Solar Energy Potential Evaluation. Case of Study: M'Sila, an Algerian Province

Solar energy is the most important green energy source that may be used to address the problems caused by conventional energy sources. The research in this paper aims to evaluate the solar energy potential of M'Sila, an Algerian internal region, and to determine which technology, among those currently available on the market, is adequate for harnessing that potential for electricity production (PV and CSP). This assessment was based on data (daily temperature and daily solar irradiation) collected at M'Sila weather station for one year and from the NASA site for 34 years from 1984 to 2017. These data were treated with excel 2016 software to determine the total horizontal, diffuse and direct normal solar irradiation. During the study period, the total solar irradiation falling on a horizontal surface in M'Sila (GHI) was estimated to be 1.79 MWh/m2/year. The diffuse solar irradiation incident on a horizontal surface (DHI) and direct normal irradiation, respectively, were estimated to be 594.88 kWh/m2/year, 2117.93 kWh/m2/year. M'Sila is a favourable land for the installation of concentrating solar power plants and photovoltaic panels due to its significant potential energy. The parabolic trough system is recommended. While polycrystalline PV modules should be promoted and installed in M'Sila.

PROTEOMIC SIGNATURES OF MICROBIAL ADAPTATION TO THE HIGHEST UV -IRRADIATION ON EARTH: LESSONS FROM A SOIL ACTINOBACTERIUM

In the Puna region, the total solar irradiation and the UV incidence is the highest on Earth, thus, restraining the physiology of individual microorganisms and the composition of microbial communities. UV-resistance of microbial strains thriving in High-Altitude Andean Lakes was demonstrated and their mechanisms were partially characterized by genomic analysis, biochemical and physiological assays. In this work, we present the molecular events involved in the adaptive response of the model HAAL extremophilic actinobacterium Nesterenkonia sp. Act20 under artificial UV-B radiation, herein called as UV-resistome. Proteomic profiles of cultures exposed to different UV-experimental conditions showed that the leading systems for adaptation to the UV-challenge in-vitro are DNA repair and antioxidant mechanisms.

Design and Performance Improvement of Mirror Augmented Photovoltaic Systems

Augmenting photo-voltaic (PV) system performance using fixed flat mirrors boosts PV power output. Previous literature reports that fixed flat mirrors create non-uniform irradiance on the PV panels, which limits the current and decreases panel efficiency. Triplex panels have a modified cell string architecture that splits the panel into three separate sections to address this problem. This paper describes an experimental setup consisting of a pyranometer to measure total solar irradiation, an air temperature sensor, a standard PV panel with and without mirrors, and a triplex panel with and without mirrors. The sensor and PV panels are connected to Daystar Multi-tracer logger to collect the instantaneous data. The experiment is simulated using TracePro® to determine the distribution of radiation reflected onto the PV panels. Both simulated and measured results indicate the bottom part of the mirror augmented panels receive the most solar irradiance followed by middle portion, followed by top portion. The results document the difference in performance between standard and Triplex panels with fixed flat mirrors and suggest configurations that maximize performance.