SHORT-ROTATION FORESTRY AS A SOLAR ENERGY TRANSDUCER AND STORAGE SYSTEM G. Stanford is director, Greenhills Center, Cedar Hill, Texas 75106. Editor's Note: This report is based on a larger study now in progress. Because of space limitations, it was necessary to remove a considerable amount of material from the original manuscript submitted by the author. Anyone wishing to obtain the complete paper can do so by writing to Dr. Stanford at Greenhills Center, Route 1, Box 861, Cedar Hill, Texas 75106.

The European Union has set some ambitious targets to reach the goal of net-zero greenhouse gasses by 2050. The outlined scenarios provide the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) on a large-scale, but to do so, different kinds of actions must be taken, because the ample amount of non-programmable electricity sources may cause grid management problems and a mismatch in the energy supply and demand. The vast increase of the Italian power demand, which typically occurs in the evening, necessarily requires a rapid increase in thermoelectric power generation. A possible solution to avoid this phenomenon is the optimization of photovoltaic production and storage and, simultaneously, the minimization of the Life-Cycle impact of these systems on the environment. This work aims to identify a methodology that supports the analysis and design of a production, self-consumption and storage system, which services a residential user aggregate, in order to reach an electric power demand optimization. In particular, the target is to obtain a Peak Shaving of the electrical demand power curve, by setting a limit on the maximum absorption of power from the grid, and supplying the rest of the user’s power needs through an electrical energy storage system, charged from the photovoltaic plant during the daily overproduction time. To do so, 14 dwelling power consumptions have been aggregated and analysed, starting from a data monitoring that occurred in January and June of 2019. The energy consumptions considered, are in line with the Italian average ones. The Peak Shaving strategy effectiveness has been evaluated by using a percentage parameter, that represents the number of power absorption peaks from the grid, avoided thanks to the storage system. In this study, some optimal system plant settings, in terms of maximum power absorption from the grid, photovoltaic nominal peak power and electrical storage capacity, are investigated to reach the set goals, and some solutions are presented, in light of the needs of the public grid where the system operates.

Download Full-text

Review on Solar Ponds in Libya

Solar Energy and Sustainable Development ◽

10.51646/jsesd.v7i3.79 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Abdulghani M Ramadan ◽

Khairy R Agha

Keyword(s):

Solar Energy ◽

Storage System ◽

Research Work ◽

Renewable Energies ◽

Low Grade ◽

Solar Ponds ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Economic Method ◽

And Storage

Solar and renewable energies applications got a great interest and attention in the last few decades. Problems related to CO2 emissions, air pollution, Ozone layer depletion, global warming and environment issues raise the necessity for getting a clean and safe energy. For this purpose, the Center for Solar Energy Studies (CSERS) in Libya conducted a huge research work in different applications for solar and renewable energies. One of these important activities is the Solar Gradient Solar Pond technology. It is an effective solar energy collection and storage system which presents a relatively simple and economic method of providing low grade energy with the advantage of annual storage cycle.This paper presents a general review on researches and studies on solar ponds that were conducted by CSERS research team. Tajoura’s Experimental Solar Pond (TESP) is designed as an experimental facility enabling the investigation of various aspects of pond performance. It is constructed by the Center for Solar Energy Studies, in joint cooperation with a Swiss company, with a surface area of about 830 m2, and a depth of 2.5 m, coupled with an evaporative pond of 105 m2 area and 1.5 m deep, equipped with all necessary equipments and measuring control system.The paper also shows the experience of operating MSF desalination unit coupled with TESP solar pond. Finally, other factors affecting the solar pond’s thermal stability were also discussed.

Download Full-text