Net Energy for Concentrated Solar Power in Chile

Author(s):  
Rodrigo Escobar ◽  
Teresita Larrain

The Chilean Energy Policy calls for 15 percent of new power generation capacity to come from renewable energy sources from 2006 to 2010, and then a 5% of electric energy generated from renewable energy sources with gradual increases in order to reach 10% by 2024. Neither the government nor the power generation sector plans mention solar energy to be part of the renewable energy initiative. Part of this apparent lack of interest in solar energy might be due to the absence of a valid solar energy database, adequate for energy system planning activities. Monthly means of solar radiation are used in order to estimate the solar fraction for a 100 MW plant for four given locations. Our analysis considers two cases: operation during sunlight hours, and continuous operation during 24 hours a day. A net energy analysis for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in Chile is then performed, considering the energy costs of manufacturing, transport, installation, operation and decommissioning. The results indicate that the CSP plants are a net energy source in three of the four locations, when operating in sunlight-only mode. This is due to the lower radiation levels available at that location, which implies a high fossil fuel back-up fraction. In the continuous operation mode, the CSP plants become fossil fuel plants with solar assistance, and therefore all locations display negative net energy. Based on this result, the back-up fraction required for the plants to be net energy sources is estimated from the EROEI as function of the back-up fraction. It is estimated that the net energy analysis is a useful tool for determining under which conditions a CSP plant becomes a net energy source, and thus can be utilized in order to define geographical locations and operation conditions where they can be considered renewable energy sources.

Author(s):  
Rodrigo Escobar ◽  
Teresita Larrai´n

The Chilean Energy Policy calls for 15 percent of new power generation capacity to come from renewable energy sources from 2006 to 2010, and then a 5% of electric energy generated from renewable energy sources with gradual increases in order to reach 10% by 2024. Concentrated solar power is an interesting alternative to help achieving those objectives, as it is estimated that northern Chile has high radiation levels, coupled with high values of the local clearness index and availability of flat terrain. The present report investigates the net energy attributes of parabolic trough plants installed in the Atacama Desert. Monthly means of solar radiation are used in order to estimate the solar fraction for a 100 MW plant at three different locations. Our analysis considers three cases: operation during sunlight hours only, with and without fossil fuel back-up, and continuous operation during 24 hours a day. The net energy analysis for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants is then performed, considering the energy costs of manufacturing, transport, installation, operation and decommissioning. The results indicate that the CSP plants are a net energy source when operating in sunlight-only mode and that the energy payback time is a linear function of the total operation time when utilizing fossil fuel back-up. In the continuous operation mode, the CSP plants become fossil fuel plants with solar assistance, and therefore all locations display negative net energy. Based on this result, the back-up fraction required for the plants to be net energy sources is estimated from the EROEI as function of the back-up fraction. It is estimated that the net energy analysis is a useful tool for determining under which conditions a CSP plant becomes a net energy source, and thus can be utilized in order to define geographical locations and operation conditions where they can be considered renewable energy sources.


Author(s):  
Hassan Moghbelli ◽  
Robert Vartanian

One major problem in the world is global warming that is now in the concern of some countries. Most countries are working on the usage of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, clean fuels like hydrogen and also increasing the efficiency of fossil fuel plant to help the global warming effect. Countries having high potential of solar energy and also natural gas as a source of hydrogen can use the finding of this research by developing usage of the solar energy converters and natural gas fuel cells for electric power plants. This paper discusses hybridization of renewable solar energy source with high efficient and clean usage of natural gas fossil fuel. Other aspects of this hybrid power plant is using the renewable energy sources as a reliable power supply with stand alone and grid connected capability which can increase network power quality. This paper also discusses the hybridization of solar energy as a renewable energy source and natural gas fuel cells as a fossil fuel and also improvement of power plant efficiency by using power electronics technology and electric energy storages.


Author(s):  
Zafrin Ahmed Liza ◽  
Mohammad Rakibul Islam

The continuous depletion of fossil fuel reserves and threats on climate change makes it essential for searching alternative energy sources. Renewable energy can play a vital role in this regard. Solar energy is the most promising renewable energy source available so far. In this paper, the availability of solar energy in Bangladesh and the prospects of solar photovoltaic based power generation are discussed. Analysis for different sources of solar energy is revealed. Especially the current scenario and prospect of Solar Park is investigated. And the result shows that according to the future plan, Solar Park is going to hold the largest share among all the renewable energy sources. According to the Renewable Energy Master Database, the total renewable energy capacity including all categories is about 2.4 GW. Among these, solar park projects are the main contributors in terms of capacity which is 2,110.56 MW.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Myson Myson

AbstrakEnergi surya (matahari) merupakan salah satu sumber energi terbarukan yang paling penting dan sangat berlimpah di Indonesia. Dengan potensinya yang sangat besar tersebut, energi surya diyakini menjadi sumber energi utama di masa depan. Eenergi surya di Indonesia sangatlah besar. Indonesia memiliki sekitar 4.8 KWh/m2 atau setara dengan 112.000 GWp energi surya. Sayangnya energi surya ini belum mendapatkan porsi yang semestinya di negara ini. Dari total potensi energi surya tersebut, Indonesia baru memanfaatkan sekitar 10 MWp. Hambatan yang masih sering terjadi pada penggunaan PLTS ini adalah pada tidak dapatnya diprediksi keacaan cuaca dalam waktu yang singkat, sehingga produksi energi listrik sulit dapat memenuhi target yang diharapkan, dan hal ini membuat ketidak nyamanan pengguna. Perlunya penelitian terhadap efisiensi modul solar panel, karena saat ini efisiensi yang dihasilkan modul solar panel masih sangat rendah, sehingga untuk mendapatkan 1 KWh energi listrik masih tergolong sangat mahal.Abstract Solar energy (sunlight) is one of the renewable energy sources the most important and very abundant in Indonesia. With such huge potential, solar energy is believed to be the main energy source in the future. Solar Eenergi in Indonesia is very large. Indonesia has around 4.8 KWh / m2 or equivalent to 112,000 GWp of solar energy. Unfortunately, solar energy has not received the proper portion of the country. Of the total solar energy potential, Indonesia has only utilized approximately 10 MWp. Barriers are still common in the use of solar power is at the inability to predict the weather keacaan in a short time, so the production of electrical energy is difficult to meet the expected targets, and this makes it an inconvenience for the user. The need for research on the efficiency of solar panel modules, because the current efficiency of the resulting solar panel module is still very low, so to get 1 kWh of electrical energy is still relatively very expensive.


Nanoscale ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingbing Cui ◽  
Guo-Dong Fu

The fossil-fuel shortage and severe environmental issues have posed ever-increasing demands on clean and renewable energy sources, for which the exploration of electrocatalysts has been in a big challenge toward...


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Pimonenko ◽  
O. Lyulyov ◽  
N. Letunovska ◽  
O. Lytvynenko ◽  
A. Nazarenko

The article aims to study current trends in the use of solar energy in Ukraine and the world as one of the main directions of decarbonization of the national economy. The authors systematize the prospects, advantages and disadvantages of the development of renewable energy sources. They conducted a comparative analysis of the "efficiency" of solar energy in some countries and Ukraine. The authors determined that the leading position in terms of the share of energy consumed from renewable sources is occupied by countries with developed economies due to the availability of effective motivational mechanisms. From the experience of EU countries, the authors concluded that renewable energy sources form a prerequisite for obtaining additional socio-economic and environmental effects. In the presence of favorable market conditions, renewable energy sources can increase the level of energy security in the country and its energy independence. The article analyzes the legislation of Ukraine on stimulating the development of alternative energy. The authors proposed two opposed ways of further developing solar energy in Ukraine. In particular, the country can implement methods of using alternative energy, which developed countries have successfully implemented. Another area involves increasing research and innovation in implementing, using, maintaining, and utilizing energy-generating devices from alternative energy sources. Despite the polarity of the proposed directions for further development of renewable energy, in both cases, the state policy on attracting investment and promoting the use of energy from alternative energy sources is crucial. In addition, the authors noted the benefits for society from the development and implementation of alternative energy sources. The scaling up and promotion of energy production technologies from alternative sources can reduce carbon emissions, which has been an urgent problem globally.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-36
Author(s):  
Abir Muhtadi ◽  
Ahmed Mortuza Saleque ◽  
Mohammad Abdul Mannan

Due to sheer dependency upon fossil fuel sources, Bangladesh as a country is not free from numerous negative aspects. Country’s requirement for a certain portion of power be generated from renewable energy sources is due and required renewable energy target (RET) needs to be fulfilled. In this study, potential of distinguished coastal sites for entirely renewable energy such as solar and wind sources based microgrid for chosen community is explored. Microgrid architecture is appropriate considering the coastal areas’ geographical locations and due to the inconvenience in grid extension. Study suggests, potential of coastal sites are found to be feasible for such structures based on real case scenario data and modelled technical scheme.


Author(s):  
N. V. Tsopa ◽  
A. E. Dikarev

in the article provides a comparative analysis of the development of solar energy in the world, in the European Union, in Russia and in Crimea; the advantages and disadvantages of the use of solar energy, the features of the use of renewable energy sources are considered, the use of solar energy in the Crimea is justified; describes the mechanism of a feasibility study for the use of autonomous power supply for low-rise buildings in Crimea.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Ahmet Erhan AKAN

The decrease in fossil-based energy sources and increasing environmental problems increase the tendency to renewable energy sources day by day. The potential of renewable energy sources differs according to the region where the energy will be produced. For this reason, it is crucial to conduct a good feasibility study that deals with the selected systems from a technical and economic point of view before making an investment decision on energy conversion systems based on renewable energy sources. In this study, the most suitable equipment and capacities were investigated by examining the techno-economic analysis of a hybrid system created with wind-solar renewable energies for a detached house, which is considered off-grid, in a rural area of Tekirdağ province (40o58.7ı N, 27o30.7ı E). Investigations were carried out using the HOMER Pro (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable) program. The wind and solar energy potential of Tekirdağ province were obtained from the NASA renewable energy resources database added to the HOMER Pro program. The daily electricity requirement of the sample house was chosen as 11.27 kWh, and the current peak electrical load was chosen as 2.39 kW. A wind turbine is connected to the AC busbars, solar collectors and battery group connected to the DC busbars, and a converter that converts energy between AC and DC busbars in the energy conversion system. In order to determine the optimum capacities of the system elements, 27486 different simulations were performed by HOMER Pro. The selection of the most suitable system among these was determined according to the lowest net present cost (NPC) value. In addition, the energy production capacities that will occur in the case of different wind speeds were also investigated. Accordingly, the system to be installed with a solar panel with a capacity of 6.25 kW, PV-MPPT with a capacity of 1 kW, 2 wind turbines with a capacity of 1 kW, 8 Lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 6V-167 Ah, and a converter with a capacity of 2.5 kW has been determined will generate electrical energy of 5433 kWh per year. In addition, it has been determined that 61.8% of this produced energy will be obtained from solar energy and 38.2% from wind energy, and the simple payback period of the investment will be 14 years. It is thought that this study will provide valuable information to researchers and investors.


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