovery activities within residential PV panels and BESS sectors. An effective waste management system for these renewable energy technologies is most effective if industries are required to participate through regulation which also specifies certain targets, such as product and material recovery rates and establishes a sustainable funding model to meet operational requirements and future needs. The increasingly prohibitive overseas waste export market will require local industries and governments to collaboratively improve domestic recycling capability and capacity. In this light, the failure to build an effective EoL management system for residential PV and BESS will result in valuable and hazardous materials in both technologies to be disposed of in the landfill, stockpiled or illegally dumped; consequently, reinforcing unintended and adverse environmental impacts.

An optimization methodology for self-consumption of residential photovoltaic energy

This paper considers the optimization of the self-consumed power locally produced by residential photovoltaic panels. We focus on a simplified set-up where only the Electric Water Heater (EWH) is regulated, while the rest of the appliances represents an uncontrollable load. We formulate an unconstrained optimization problem by inverting the EWH dynamics and prove that the corresponding objective function is continuously differentiable. Thanks to an explicit characterization of its critical points, we propose a tailored and computationally efficient optimization algorithm. Simulations performed in Dymola over a one-year time horizon allow us to demonstrate the merits and performances of the proposed method.

Approaches for Identifying Consumer Preferences for the Design of Technology Products: A Case Study of Residential Solar Panels

This paper investigates ways to obtain consumer preferences for technology products to help designers identify the key attributes that contribute to a product's market success. A case study of residential photovoltaic panels is performed in the context of the California, USA, market within the 2007–2011 time span. First, interviews are conducted with solar panel installers to gain a better understanding of the solar industry. Second, a revealed preference method is implemented using actual market data and technical specifications to extract preferences. The approach is explored with three machine learning methods: Artificial neural networks (ANN), Random Forest decision trees, and Gradient Boosted regression. Finally, a stated preference self-explicated survey is conducted, and the results using the two methods compared. Three common critical attributes are identified from a pool of 34 technical attributes: power warranty, panel efficiency, and time on market. From the survey, additional nontechnical attributes are identified: panel manufacturer's reputation, name recognition, and aesthetics. The work shows that a combination of revealed and stated preference methods may be valuable for identifying both technical and nontechnical attributes to guide design priorities.