Solar Architecture Research Articles

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STRATEGY AND ITS IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Sustainable environmental design solutions are crucial to reducing negative environmental impacts and maximizing the comfort of building inhabitants. This article emphasizes how these practices and ideas affect building performance and delves into the essentials of sustainable environmental design. Energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable material use, and renewable energy source integration are some of the measures examined in the project, which aim to lessen environmental consequences and promote sustainability. This study aims to illuminate effective, sustainable design solutions by analyzing current case studies and sustainable building certifications like LEED and BREEAM. Modern ventilation systems, green roofs, and passive solar architecture are just a few examples of the creative ideas shown in these case studies that help make buildings more sustainable. Considerations of economics, regulatory frameworks, and technical developments are among the opportunities and threats that the article lists as consequences of embracing sustainable design approaches. The findings show that sustainable environmental design offers many economic and social benefits, including reduced operational costs, enhanced indoor air quality, and increased occupant happiness. The paper concludes with suggestions for how sustainable design concepts might be more widely used in architectural practices and policy frameworks to create truly sustainable built environments. It argues for a comprehensive strategy that combines economic, social, and environmental objectives.

An Application of Closest Pair of Points Algorithm to Detect the Outliers on the Fixed Solar System

Renewable energy resources are regarded as clean energy sources and effective utilization of these resources reduces ecological effects, produces little secondary waste and they are feasible in light of present and future economic and social societal demands. Solar energy is a radiant light and heat from the sun that may be harvested through a variety of methods, including solar power for producing electricity, solar thermal energy, and solar architecture. Solar technologies generate electricity from the sun, which is considered to be a clean energy source. Solar energy technologies offer a tremendous chance for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and lowering global warming by replacing traditional energy sources. However, the technologies are not exempted from the operational challenges such as the ever-fluctuating ambient conditions. The intention of this study is to present the experimental outcomes of an application of the closest pair of points algorithm to detect outliers on the fixed solar system. The closest pair of points algorithm is used to find outliers in the system based on the measured voltage from the photovoltaic (PV) panel. The algorithm examines the PV panel’s immediate voltage and compares it to earlier voltage samples to assess whether there is a significant voltage variation that might turn into outliers. The algorithm proved to be extremely precise and efficient in detecting outliers on the fixed solar system. However, the efficiency of the algorithm should yet be verified for larger PV arrays to determine whether it will withstand the test.

Facades as a Factor Influencing Solar Architecture

Facades as a Factor Influencing Solar Architecture

Performance analysis and optimization of solar multiconjugate adaptive optics systems

ABSTRACT Multiconjugate adaptive optics (MCAO) stands as an essential technology for the development of future large-aperture solar telescopes. Its primary objective is to empower telescopes to achieve nearly diffraction-limited performance while substantially extending the correction field of view (FoV). Conventional solar MCAO relies on the combination of adaptive optics and high-altitude correction (AO + HAC) modules for multiconjugate correction. However, this architectural approach excels in correction performance primarily at the central position, with performance deteriorating as one moves farther from the centre. Consequently, it results in poor consistency of FoV correction performance. To address these limitations, a new architectural approach was introduced, which combines ground layer AO with HAC (GLAO + HAC). Preliminary results have shown that, compared to AO + HAC, this approach significantly enhances FoV correction uniformity. Building upon these initial findings, this paper undertakes a more extensive research of the GLAO + HAC system. Its objective is to compare various solar MCAO system architectures, including AO + HAC, GLAO + HAC, and general MCAO, to finally propose optimization tailored to GLAO + HAC. Through this analysis, the paper conducts the performance comparison between GLAO + HAC and general MCAO. It underscores that, under equivalent configuration parameters, the differences between these two systems are marginal. However, due to the advantage of the independent control of dual correction modules in GLAO + HAC, it can introduce an optimization strategy by increasing the number of subapertures at the cost of reducing the GLAO guide star sensing FoV. Finally, the results of this strategy demonstrate an obvious enhancement in performance and FoV correction consistency within the GLAO + HAC system.

Eccentricity Distribution beyond the Snow Line and Implications for Planetary Habitability

A fundamental question in the study of planetary system demographics is: how common is the solar system architecture? The primary importance of this question lies in the potential of planetary systems to create habitable environments, and dissecting the various components of solar system evolution that contributed to a sustainable temperate surface for Earth. One important factor in that respect is volatile delivery to the inner system and the dependence on giant planets beyond the snow line as scattering agents, particularly as such cold giant planets are relatively rare. Here, we provide an investigation of the eccentricity distribution for giant planet populations both interior and exterior to their system snow lines. We show that the median eccentricity for cold giants is 0.23, compared with a far more circular orbital regime for inner planets. We further present the results of a dynamical simulation that explores the particle scattering potential for a Jupiter analog in comparison with a Jupiter whose eccentricity matches that of the median cold giant eccentricity. These simulations demonstrate that the capacity for such an eccentric cold giant system to scatter volatiles interior to the snow line is significantly increased compared with the Jupiter analog case, resulting in a far greater volume of Earth-crossing volatiles. Thus, many of the known systems with cold giant planets may harbor water worlds interior to the snow line.

Solar architecture: Significance and integration of technologies

Solar architecture is an innovative approach to building design and construction that focuses on integrating solar technology with architectural design. Solar-integrated architecture includes both passive and active use of solar energy. Due to the impact of global warming, today's energy environment is changing significantly from the usage of fossil fuels to the production of clean energy on-site. Buildings and the construction sector are responsible for almost a third of the world's total energy consumption and are the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy as a source of inexhaustible energy represents the future of modern sustainable buildings. This article deals with the basic principles and overview of solar architecture and analyses its impact on the environment. The paper includes the advantages of solar architecture, influencing factors, the latest technological innovations, practical aspects of implementing solar solutions, and examples of successful world projects. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive and informed overview of solar architecture and available solar technologies and solutions. Last but foremost, emphasize the importance of this issue in existing but especially in future designs of energy-efficient buildings.

A Review on Next-Generation Solar Solutions: Pioneering Materials and Designs for Sustainable Energy Harvesting

As an essential initial step towards clean and sustainable energy, this research focuses on innovative materials and structural designs for maximizing solar energy conversion and harvesting. Modern solar thermal and photovoltaic system technologies and supplies are examined to show how alternative electricity has become less expensive and more sustainable. The primary focus is on complex ideas like multiple junctions and tandem solar cells, which increase the efficiency of single-junction systems. The review paper investigates innovative solar power storage solutions, involving battery technology and energy storage materials, to meet the increasing need for secure and easily available sources of clean energy. The research paper explores the technology and uses of flat plate collectors, tube collectors, and solar power plants and how those are used in residential and commercial solar thermal systems. Solar energy conversion efficiency and sustainability will improve with innovations in materials and architecture. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is one of the easiest solar system architectures that can be integrated into any residential or commercial building. Quantum dot solar cells, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy frameworks, such as CIGS thin-film solar cells, and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Organic photovoltaics are portable and lightweight but have a low energy conversion rate, whereas quantum dot solar cells have a high energy conversion rate but face fabrication challenges.

Assessing the potential of TOPCon solar cells architecture using industrial n-type cast-mono silicon material

Cast-mono silicon material is interesting for its lower carbon footprint compared to Czochralski (Cz) monocrystalline silicon. However, solar cells fabricated using cast-mono (CM) silicon show lower performances. In this work, two routes to make cast-mono silicon advantageous over Cz silicon are considered. The first route is to further reduce carbon footprint of cast-mono silicon, by using Upgraded Metallurgical Grade silicon (UMG-Si) feedstock instead of Solar Grade silicon (SoG-Si) feedstock. TOPCon solar cells are fabricated using both feedstocks, and cast-mono growth technology, using industrial-type furnaces. Laboratory studies show that UMG-Si can result in efficiencies higher than solar cells made of SoG-Si when feeding the material to a CM crystallization process. But when compared to Cz, CM-UMG-Si TOPCon solar cells conversion efficiency values are still 0.5%abs lower. The second route is to take advantage of the TOPCon passivation layer (e.g., poly-Si) ability to getter metallic impurities, and thus improve the quality of cast-mono material. Several TOPCon sequences are tested and their effect on the carrier recombination properties of the device are studied. In the end, solar cells are fabricated and again, UMG-Si solar cells show better results than SoG-Si solar cells, with efficiency up to 22.65%, independently confirmed.

Numerical simulation of solar cell performance with copper-based layered perovskite using SCAPS-1D software

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered extensive research interest due to their potential for efficient, flexible, and cost-effective solar energy production, making them suitable for wearable and low-cost applications. In this study, we successfully synthesized layered copper-based perovskite materials, and subsequently conducted simulations using the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator SCAPS-1D. This study introduces, a PSC structure with (CH3NH3)2CuCl4 as the active layer. By employing a two-step chemical method, we have successfully synthesized (CH3NH3)2CuCl4, and its optical band gap was determined using Tauc’s extrapolation method. Utilizing the experimentally determined bandgap as the simulation input, we predicted a solar architecture consisting of glass substrate/fluorine-doped tin oxide/TiO2/(CH3NH3)2CuCl4/spiro-OMeTAD/Pt, which exhibited an impressive conversion efficiency of 27.93% along with a fill factor of 62.04%, J sc of 34.39 mA cm−2, and V oc of 1.31 V. Through the software, we conducted a comprehensive study on the impact of back metal contact, hole transport layer, electron transport layer, layer thickness, temperature, and defect density on the overall device performance. These results unveil the development of an environmentally friendly PSC based on methylammonium copper.

PH-tailored activated water reservoir for rapid solar water purification via dual-layer hydrogel architecture

Solar vapor generation is a facile and effective approach to harvest pure water from seawater and polluted water, and diverse of materials or microstructure tuning methods have been reported to promote the evaporation rate. Nevertheless, the vapor yield via current solar water purification technology is limited due to high water evaporation enthalpy arising from the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In this study, we advanced the solar evaporator architecture by adding another activated water reservoir beneath it. As such, the bottom poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) (PAA-AM) layer could supply ample activated water (reduced evaporation enthalpy) to the top layer for solar water evaporation due to the increased intermediate water. By tuning the microstructure of PAA-AM bottom-layer with pH, the optimal dual-layer hydrogel evaporator presents a superior water evaporation rate of 2.79 kg m−2h−1 under one sun, 62.2 % enhancement compared with the single-layer PPy@PAA-AM solar evaporator (formed by in situ polymerization of pyrrole in the PAA-AM hydrogel). We demonstrated the strategy was applicable to other single-layer evaporators. The fabricated flexible dual-layer hydrogel evaporator was employed for real seawater desalination and water purification from polluted solutions, manifesting great possibility for the deployment to alleviate the water scarcity crisis, particularly for the economically stressed communities.

Solar Energy Uses and its Applications for Futuristic Energy Requirements

Renewable energy is a solution of current and futuristic energy requirement for environment friendly development. The aim of this article is to aware people from solar energy in various felid like solar fuel, solar building, solar electricity, solar cooking, solar agriculture, solar architecture etc so reduces dependency from fossil fuel. I

Solar Energy and Climate Change

Modern solar energy is based on photothermal, photovoltaic and hybrid solar radiation conversion and passive capture of solar radiation. Photothermal conversion of solar radiation takes place in low-temperature, medium-temperature, and high-temperature photoconversion systems. Flat collectors with water and air are used for low-temperature conversion of solar radiation. Solar concentrators are used for medium-temperature conversion of solar radiation. Concentrators with heliostatic fields and parabolic reflectors of solar radiation are used for hightemperature conversion of solar radiation. Solar cells made of different materials are utilized for the photovoltaic conversion of solar radiation. Stand-alone and photovoltaic systems connected to the electricity distribution network are used to supply consumers with electricity. Fixed tilt, single or dual-axis tracking solar power plants are designed with the aim to generate a larger amount of electricity. Hybrid solar collectors are used for the simultaneous conversion of solar radiation into heat and electricity. For passive capture of solar radiation, individual residential and other buildings are used, which are built in accordance with the principles of solar architecture. Solar energy uses mainly environment-friendly materials, except toxic As and Cd in GaAs and CdTe solar cells. Devices used in solar energy do not emit harmful substances and do not have an adversary impact on climate change.

Towards deep learning methods to improve photovoltaic prediction and building decarbonization in benchmarking study

High energy demand, energy transition, energy consumption control are challenges for the future, especially for Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV). There is a great potential to harvest large amounts of photovoltaic (PV) energy on horizontal and vertical surfaces. However, this high potential is often hindered by the slow deployment of these panels, the complex integration into existing buildings, and the possible complex interactions between different factors, such as visualization and active projection of buildings in the decarbonization process. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers complete and real generative building data that is used in our deep learning methods. Indeed, there is currently no framework for design linking photogrammetry, BIM and PV for BIPV. In this work, we propose artificial learning models, such as Deep Learning, to predict PV energy production for BIPV decarbonization. We determined the optimal prediction of PV production by testing and evaluating different models on a building case study. We compared the PV power generation prediction results with 3D simulation software for solar architecture.

Modelling, synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of a novel lead-free organo-inorganic iodide perovskite for photovoltaic application

This work is aimed at modelling, synthesizing, and characterizing of a novel lead-free organo-inorganic halide perovskite for photovoltaic application. A planar solar cell device architecture was employed in the fabrication with graphite anode. Thermo-gravimetry analyzer (TGA) was used to determine the thermal stability under nitrogen flow from 20 oC to 870 oC. The TGA result exhibits thermal stability above 200 oC. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the crystallinity formation, several peaks were observed with the most prominent peaks at 2Ө = 19.0o, 29.5o, and 33.3o with average crystalline size of 42 nm calculated using Scherrer’s equation. The Field Emission Scan Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersion Spectroscope (FESEM/EDS) results showed a plate-like/cubic structure of hexagonal crystal shapes. These shapes are agglomerated in nature with fine and coarse grains, which might improve the photo-excited electrons diffusion through aggregating the light scattering properties and effective mean path of light of perovskite solar cell. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results showed that gradual decomposition of the material can only be visible between 200 oC and 240 oC with the peak at 223.9 oC. The photoluminescence properties of the synthesized perovskites light absorbing layers exhibit a broad band spectrum emission within the range of 340 to 588nm, which is within visible spectrum. The UV-vis spectrum exhibits a strong optical absorption band in the visible region, which extends from 360 nm to 725 nm. The band gap energy was calculated from the plotted Tauc fit and estimated to be 1.99 eV. The J-V of the synthesized material recorded the highest PCE of 4.6 % with a fill factor of 19.56.

Active solar heating system for residential building in Algeria An energetic economic and environmental investigation

In this work we used a typical single family house in Algeria as an example, the influence of building type on the energetic efficiency of an integrated solar combisystem (SCS) is determined by means of numerical simulation using TRNSYS software program. We considered two types of buildings, which have the same size and the same orientation. The first one is a low energy pilot house performed by CDER 'Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables' and CNERIB 'Centre National d’Etudes et Recherches Intégrées du Bâtiment' in the framework of MED-ENEC project, however, the second considered house is a virtual building; in which the walls are of the conventional type in Algeria. Based on the obtained results, it is outlined how the total system load can be decreased by adopting some solar architecture techniques. The analysis of the auxiliary energy required by the solar combi system and the average solar fraction; shows the profitability of the SCS application in Algeria, especially in the case of low energy house. Furthermore, the economic aspect and the environmental impacts of the integrated solar heating system have been investigated. The equity payback and greenhouse gas 'GHG' emissions have been estimated by means of a numerical simulation using the powerful tools of the RETScreen free software program. The obtained results showed that the equity payback is strongly dependent on the fuel used by the conventional heating system. In the case, where the heating is assured by the gasoil, the equity payback is around the half of the project lifetime. From the environmental standpoint, the solar application is entirely advantageous. In addition, the natural gas is the most favourable conventional energy resource, with a minimum yearly GHG emissions compared to electricity and gasoil.

Maturing Effects in Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells: Understanding and Consequences on Photovoltaic Performances

Recent investigations have highlighted the potential of posttreatments to enhance the performance of specific perovskite solar cells (PSCs), notably focusing on those incorporating carbon‐based materials (C‐PSC). However, the precise mechanisms underpinning this performance boost remain somewhat elusive. This study aims to delve deeper into the maturation phenomenon observed in C‐PSC, concentrating on two distinct methods of perovskite deposition: drop casting and inkjet printing. Upon subjecting the cells to the maturation process, elevation in power conversion efficiency (PCE) becomes evident. Specifically, drop‐cast cells exhibit a PCE advancement from 10.5% to 14%, while inkjet‐printed cells showcase an improvement from 10% to 14%. In the context of drop‐cast cells, characterized by a relatively thicker and spatially heterogeneous perovskite layer, maturation prompts alterations within the perovskite layer itself. Conversely, in the realm of inkjet solar cells boasting a thinner yet more uniform active layer thickness, maturation exerts distinctive impacts, primarily manifesting at the interfaces. The observed maturation phenomenon exhibits a dependence on the solar cell's architecture and morphology, underscoring the pivotal role of these aspects in determining the ensuing effects. These revelations offer illuminating insights into the intricate dynamics of PSCs and offer valuable guidance for the ongoing refinement of their performance.

Application of the Principles of Solar Architecture in Civil Engineering for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings

Application of the Principles of Solar Architecture in Civil Engineering for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings

Modeling and optimization of PV-diesel-biogas hybrid microgrid energy system for sustainability of electricity in Rural Area

The paper presented a hybrid micro-grid renewable energy of different energy sources to generate uninterrupted electricity for the Agu-Amede village using PV, diesel, biogas, and battery. The system optimization was performed to determine techno-economic analysis and energy generated using HOMER software. The energy generated by the hybrid system was able to meet the demand load of the village at all levels of biomass production with surplus electricity in each case when the production of the biogas system varied between 0.5 tons to 3 tons. At biomass production of 3 tons, the total energy generated demand is 480693 kWh with a surplus of 121762 kWh. Again, the hybrid PV and biogas system generate total energy of 98714 kWh (20.50%) and 381979 kWh (79.50%), respectively. The net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE) of the base case architecture (diesel) measured are $1230000 and $0.267/kWh, respectively. Therefore, between 2.5 tons and 3.0 tons of biomass penetration, the energy production of biogas increased, and the diesel system was removed from the hybrid system setup. This is because the availability of biogas is almost sufficient to meet the load demand at a lower cost and solar PV architecture was added to the hybrid system to balance energy production.

Solar architecture and the sufficiency imperative

It is hard to assess the pace and prospects of the solar revolution and the just energy transition. In architecture solar energy continues to be seen as a salve, a convenient and effective response to the forces – social, regulatory, economic – pushing for more and more efficient energy use in buildings. Photovoltaics solve everyone's problem: the building's form and program do not change dramatically, the renewable industry is furthered in its boom, savings in energy bills follow. Occupancy of the building goes on more or less as before.Yet the application of solar panels to a building, not to mention the prospect for more and more expansive solar farms, reproduces the extractive model of fossil fuels. Rare earth materials need to be mined and shipped. The manufacturing process is toxic. The beneficiaries tend to be those who can already afford to save and conserve. The clean are getting cleaner, while those struggling with energy supply are less frequently benefited. The panels need to be replaced relatively frequently, yoking economies to resource dependencies sure to be exacerbated as electricity demand swells. Amidst the broad discourse around the just energy transition, photovoltaic solar energy is itself most likely transitional, contingent and conditional.The analysis of architecture provides a few windows on to the nuances and challenges of this next phase of the just energy transition – on how we can collectively think differently around resources and their provision in our buildings, as a site for both collectivization and social transformation.

The NC-CC dichotomy explained by significant addition of CAI-like dust to the Bulk Molecular Cloud (BMC) composition

Nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies of planetary materials provide insight into their genetic ties, informing our understanding of early Solar System isotopic architecture and evolution. Isotope anomalies of non‑carbonaceous (NC) and carbonaceous (CC) materials in multi-element space suggests their variability primarily emerged from mixing between several primordial nebular source regions in the nascent protoplanetary disk. In particular, it has been suggested that the elemental and isotopic compositions of CC meteorites reflect admixtures of NC-like, CI-like, and CAI-like components. Despite the plethora of elements for which isotope anomalies have been characterized, no mixing model has quantitatively reproduced CC meteorite compositions for more than two elements.In this paper, we leverage the recent characterization of Fe isotope anomalies in NC and CC materials, as well as CAIs, to place new constraints on the evolution of the early Solar System and the origin of the CC chondrites. We first respond to the recent proposal, based on Fe isotope analyses of returned samples from Cb-type asteroid Ryugu, that Ryugu and CI chondrites are genetically distinct from NC and CC bodies, originating from a third “CI reservoir” beyond the location of the CC reservoir. Namely, we propose that the appearance of such a trichotomy in meteoritic heritages arises from the current lack of Fe isotope data for CC achondrites. We go on to present a self-consistent mixing model that explains the Ti, Cr, Fe, and Ca concentrations and isotope anomalies of the CM, CV, CO, CK, and CR chondrite groups via admixing of (i) elementally OC-like material, (ii) CI/Ryugu-like material, (iii) isotopically CAI-like dust, and (iv) CAIs sensu stricto. We find that the CAI-like dust constitutes a major and broadly constant fraction (∼36%) of all CC chondrites, and identify the CI-like component with the bulk composition of the Solar System's parent molecular cloud, denoting it BMC for “Bulk Molecular Cloud.” We interpret our results in the context of a qualitative model for early Solar System isotopic evolution.