Solar Photovoltaic Installations Research Articles

Investigation of MPPT Techniques Under Uniform and Non-Uniform Solar Irradiation Condition–A Retrospection

A significant growth in solar photovoltaic (PV) installation has observed during the last decade in standalone and grid-connected power generation systems. The solar PV system has a non-linear output characteristic because of weather intermittency, which tends to have a substantial effect on overall PV system output. Hence, to optimize the output of a PV system, different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques have been used. But, the confusion lies while selecting an appropriate MPPT, as every method has its own merits and demerits. Therefore, a proper review of these techniques is essential. A “ Google Scholar ” survey of the last five years (2015-2020) was conducted. It has found that overall seventy-one review articles are published on different MPPT techniques; out of those seventy-one, only four are on uniform solar irradiance, seven on non-uniform and none on hybrid optimization MPPT techniques. Most of them have discussed the limited number of MPPT techniques, and none of them has discussed the online and offline under uniform and hybrid MPPT techniques under non-uniform solar irradiance conditions all together in one. Unfortunately, very few attempts have made in this regard. Therefore, a comprehensive review paper on this topic is need of time, in which almost all the well-known MPPT techniques should be encapsulated in one paper. This article focuses on classifications of online, offline, and hybrid optimization MPPT algorithms, under the uniform and non-uniform irradiance conditions. It summarizes various MPPT methods along with their mathematical expression, operating principle, and block diagram/flow charts. This research will provide a valuable pathway to researchers, energy engineers, and strategists for future research and implementation in the field of maximum power point tracking optimization.

Sistemas de bombeo solar en Pachuca Hidalgo

The extraction of water from wells for supply in rural populations is one of the most profitable and novel applications of photovoltaic solar energy. The use of a specific type of submersible pumps for applications with photovoltaic energy, that work with direct / direct current (DC / DC) generated directly from the photovoltaic modules, allows an independent installation of the electrical network with very scarce maintenance needs, in This project was carried out the sizing, installation and commissioning of an autonomous pumping system with a submersible pump powered by a photovoltaic solar installation in the municipality of Actopan Hidalgo in the state of Pachuca. To implement the project, a climate study was first carried out. the area to support the efficiency of the solar pumping system, in this project we used 18 panels of 150 W, a SubDrive Solar controller, a Franklin Electric pump of 3 HP and a frequency inverter for the optimization of said pump.

Spatial layout optimization for solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation

The worldwide growing demand for energy has imposed much pressure on energy supply and the environment. Solar energy, as one of the clean and renewable resources, provides a great potential for helping to meet the growing energy demand and reduce the environmental impacts. How to make the best use of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system has received much attention in recent years. Integrating geographic information systems (GIS), this paper proposes a new spatial optimization problem, the maximal PV panel coverage problem (MPPCP), for solar PV panel layout design. Suitable installation areas are first delineated in GIS. Then the MPPCP is used to identify the best spatial configurations of multiple PV panels. Different orientations and alignment scenarios are incorporated in the model to account for installation constraints while achieving the goal of maximal energy production. The new problem is applied to locate solar PV arrays on a rooftop with limited suitable installation areas. Results show that flexible panel alignments increase the maximal energy production by up to 6%. Model performance and computational efficiency are discussed. The research provides important insights into the spatial layout design of solar PV panels at various scales.

ASSESSMENT OF SOLAR PV POWER POTENTIAL IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION WITH REMOTE SENSING CONSIDERING THE EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE, DUST AND SNOW

Abstract. The last half century has witnessed the increasing trend of renewable energy utilization with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as one of the most popular option. Solar PV continues to supplement the main grid in powering both commercial establishments (mainly for reduced electricity expense) as well as residential houses in isolated areas (for basic energy requirement such as for lighting purposes). The objective of this study is to assess the available solar PV power (PPV) potential considering the effects of high temperature, dust and snow in the Asia Pacific region. The PPV potential was estimated considering the effects of the said meteorological parameters using several satellite data including shortwave radiation from Advanced Himawari Imager 8 (AHI8), MOD04 aerosol data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), precipitation rate from Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), air temperature from NCEP/DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis-2 data, and snow water equivalent (SWE) from Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). The model is validated by comparing its outputs with the measured PV power from two solar PV installations in Bangkok, Thailand and Perth, Australia. Results show that maximum PPV is estimated at 2.5 GW (cell efficiency of 17.47%) for the region with the maximum decrease in PPV estimated to be about < 2%, 22% and 100% due to high temperature (temperature coefficient of power = 0.47%/K), dust and snow, respectively. Moreover, areas in India and Northern China were observed to experience the effects of both dust and temperature during March-April-May (MAM) season. Meanwhile, countries located in the higher latitudes were severely affected by snow while Australia by high temperature during Dec-Jan-Feb (DJF) season. The model has a mean percentage prediction error (PPE) range of 5% to18% and 7% to 23% in seasonal and monthly estimations, respectively. Outputs from this study can be used by stakeholders of solar PV in planning for small-scale or large-scale solar PV projects in the solar rich region of Asia Pacific.

A Brief Study of an Installation of a Rooftop Solar PV System in India

Solar rooftop photovoltaic installation is one of the most popular setups used in the country of India, being economical and apt for the space available in the country. This paper focuses on the key aspects of the design involved in the setup of the system, regarding not just the engineering design for a PV system, but also other key components such as installation site evaluation of a given rooftop to the final cost analysis. Hence, the discussion in the paper will give the average understanding of how a rooftop photovoltaic system is processed through in this country from an engineer’s point of view.

Паркетирование поверхности параболического концентратора солнечного теплофотоэлектрического модуля по заданным дифференциально-геометрическим требованиям

The article discusses the geometric aspects of the design and creation of parabolic-type solar radiation concentrators. Practical methods of geometric design and manufacturing of concentrators of this kind are presented. Parabolic type concentrator is the main part of the solar photovoltaic thermal installation. Its effectiveness depends on the quality factors of the geometric shaping of the working surface, composed of a set of parquet components, linked to each other on the basis of differential geometric requirements. The distribution of illumination in the focal spot of such a concentrator, made by parquet based on the constructive connection of individual elements, makes it possible to obtain acceptable results. However, there is considerable potential for improving performance by providing a smoother and more uniform illumination of the photodetector. To ensure the specified accuracy and smoothness of the rim of the surface at the stages of designing and manufacturing the device, two methods are proposed: orthogonal and fan-shaped geometric parquetting of the surface of a parabolic concentrator with the ability to pre-set the required shape accuracy for given rim geometrical characteristics. Parquetting with given differential requirements for the surface, in turn, provides for two methods for calculating parquet elements: first, by the minimum number of curvilinear elements followed by stitching, taking into account the differential conditions; the second is based on the maximum number of flat elements, the multiplicity of which provides acceptable smooth surface properties. In this paper, we consider the first method for cases of orthogonal and fan parquet. On the example of a parabolic concentrator, the implementation of the considered method is presented, which provides for the possibility of controlling the geometric smoothness of the concentrator surface in order to ensure optimal distribution of concentrated solar radiation in the focal region. The output characteristics of photovoltaic and thermal converters of solar energy, which are in the focus of such a concentrator, become optimal, and the installation itself will operate in nominal mode.

Feasibility study of installation photovoltaic system at a university in Indonesia: A case study

Universitas Samudra (UNSAM) is one of the new state universities in Indonesia, located in Langsa City, Aceh Province. The masterplan for developing UNSAM projected to expanding access to higher education for secondary school graduates in the province by increasing the capacity through the construction of new buildings. The plan to construct green buildings inside the campus complex is simply an effort to achieve the UNSAM mission, which is, to become a green campus. There are nine buildings on the UNSAM campus with a total roof area reaching 11,232 m2, which is structurally suitable for solar photovoltaic installation. In Langsa City, for one year, the average exposure to sunlight is equivalent to about 7,860 hours. The average annual insulation at this location is around 5.0 to 6.5 kWh / m2 / day. This study focuses on the economic feasibility of solar photovoltaic systems on the UNSAM campus. Electricity production costs, which might have economic benefits, are obtained for Rp. 1, 990 / kWh. The results of the analysis concluded that the economic potential of installing a PV system is very dependent on the geography of the building and the direction of PV installation.

Powering Africa Using An Off-Grid, Stand-Alone, Solar Photovoltaic Model

Over 90 % of Sub-Saharan Africa is without electricity access. The rural areas of the few African countries with access lack electricity. Studies have suggested that solar energy systems hold the key to powering the continent. Although, a vast population currently operate fossil-fuel powered generators to meet their basic electricity needs. The study is designed for a 2-bedroom flat inhabited by an average Africa family. A residential building in Akure, Ondo State, Southern Nigeria has this model installed in a stable and reliable condition. The proposed solar photovoltaic model is composed of solar panels, Direct Current (D.C) cables, charge controller, solar batteries, solar inverter, solar bulbs and instrumentation gadgets. The model is an optimum size solar Photovoltaic installation with a maximum power input of 1, 800 W. The maximum allowable load is 1, 000 W and a maximum charging D.C voltage of 28.2 V. The solar-powered system is equipped with a set of six (6) 300 Watts monocrystalline solar panels. A commercial maximum power point tracking (MPPT) charge controller was used for this model. Two (2) units of Deep Cycle AGM Solar Batteries connected in series are installed for the solar photovoltaic system. A pure sine wave solar inverter was used in the developed solar PV model to transform D.C electricity available in the batteries to A.C electricity. Themodel is a flexible one which could be scaled up as may be desired or required. The solar photovoltaic model has a very high prospect for powering Africa. The model has ample potentials to fulfil economic, social and environmental objectives which qualifies it as a sustainable energy option to improve the quality of life. The implementation of this form of sustainable energy will open even development of the continent and end the electricity woes of the populace.

Capital and policy impacts on Australian small-scale solar installations

This paper investigates whether capital constraints are evident for uptake of small-scale solar photovoltaic installations, using cross-sectional regressions with Australian regional data up to March 2019. There is an inverse U-shaped relationship between a number of different measures of capital and small-scale solar installations for both the 0–10 and 10–100 kW capacity categories. The positive relationship between capital and solar installations at the low end of the capital distribution suggests that capital constraints may provide an ongoing challenge for policymakers seeking to encourage the uptake of small-scale solar installations. There is also a negative association between average income and small-scale solar installations. Policymakers seeking to increase small-scale solar installations may achieve efficiency gains by targeting capital constraints rather than income constraints. An effective capital subsidy for addressing capital constraints, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, has had a substantial impact on solar uptake for systems in both the 0–10 and 10–100 kW capacity categories. In contrast, there is a lack of evidence of a substantial effect of several other policies targeting community organisations.

Renewable energy sources set for huge global growth

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that generation systems for solar and offshore wind power are likely to experience unprecedented expansion over the next several years. In a report on renewable energy, the agency forecasts that the world’s total renewable-based power capacity will grow by 50% between 2019 and 2024. This increase is driven by cost reductions, technological breakthroughs, and concerted government policy efforts. Most of the rise will come from solar photovoltaic installations, including commercial, industrial, and home applications. The predicted renewable energy expansions, however, remain well below what is needed to meet global sustainable energy targets, the IEA says. In a separate report on offshore wind power, IEA analysts find that capacity is likely to increase 15-fold and attract about $1 trillion in cumulative investments by 2040. The report credits technological gains, such as larger turbines and floating foundations, as well as declining costs and government suppor...

A Brief Study of an Installation of a Rooftop Solar PV System in India

Solar rooftop photovoltaic installation is one of the most popular setups used in the country of India, being economical and apt for the space available in the country. This paper focuses on the key aspects of the design involved in the setup of the system, regarding not just the engineering design for a PV system, but also other key components such as installation site evaluation of a given rooftop to the final cost analysis. Hence, the discussion in the paper will give the average understanding of how a rooftop photovoltaic system is processed through in this country from an engineer’s point of view.

A comprehensive assessment of solar and wind energy potential at the University of Lethbridge campus, a medium-sized western Canadian university

ABSTRACTSolar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine technologies play a significant role in the world energy future. However, lack of awareness of the potential and relative value of renewables is a significant challenge in sustainable energy development. The potential of solar and wind energy sources in producing electricity to meet the electrical demands of the University of Lethbridge has been evaluated. Utilizing Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) data and aerial photography to assess the solar photovoltaic electricity potential and wind turbine power curve concept to estimate the wind turbine electricity potential, a feasibility assessment for campus solar PV and wind turbine installations has been conducted. A comparison of the resulting solar PV and wind turbine generation over 5 years with the university electrical demand revealed that wind turbine and solar PV systems together could generate more than 3.6 times of the annual electricity consumption of the university on average. There is 1,015,808 m2 of suitable area available for placing a 46 MW solar PV system on the campus which would produce about 2.8 times of the university annual electricity usage on average. In addition, the proposed wind system could cover about 84% of the university electricity demand annually on average. Employing this system, the annual electricity cost of the university could decrease more than 90%. By installing renewable systems, the university can achieve a sustainable energy future.

Supply and Demand Assessment of Solar PV as Off-Grid Option in Asia Pacific Region with Remotely Sensed Data

The introduction of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in isolated areas which are far from the main grid has provided energy to non-electrified households. Such off-grid technology is very promising in the Asia Pacific region where increase in population and regional development has brought an increase in energy demand. This paper presents a methodology to assess the available supply of energy from solar PV systems and the corresponding demand from non-electrified areas. Non-electrified high population density areas were extracted using global population distribution and nightlight data, while the suitability of installing solar PV systems in those areas were identified based on slope, land cover and estimated solar PV power output. Moreover, the cost and benefits of installation were estimated based on the levelized cost of electricity generation from PV (LCOEPV) and the percentage in the total household budget that can shoulder the said expense. Lastly, this study also proposed a novel and simple method to extract the power transmission lines (TLs) based on global road network and nightlight data used for defining off-grid areas. Results show that there are three general types of electrification trend in the region with only 11 out 28 countries exhibiting the ideal trend of decreasing population living in unlit areas with increasing GDP. This study also generated maps showing the spatial distribution of high potential areas for solar PV installation in Cambodia, North Korea and Myanmar as case studies. To date, the high estimated household income allotted for PV electricity is still experienced in most countries in the region, but these countries also have high initial generated electricity from PV systems. Outputs from this study can provide stakeholders with relevant information on the suitable areas for installations in the region and the expected socio-economic benefits.

A novel impact-assessment framework for distributed PV installations in low-voltage secondary networks

This paper proposes an impact-assessment framework to appropriately assess the impacts of two different types of distributed solar photovoltaic (DPV) installation on a realistic distribution network. To examine the spontaneous customer-based installations, a detailed Monte Carlo-based technique is introduced. For the controlled utility-based installation, a multi-objective optimization problem for the sizing and location of DPV installation is formulated aiming to improve energy loss, voltage deviation, and voltage fluctuation, avoiding reverse power flow and voltage violation. Solar insolation study is performed using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to estimate the potential of the network for DPV installation. In addition, a synthetic load profile modeling is developed to create yearly electricity load profiles for all the buildings in the given distribution network. The proposed framework is applied to a local distribution network with synthetic load profiles, Geographic Information System (GIS), and realistic solar insolation. It is found that for customer-based installation, voltage violation occurs beyond 30% of DPV penetration level, demonstrating the necessity of utility-based installation scheme for higher penetration ratios. Beyond a specific threshold, the probability of reverse power flow significantly increases in customer-based installation. Therefore, to achieve higher penetration ratios without reverse power flow and other negative impacts, utility-aided installation is necessary.

Comparative life cycle assessment of fixed and single axis tracking systems for photovoltaics

Abstract Single axis tracking systems (SATS) are becoming one of the most common types of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations due to improved performance compared to fixed systems. The impact of SATS in terms of various environmental indicators has yet to be fully quantified. The main goal of this study is to understand the environmental differences between fixed and SATS PV systems. For this reason, a comparative LCA between fixed and SATS was performed. A secondary goal is to determine the environmental impact of both systems under different scenarios that includes manufacturing in high and low C O 2 intensive electricity grids, installation in different locations and different energy displacement options. The study is attributional and has been calculated with the cut-off modeling of ecoinvent 3.1. Calculations were performed with the software openLCA 1.7.4 with impacts obtained based on ReCiPe, cumulative energy demand and cumulative exergy demand methods. Results show the C O 2 mitigation potential, defined as the avoided greenhouse gas emissions of generating electricity with solar PV versus using the electricity grid, of SATS increases between 3.4 t C O 2 , e q /kW and 14.5 t C O 2 , e q /kW with respect to fixed systems in the baseline scenarios considered. The extra energy necessary to produce a SATS structure is minimal when compared to the energy intensive panel manufacturing and is quickly recovered after installation due to a dramatic increase in the efficiency of system (8%–25% increase in yield depending on install location). All environmental indicators used (greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative exergy demand, energy payback time, C O 2 payback time, C O 2 mitigation potential, human toxicity, land use, water depletion and fossil depletion) are superior for SATS compared to traditional fixed systems. The results also show that the energy sources displaced have a larger impact in the C O 2 mitigation potential than the irradiation in the place of installation (more than 80 fold variation in the former in contrast to 2–4 fold for the latter).

Solar PV adoption in wastewater treatment plants: A review of practice in California

This is the first study to assess the current status of solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption across a range of wastewater treatment plant sizes, and to identify the opportunities for solar PV in the wastewater sector. It quantifies solar PV contributions to the energy demand of the wastewater treatment plants and improves knowledge of sector-specific factors influencing PV uptake. California was used as a case study due to its high commitment to solar power and the high data availability. The study compiled and examined data on multiple wastewater treatment plant attributes from 105 Californian plants, representing 78% of total state flows. The analysis focused on the effect of three sector-specific influencing factors: size of wastewater treatment plant, presence/absence of anaerobic digestion and geographical location (urban vs rural). Solar PV adoption was observed to vary significantly with the size of the wastewater treatment plants. Of the 105 plants analysed, 41 installed a solar PV system. Of these 41, 39 were installed in wastewater treatment plants with a flow rate below 50 mega gallons day−1 (MGD). Only two plants with flow above 50 MGD had solar PV installed. In wastewater treatment plants with a flow rate above 5 MGD, solar PV was primarily installed in hybrid configurations with anaerobic digestion. In these plants, biogas contributed 25–65% to the overall energy demand, while solar provided 8–30%. In wastewater treatment plants with a flow rates below 5 MGD, solar PV often represented the only source of renewable energy, producing 30–100% of the energy demand of these plants. Across all the plants analysed, 1 MW was the most adopted solar installation size and solar PV installations were mostly found in wastewater treatment plants in rural settings. While acknowledging multiple other factors of potential influence, these results demonstrate the role of solar PV in wastewater treatment plants under three sector-specific influencing factors. The results will support the sector in making informed decisions over solar PV investments, helping wastewater utilities to transition towards sustainable management practices.

Impact of flat roof–integrated solar photovoltaic installation mode on building fire safety

SummaryThis paper quantifies experimentally the fire‐induced reradiation to roof surface created by flame extension on the back of the flat roof–integrated photovoltaic (PV) array. A gas burner underneath the tilted PV panels was employed as the fire source. The effects of the PV tilt angle, distance from PV panel to roof, and fire heat release rate (HRR) were investigated. The flame extension geometries and flame reradiation heat flux distribution were recorded. The results show that the flame extension length and vertical thickness (ie, the vertical distance from the back surface of the PV panel to the extension flame profile) are reduced with the increase of PV tilt angle and panel‐roof distance but are increased with increases in the fire HRR. A unified nondimensional HRR coupled with all these factors is proposed to quantify the flame extension geometry. Furthermore, a general equation based on the physical relationship between flame radiation and flame geometry is developed to characterize the distribution of reradiation heat flux on the roof surface with the nondimensional local flame thickness. Finally, suggestions regarding PV installations on flat roofs and the selection of roofing materials are given to decrease the possibility of flame propagation underneath the PV arrays.

Assessment of impacts on tropical marine environment for off-shore clean energy development

Abstract Off-shore Floating Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Power installations are two potential future clean energy technology options which are being considered by energy developers. Environmental impacts must be evaluated on project-by-project basis as these are site-specific. In the present work, we propose a method for determining baseline reference level of underwater ambient noise in tropical marine coastal shallow waters. The underwater ambient noise has been measured at 30 m depth at a site near Grande island (15°18′ N 73° 41′ E) 18 km off Goa, on India’s western coast during 2012–2016. Analysis of recorded data shows that the noise levels in general have increased by a margin of 10–24 dB over the observed frequency band of 10 Hz to 100 kHz, at the site. Therefore, the impacts of clean energy development projects on marine environment need to be evaluated carefully.

Assessment of economic benefits of battery energy storage application for the PV‐equipped households in Finland

Significant growth in residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and the ongoing decline in battery costs have increased interest in household solar battery energy storage projects in Finland in recent years. Among various potential applications, considerable attention is drawn to the use of the battery energy storage system (BESS) for the purpose of the households’ self-consumption enhancement. This study presents the results of a techno-economic study of the LiFePO4-based battery storage added to residential roof-top PV installations in Finland to maximise self-utilisation of on-site solar energy generation. Using a comprehensive DC model of BESS, the battery charge and discharge levels under the typical household load and PV production conditions are simulated. The estimates of the average retail electricity prices are used to assess the value that the customer-sited solar battery storage can provide to the household end-users in Finland. The economic attractiveness of the battery storage projects is evaluated considering the present and forecasted BESS costs and the electricity tariff levels in Finland and the conditions for profitable operation of the solar energy storage systems are determined.

Harnessing Solar Energy Through Photovoltaic System in Chandigarh: A Step Towards Preparing for Climate Change

Climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts. Without decisive action, energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would lead to climate degradation. All types of energy efficiency technologies will require widespread deployment, as global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, if it continues to increase at the current rate. Photovoltaic (PV) energy is one of the most promising emerging technologies in mitigating the impact of climate change. PV is the name of a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity. Therefore, the objectives of this article are to study the initiatives taken by energy development agencies in India for promoting renewable sources of energy, to study the use of solar power as a renewable source of energy through PV system and to analyse the solar PV rooftop system in Chandigarh as a case study. The article is an empirical study based on primary data. For the purpose of collecting the primary data, a structured questionnaire was prepared for citizens and an interview schedule for officials. The results of the study show that the majority of the citizens were satisfied with the solar photovoltaic (SPV) installations in Chandigarh, while a very few of them were dissatisfied and their dissatisfaction revolved around getting clearances from different departments.