Solar Lighting System Research Articles

Adoption of a solar home lighting system: A behavioral paradigm shift from consumers to prosumers in the urban household energy transition of Punjab, India

Adoption of a solar home lighting system: A behavioral paradigm shift from consumers to prosumers in the urban household energy transition of Punjab, India

Design of Solar LED Lighting System Controller Based on 51 Single Chip Microcomputer

With the promotion of the awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, solar LED lighting system, as the representative of green lighting, has received widespread attention. However, the intelligent performance of the existing system controller is insufficient, which limits its practical application effect. The purpose of this paper is to design a solar LED lighting system controller based on 51 single chip microcomputer. Through optimizing the hardware and software design, the intelligent control level, energy efficiency and reliability of the system are improved to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

Analysis of the focusing error of the building solar optical fiber lighting system

Abstract At present, the main way to use solar energy still stays in photovoltaic power generation, which has the disadvantages of high cost and low efficiency. With the development and popularization of optical fiber technology, it is possible to use optical fiber to transmit sunlight. However, due to its light attenuation problem, it is only suitable for short distance transmission, such as solar optical fiber lighting systems in buildings. This paper designs and develops a solar optical fiber lighting system that is suitable for building daylighting and is relatively cheap. The system includes a concentrating system, a tracing system, a transmission system, and a remote control system. In this paper, the important problems of focusing errors in the system are analyzed, and five main types of focusing errors are discussed. Taking the diameter of the big end of the light cone as the synthetical systematic error of the focusing, two distribution modes of the systematic error are discussed/ Aiming at the weighted distribution of the system error, the tracking accuracy of the tracking system is discussed. The experiment proves that the required tracking accuracy is obtained by using proportional control and PID control respectively.

Transparent Silica Aerogels: Optical and Chemical Design, Controlled Synthesis, and Emerging Applications.

Transparent silica aerogel, serving as one typical porous and transparent material, possesses various unique features (e. g., large amounts of pores and interfaces, super-lightweight, super thermal insulation, low refractive index similar to gas), and it has attracted great attention in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and others. Transparency is one important evaluation index of transparent silica aerogel, and it was influenced by various factors such as raw materials, sol-gel reactions, phase separation, and drying methods. The structure design and fabrication of transparent silica aerogel is one huge and fine engineering. In this review, the optical/chemical guidance and design for the preparation of transparent silica aerogels are discussed, and typical applications, such as Cherenkov detectors, solar energy collection, lighting systems, and transparent fabric, were also discussed. Finally, a future outlook on the opportunities and challenges of transparent silica aerogels was proposed.

What drives solar energy adoption in developing countries? Evidence from household surveys across countries

This study investigates household solar energy uptake in developing countries by combining household surveys for 11 countries with area-level data. We use data from World Bank surveys for countries in Africa, Asia, and Central America. Our probit regressions use up to 36,653 household observations and cover actual uptake rather than intentions. The main result shows that households further from capital cities are less likely to have solar home systems. Furthermore, there are strong links between assets and solar uptake across solar types such as solar home systems, solar lighting systems, and solar lanterns. This is an important finding given the small number of prior studies that use actual uptake data for developing countries and the mixed results from prior literature. We do not find evidence that households in sunnier areas are more likely to have solar home systems across countries. This study motivates policymakers to consider greater support for households far from capital cities, in sunnier regions, and with low levels of assets.

EMPOWERING A MOSQUE COMMUNITY IN MELAKA WITH SOLAR LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES APPLICATION: A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

This research presents a community-based approach to address energy security and energy-saving initiatives through the installation of solar lighting systems for a mosque community in Melaka. The aim is to foster community development while promoting sustainable energy practices, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards sustainable practices. It employs action-based research on-site, which involves participatory projects and empirical observation. The significance of this research lies in its dual focus on community empowerment and environmental sustainability by engaging stakeholders and local people to ensure energy self-sufficiency and sustainability of the project through green resources. A mosque in Merlimau, Melaka, has been selected as a case study and involves a mixed-method approach that leads towards collaborative efforts between researchers, community leaders, and local residents in the decision-making process. Ultimately, this research has ensured engagement among the locals, which aligns with the daily energy priorities of the mosque. By harnessing the power of 25 solar lighting systems (ranging from 10 watts to 200 watts), this mosque has managed to reduce its reliance on traditional energy sources, thus contributing to energy security and saving 10% from the monthly electricity bills. It has served as a tangible demonstration of the benefits of solar energy, inspiring broader adoption within other mosque communities in Malaysia. In the near future, the dissemination of solar lighting technologies is anticipated to contribute towards more sustainable mosques and increase the community development through resilient approaches.

Graphical Interface in MATLAB for design and analysis of reflectors for lighting systems or solar collectors on parabolic surfaces

This project introduces the successful development of a MATLAB graphical interface for the design and analysis of reflectors and solar concentrators on parabolic surfaces. The integration of spline techniques for precise modeling of these surfaces has been implemented, along with the capability to generate STL files for 3D printing. The interface not only enables detailed and adaptable design of reflectors but also includes an advanced simulator for projecting incident rays and analyzing their reflection on the parabolic surface, focusing specifically on the focal point location. This has led to a significant increase in the efficiency of solar concentrators and lighting systems by enabling the precise placement of absorbers to maximize energy transfer. The obtained results confirm the initial hypothesis, demonstrating that the interface enhances the precision and efficiency in the design of these systems, thereby offering a valuable tool in both educational and professional realms in the fields of solar energy and lighting.

Retraction Note: evaluating the environmental impact and economic practicability of solar home lighting systems: a roadmap towards clean energy for ecological sustainability.

Retraction Note: evaluating the environmental impact and economic practicability of solar home lighting systems: a roadmap towards clean energy for ecological sustainability.

Sustainable Energy for Sorong's Fishermen: Solar Panel Technology Implementation

The decrease in the quantity of fishermen residing in Sorong City serves to underscore the considerable operational costs that they encounter, primarily attributable to unpredictability in catches and fuel usage. This study investigates the capacity of solar panel technology to mitigate these obstacles by supplying fishing vessels with sustainable energy sources. Despite being widely adopted on land, solar panel technology continues to be underutilized in marine environments, particularly within the fishing industry of Sorong City. The purpose of this study is to examine the advantages of installing solar panels to illuminate fishing vessels in Sorong City in order to provide practical suggestions for ensuring the sustainability of the industry. The study employed a descriptive qualitative research design, incorporating methods such as interviews, documentation review, and literature review. The installation of ten solar panel lighting systems yielded several benefits, including decreased dependence on fossil fuels, improved economic and operational sustainability, enhanced safety during operations, and social advantages. The study makes a valuable contribution towards facilitating the integration of solar panel technology into the fishing sector by establishing a framework for policies that encourage the adoption of this technology in fishing communities.

Willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting in rural India

This paper attempts to quantitatively determine the factors that affect the adoption of solar off-grid lighting products from the experience of using solar study lamps. The discrete choice experiment method is applied where the rural household in the primary survey is asked to reveal their willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting products like Solar Pocket lamp, Solar Hurricane lamp, and Solar Home Lighting System (SHLS) in the pre-intervention and post-intervention stages. The baseline (pre-intervention) and impact (post-intervention) data helps to check whether exposure to the use of solar off-grid product technology will improve familiarity and boosts confidence, which in turn results in a higher willingness to pay for the products. The data analysis using Tobit regression reveals that the willingness to pay significantly rises in the post-intervention phase in the case of all three products. This study examines the factors influencing ‘base of pyramid’ households' willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting systems in India. Using data collected from 663 households, it is identified that the money spent on kerosene lighting, electricity reliability, household type, total assets, and knowledge of the health effects of kerosene, the specification of the solar panel, the number of solar lamps, and the functioning status of the study lamp are major determinants of the willingness to pay for solar off-grid technologies.

Implementation of Solar Street Lighting for Empowering Rural Communities

The integration of renewable energy solutions in humanitarian projects addresses the challenges faced by underserved communities. This paper explores the design and implementation of solar street lighting systems for humanitarian efforts, aiming to enhance safety, extend productive hours, and improve quality of life. We analyze lighting needs in various contexts, such as refugee camps and rural villages, focusing on appropriate solar technologies, optimal placement, and environmental resilience. The implementation strategy includes community engagement, local maintenance training, and partnerships for sustainability. Case studies from Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia highlight practical challenges and innovative solutions, showing significant improvements in safety, economic activities, and social well-being. Recommendations for policymakers, engineers, and humanitarian workers emphasize best practices for deploying solar street lighting, underscoring renewable energy’s potential to boost sustainable development and humanitarian impact.

Stand-alone solar lighting system with Programmable Logic Controller

The circuitry modelling of the standalone photovoltaic (PV) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) lithium-ion battery charge controller is presented in this study using the MATLAB/Simulink environment. For the charge controller implementation, a DC-DC converter called a buck topology is used. The Perturb and Observe (P&O) MPPT algorithm monitors the solar panel’s peak power. The lithium-ion battery is charged in three stages by the battery charge controller. The model’s performance is analysed in terms of MPPT tracking performance, battery charging performance, and overall charge controller efficiency performance. With an MPPT efficiency of up to 99.9%, the performance result demonstrates that the MPPT is capable of tracking to the PV panel maximum point at any variation in solar irradiation. For small and medium standalone PV systems, this verified model aids in improved sizing of PV panels and battery energy storage. Techno-economic analysis refers to the assessment of the economic viability and profitability of using this type of lighting compared to other forms of lighting. The maintenance costs and efficiency of these systems can be improved even more by adding a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Parabolic Solar Lighting System for Use in Agricultural Environments

This study presents a solar lighting system designed for indoor farming to provide natural light. The proposed system uses a parabolic dish concentrator integrating with polymethyl methacrylate optical fibers to direct concentrated light into a desired place. A water cooling mechanism is also used to prevent heat transmission to the optical fibers. The indoor sunlight's distribution is studied using a designed darkroom. The evaluation is carried out in 7 days, from November 23 to 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to ensure the stability of the system under various weather conditions. The results of the experiments show that the receiver's temperature can remain at 63 °C on sunny days under a clear sky, even when the maximum value of solar radiation is about 982 W m−2 with the highest air temperature of 19 °C. During the experiments, the solar illuminance ranges from a maximum of 118,821.85 lx to a minimum value of 374.9.6 lx. The overall optical efficiency of the system, considering optical components, ranges from 31% to 32% under various outdoor illuminance levels. Overall, it is confirmed that the developed solar lighting system offers a applicable method to naturally illuminate protected agricultural environments, enhancing the quality of the growing crops.

Technical, economic and social feasibility of using solar street lighting on campus

<span lang="EN-US">A good and proper street lighting system on campus indirectly supports teaching and learning activities. However, these conditions still need to be developed at the Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic of Kupang due to the lack of these facilities. Therefore, a solar street lighting system was designed considering the good potential of solar energy in this region. The design of this system is carried out by measuring for a year, analyzing the energy potential, economics of the system, and the social impact of installing the system. The installation of solar street lighting on campus based on the results of an analysis of technical, economic, and social aspects gives good and feasible results. The results from the technical aspect provide that the utilization of this system provides a PR value of 85%, and can make savings of 15.99 MWh per year, and provide energy of 177.8 kWh per year. The results from the economic aspect of using this system provide an IRR value of 6%, SPBP for 8.93 years, and a net present value (NPV) of IDR 85,247,500.56. The results of the social aspects obtained from the respondents’ answers showed different and meaningful results (p<0.05) from all categories given to respondents.</span>

Strategies for reducing ethnic inequality in energy outcomes: A Nepalese example

This paper assesses ethnic differences for four energy outcomes using a survey of 6000 households in Nepal. These four outcomes are avoiding open wick lamps, having a solar lighting system, living in a neighbourhood with street lighting, and having a connection to the national grid. We find large differences across ethnic groups, with the Madhesi group having distinct energy outcomes, for each of the four dimensions. However, progressively more detailed locational variables explain much of the difference. Our interactive analysis then suggests that some of the remaining variation is explained by socioeconomic variables of having a financial account, school attendance, or membership of a women's group. Promoting these potentially favourable socioeconomic outcomes could be useful strategies for also indirectly reducing ethnic inequality in energy outcomes and future energy policymaking. However, ethnic inequality for the most place-based outcome, being living in an area with street lighting, is not reduced by the key socioeconomic variables. The results are also robust after isolating ethnic differences from locational influences.

The Improvement of Technological and Skill to Support the Operation of Bank Sampah Manunggal Sejahtera in Cawas District, Klaten Regency

The impact of poor waste handling has been felt by the residents of Cawas District since more than seven years ago. In 2017, the community established Manunggal Sejahtera Waste Bank (BSMS) as a respond to this problem. BSMS is still operating well today by using the garbage donation system. In other Cawas sub-districts, waste management pioneering efforts are unfortunately still running sporadically. In this project, BSMS serves as a center for learning and increasing motivation for community-based and environmentally-friendly waste management in the Cawas District area. Currently, BSMS already has various facilities and infrastructure needed for waste segregation and organic waste management. Vegetable gardens and medicinal plants, as a medium for utilizing processed organic waste, are also owned by BSMS. However, this garden is still not well organized and does not have more value than other gardens. The capacity, attractiveness and utilization of this garden was increased to support the plan to make BSMS a center for learning and increasing motivation for community-based and environmentally-friendly waste management. This project was implemented by increasing the number and variety of plants and implementing smart solar lighting and irrigation systems. In addition to completing these supporting facilities and infrastructure, the UMY PPM-Muh Team also organized training in gardening skills

The overlooked role of Cr(VI) in micropollutant degradation under solar light irradiation

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is ubiquitous in natural environments, whereas its role in the transformation of coexisting contaminants may have been overlooked. In this work, it was reported for the first time that the irradiation of Cr(VI) by solar light (solar light/Cr(VI) system) could effectively degrade various micropollutants with different structures. The removal efficiency of selected micropollutants was increased by 13.3–64.8% by the solar light/Cr(VI) system compared to that by direct solar photolysis. Meanwhile, the oxidation rates were enhanced by 2.2–21.5 folds, while they were negligible by Cr(VI) oxidation alone. Experiments by specific scavengers, probe compounds, fluorescence absorbance, and electron spin resonance analysis demonstrated that hydroxyl radical (•OH) was the major reactive species in the solar light/Cr(VI) system. Further experiments showed that the generation of •OH was closely related to the intermediate Cr(V) generated from Cr(VI) reduction, and Cr(V) could be re-oxidized back to Cr(VI). Increasing solution pH negatively affected model micropollutant (carbamazepine (CBZ)) degradation by the solar light/Cr(VI) system, mainly due to the decreased quantum yield of •OH at higher pH. Coexisting sulfate ions showed negligible effect on CBZ degradation in the solar light/Cr(VI) system, while the presence of bicarbonate, chloride, and humic acid inhibited CBZ degradation to varying degrees, owing to their diverse scavenging effects on •OH. Furthermore, moderate CBZ degradation was also achieved by natural solar light photolysis of Cr(VI). This study demonstrated the pivotal role of Cr(VI) in the transformation of micropollutants under solar irradiation, which advances the understanding of the fate of micropollutants in natural environments.

Evaluating the environmental impact and economic practicability of solar home lighting systems: a roadmap towards clean energy for ecological sustainability.

The vitality contribution is a vital cause for defensible monetary improvement and collective success by eradicating poverty. Adopting the solar home lighting system (SHLS) is advantageous not only in social lifestyles but also improves the health of family members and increases home-based small businesses activities due to the inexpensive and continuous supply of energy. The main aims of the study are to scrutinize the most substantial barriers to adopting SHLS in Pakistan. A comprehensive, structured questionnaire appraisal was conducted for sample size with the help of non-probability sampling (purposive sampling), and primary data was collected. The designated hypotheses were evaluated using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). In the present study, we validate the model using a sample of 271 adopters of SHLS contributed as respondents. The results disclose that entire autonomous variables expressively and positively correlated with adopting SHLS dipping energy disasters and improving home-based small business activities. Correspondingly, social media-based awareness of SHLS significantly moderates and positively affects the selected factors in this study. Empirical results indicate that prudently eradicating maintenance barriers with experienced professionals, subsidy in prices from the government, quality base satisfaction of owners, and social media-based awareness are the primary tools to adopt SHLS. Additionally, the outcomes offer valuable suggestions to the competent authorities that introduce encouragement and maintenance policy for adopting SHLS.

Assets power solar and battery uptake in Kenya

Solar and battery adoption for households offers many benefits that motivate increased understanding of what drives investment. This paper uses microdata from a household survey in Kenya to investigate factors explaining investment in solar home systems, solar lighting systems, solar lanterns, and solar batteries. Key findings highlight the importance of assets for each investment type. Households are more likely to have a solar home system when they have bank or mobile money accounts, and when they own land with large values. Households are less likely to adopt solar systems when they are unable to afford grid connection, compared to households who are far away from electricity grids. Interaction analysis reveals that off-grid households without a mobile money account in key disadvantaged counties have lower solar home system adoption. A key policy implication is that support could be targeted to households with low levels of assets, in addition to existing support for suppliers.

Parameter design of solar optical reflection lighting system array for shadowless lighting in threshold zone of short freeway tunnel

A solar optical reflection (SOR) lighting system has been developed to illuminate the threshold zone of short freeway tunnel in the premise of zero energy consumption. To improve the limited illumination performance of SOR lighting system due to the obstruction of moving vehicles on reflected sunlight rays, this study develops a fast and simple parameter design method for shadowless lighting based on an array of multiple SOR lighting systems that makes reflected sunlight emit to the threshold zone from different angles. The effectiveness of shadowless lighting is verified by the application on a two-lane freeway of Shaanxi Province, China. Results show that the shadowless lighting can significantly improve the illuminance in threshold zone, and the improvement rate is higher for the area farther from the tunnel entrance inside the tunnel. In order to achieve shadowless lighting avoid both the vehicle and inter-system blocking on reflected sunlight, the systems should be installed roadside in a staggered array that: 1) their heights descend and lateral distances from the curb shrink in turn from near to far from the tunnel entrance, with as small vertical and horizontal deflection angles of the reflectors as possible, or 2) their heights remain identical with a reduction in the vertical deflection angles of the reflectors from near to far from the tunnel entrance.