Comparison of Thin Film Modules Productivity for Building Integration

This paper compares thin film photovoltaic technologies’ productivity for different installation sites and surface positions. The aim is to guide architects to increase the energy yield during the design of buildings with integrated photovoltaic panels by providing information on the appropriate inclination and orientation of the panels. Meteorological data from ten sites from the Equator to the Arctic Circle are used. Two types of input solar radiation (extraterrestrial and real) are referenced, from horizontal to an arbitrary oriented surface, and are introduced in Durisch’s model to estimate the energy production for various surface inclinations and orientations. Thus 3D surfaces are obtained which allows the architects to choose an appropriate compromise between the aesthetic and the practical.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the PV energy production determined by measurements, simulation and analytical calculations

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20198504002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 04002

Author(s):

Dorin Petreuş ◽

Mugur Bălan ◽

Octavian Pop ◽

Radu Etz ◽

Toma Patărău

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Ambient Temperature ◽

Analytical Model ◽

Energy Production ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Experimental System ◽

Absolute Error ◽

Simulation Software ◽

Accuracy Evaluation ◽

Tilted Plane

The study provides a comparative analysis of the energy production of a 3 kW peak PV array connected in an islanded microgrid, in correlation with solar radiation and ambient temperature measurements. The experimental system is located in Cluj-Napoca Romania and was monitored during the year 2017, based on a graphical user interface. It was also evaluated the capability to predict the PV energy production by using the PV*SOL simulation software and an analytical model, developed at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. As input data in the analytical model was used the measured solar radiation and ambient temperature while in the simulations was used alternatively measured data and average meteorological data available in the software database. Besides energy production it was compared the solar radiation on the tilted plane of the PV panels, the PV panel's temperature and the system efficiency. For the predictions accuracy evaluation it was used the weighted mean absolute error based on total energy production, which was found to be lower than 1%, in good agreement with the values reported in literature. The outcomes of this study are valuable for expanding the PV installations in this area and for predictive energy management developments.

Download Full-text

Techno-economic analysis for the role of single end energy user in mitigating GHG emission

Energy Sustainability and Society ◽

10.1186/s13705-021-00307-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Waqas Ahmed ◽

Jamil Ahmed Sheikh ◽

Muhammad Nouman ◽

Mian Farhan Ullah ◽

M. A. Parvez Mahmud

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Energy Production ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Green Energy ◽

Pv System ◽

Ghg Mitigation ◽

Energy Demands

Abstract Background Households, as end energy users, consume grid electricity to meet their energy demands. However, grids across the globe for energy production are majorly based on fossil fuel technology and make the highest contributions to global warming and climate change due to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. This generic study aims to investigate the minute role of a single-end energy consumer in GHG mitigation by switching to a rooftop PV system to meet his energy demands and trading surplus energy to the grid through its techno-economic analysis. Method For the study impact, NASA Meteorological Data are used to select an ideal single energy user equipped with a 10-kW PV system based on annual average daily solar radiation and ambient temperature through MATLAB/Simulink, for 11 populous cities in Pakistan. Helioscope software is used to select tilt and azimuthal angles to maximize the solar radiation intercept. Afterward, RETScreen software is used for cost, financial and GHG analysis. Result and conclusion A single end energy user equipped with a 10-kW PV system switched to a green energy source from a fossil fuel-based grid has the potential to avoid the burning of 3570.6 L of gasoline by producing 16,832 kWh of green energy per annum, while financially recovering the 10-kW PV system’s 7337$ grid-tied investment in 5 years (equity) and in 9 years (equity) in a 9077$ stand-alone system over its 25-year life. This approach provides relief to end energy users from high priced grid electricity through environmental friendliness by mitigating 8.3 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per annum from energy production, while providing relief to the main grid by grid stabilization through peak shaving, in the broad sense.

Download Full-text

Influence of Shape Change Caused by Warp of Thin-film Device on Solar Radiation Pressure Torque in Solar Sail

AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY JAPAN THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE SCIENCES ◽

10.2322/astj.jsass-d-19-00044 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (0) ◽

pp. 101-110

Author(s):

Rikushi KATO ◽

Masanori MATSUSHITA ◽

Hideyuki TAKAHASHI ◽

Osamu MORI ◽

Nobukatsu OKUIZUMI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Radiation ◽

Radiation Pressure ◽

Shape Change ◽

Solar Radiation Pressure ◽

Solar Sail ◽

Thin Film Device

Download Full-text

Spectral effects on the energy yield of various photovoltaic technologies in Lima (Peru)

Energy ◽

10.1016/j.energy.2021.120034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 223 ◽

pp. 120034

Author(s):

Luis A. Conde ◽

José R. Angulo ◽

Miguel Á. Sevillano-Bendezú ◽

Gustavo Nofuentes ◽

Jan A. Töfflinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Yield ◽

Photovoltaic Technologies

Download Full-text

Utilising Open Geospatial Data to Refine Weather Variables for Building Energy Performance Evaluation—Incident Solar Radiation and Wind-Driven Infiltration Modelling

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14040802 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 802

Author(s):

Kristian Skeie ◽

Arild Gustavsen

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Web Service ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Surface Wind ◽

Building Energy ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Geospatial Data ◽

Weather Data ◽

Building Site ◽

Incident Solar Radiation

In building thermal energy characterisation, the relevance of proper modelling of the effects caused by solar radiation, temperature and wind is seen as a critical factor. Open geospatial datasets are growing in diversity, easing access to meteorological data and other relevant information that can be used for building energy modelling. However, the application of geospatial techniques combining multiple open datasets is not yet common in the often scripted workflows of data-driven building thermal performance characterisation. We present a method for processing time-series from climate reanalysis and satellite-derived solar irradiance services, by implementing land-use, and elevation raster maps served in an elevation profile web-service. The article describes a methodology to: (1) adapt gridded weather data to four case-building sites in Europe; (2) calculate the incident solar radiation on the building facades; (3) estimate wind and temperature-dependent infiltration using a single-zone infiltration model and (4) including separating and evaluating the sheltering effect of buildings and trees in the vicinity, based on building footprints. Calculations of solar radiation, surface wind and air infiltration potential are done using validated models published in the scientific literature. We found that using scripting tools to automate geoprocessing tasks is widespread, and implementing such techniques in conjunction with an elevation profile web service made it possible to utilise information from open geospatial data surrounding a building site effectively. We expect that the modelling approach could be further improved, including diffuse-shading methods and evaluating other wind shelter methods for urban settings.

Download Full-text

Calibration and Validation of ArcGIS Solar Radiation Tool for Photovoltaic Potential Determination in the Netherlands

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14071865 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 1865

Author(s):

Bala Bhavya Kausika ◽

Wilfried G. J. H. M. van Sark

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Input Data ◽

Solar Irradiation ◽

Energy Yield ◽

Atmospheric Parameters ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Calibration And Validation ◽

Solar Radiation Model

Geographic information system (GIS) based tools have become popular for solar photovoltaic (PV) potential estimations, especially in urban areas. There are readily available tools for the mapping and estimation of solar irradiation that give results with the click of a button. Although these tools capture the complexities of the urban environment, they often miss the more important atmospheric parameters that determine the irradiation and potential estimations. Therefore, validation of these models is necessary for accurate potential energy yield and capacity estimations. This paper demonstrates the calibration and validation of the solar radiation model developed by Fu and Rich, employed within ArcGIS, with a focus on the input atmospheric parameters, diffusivity and transmissivity for the Netherlands. In addition, factors affecting the model’s performance with respect to the resolution of the input data were studied. Data were calibrated using ground measurements from Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) stations in the Netherlands and validated with the station data from Cabauw. The results show that the default model values of diffusivity and transmissivity lead to substantial underestimation or overestimation of solar insolation. In addition, this paper also shows that calibration can be performed at different time scales depending on the purpose and spatial resolution of the input data.

Download Full-text

Flexible and efficient perovskite quantum dot solar cells via hybrid interfacial architecture

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20749-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Long Hu ◽

Qian Zhao ◽

Shujuan Huang ◽

Jianghui Zheng ◽

Xinwei Guan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Quantum Dots ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Quantum Dot ◽

High Performance ◽

Mechanical Stability ◽

Mechanical Adhesion ◽

Perovskite Quantum Dots ◽

Efficient Charge ◽

Photovoltaic Technologies

AbstractAll-inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots have received substantial research interest for photovoltaic applications because of higher efficiency compared to solar cells using other quantum dots materials and the various exciting properties that perovskites have to offer. These quantum dot devices also exhibit good mechanical stability amongst various thin-film photovoltaic technologies. We demonstrate higher mechanical endurance of quantum dot films compared to bulk thin film and highlight the importance of further research on high-performance and flexible optoelectronic devices using nanoscale grains as an advantage. Specifically, we develop a hybrid interfacial architecture consisting of CsPbI3 quantum dot/PCBM heterojunction, enabling an energy cascade for efficient charge transfer and mechanical adhesion. The champion CsPbI3 quantum dot solar cell has an efficiency of 15.1% (stabilized power output of 14.61%), which is among the highest report to date. Building on this strategy, we further demonstrate a highest efficiency of 12.3% in flexible quantum dot photovoltaics.

Download Full-text