Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability
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Published By Edp Sciences

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2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Karol Bot ◽  
Laura Aelenei ◽  
Maria da Glória Gomes ◽  
Carlos Santos Silva

The building façade has a crucial role in acting as the interface between the environment and the indoor ambient, and from an engineering and architecture perspective, in the last years, there has been a growing focus on the strategic development of building façades. In this sense, this work aims to present a literature review for the Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems (BI-SES) for façades, subdivided into three categories: thermal, photovoltaic and hybrid (both thermal and photovoltaic). The methodology used corresponds to a systematic review method. A sample of 75 works was reviewed (16 works on thermal BI-SES, 37 works on photovoltaic BI-SES, 22 works on hybrid BI-SES). This article summarises the works and later classifies them according to the type of study (numerical or experimental), simulation tool, parametric analysis and performance when applied.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Sebastian Finke ◽  
Michele Velenderić ◽  
Semih Severengiz ◽  
Oleg Pankov ◽  
Christof Baum

Access to affordable, reliable and clean energy is an important sustainability goal of the United Nations. In areas where the public electricity grid is unreliable or unavailable, photovoltaic systems can be a solution. However, they are cost-intensive, mainly because of the energy storage systems. Mini-grids can be an answer for reducing upfront investment and overall system lifetime costs while increasing electricity availability. The mini-grid technology is mature, nevertheless, there are downsides when it comes to integrating existing solar systems of different manufacturers. The system topology is usually predefined and a central instance controls the mini-grid. Thus, the integration of existing power systems is difficult due to the communication constraints of these systems with the mini-grid controller. Including existing power systems into a decentralized mini-grid, can highly increase cost-efficiency. In a decentralized approach payments for the consumed energy between mini-grid actors are required. Accounting is, however, a complex administrative procedure, if the respective power systems are owned by different individuals and organizations. A transparent blockchain-based temper-proof approach can be a solution to automate metering and billing, allowing automatic payments between independent subsystem owners using smart contracts. In order to further optimize the smart mini-grid, an artificial intelligence learning algorithm for a dynamic electricity price needs to be developed. This smart and decentralized approach for building Mini-Grids is a novelty bringing solar systems one step closer to self-sufficiency. This paper describes how a smart mini-grid solution can be implemented using the Don Bosco Solar & Renewable Energy Center campus mini-grid in Tema, Ghana as a case study.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Seyed Amir Kaboli ◽  
Reyhaneh Nazmabadi

There continues to be significant attention and investment in wind power generation, which can supply a high percentage of the global demand for renewable energy if harvested efficiently. The research study is based on techno-economic analysis of the feasibility of implementing wind power generation in Kuwait with a power generation capacity of 105 MW based on 50 wind turbines, which has a major requirement for clean energy. The study focused on three main areas of analysis and numerical modeling using the RETScreen software tool. The first area involved evaluating the performance and efficacy of generating wind power by collecting, analyzing, and modeling data on observed wind levels, wind turbine operation, and wind power generation. The second area comprised an environmental impact review to assess the environmental benefits of implementing wind power. The third area involved economic analysis of installing wind power in Kuwait. The analysis was undertaken to assess the energy recovery time for wind energy and determine the mitigation of global warming and pollution levels, the decrease of toxic emissions, and any cost savings from implementing clean energy systems in Kuwait. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was undertaken to determine the impact of certain variables in the modeling process. The results are used to estimate that the energy price would be $0.053 per kWh for a power generation capacity of 105 MWh based on an initial cost of $168 million and O&M of $5 million for 214,000 MWh of electricity exported to the grid. Moreover, the wind turbine farm will potentially avoid the emission of approximately 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, thereby saving approximately $9 million over 20 years spent installing carbon capture systems for conventional power plants. The wind farm containing a simple wind turbine is estimated to have a payback period of 9.1 years.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Andrés Vilaboa Díaz ◽  
Pastora M. Bello Bugallo

Buildings are one of the systems that more energy consumed in the European Union. The study of the thermal envelope is interesting in order to reduce the energy losses. For that, a mathematical model able to predict the system response to external temperature variations is developed. With the mathematical model, different thermal envelope elements of a building based on the lag and the cushioning of the resultant wave can be characterized. In addition, it is important to analyse where the insulation is placed, because when the insulation is outside and the thermal mass is inside, the system produces a response with smooth temperature variations than when the insulation is inside. Therefore, placing the outside insulation generates more steady indoor temperatures, increasing the thermal comfort inside the building. To complete the mathematical model that allows predicting the temperature inside a building taking into account the solar inputs and the thermal inertia of the building. This study will help to establish the optimum design parameters in order to build sustainable and comfortable buildings. Furthermore, it will take one step forward in the construction of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Bernardo de Souza Guimarães ◽  
Lucas Farias ◽  
Delly Oliveira Filho ◽  
Lawrence Kazmerski ◽  
Antonia Sônia A. Cardoso Diniz

This paper examines the performance of solar photovoltaic generators on roofs of residential buildings. The primary focus is the loss of performance due to temperature increase as function of roof material and the distance from the photovoltaic (PV) generator to the roof. A heat transfer model has been developed to predict PV module temperature, and the equations of the model were solved using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. The research modeling correlates the distance of the solar generator to the roof and the roofing material with the temperature variations in the PV generator. There are many models to predict PV module temperature, but this study refines the prediction by the distance from PV module to roof and the roofing material as variables. Optimal combinations of distance and materials that minimize the heating loss in the solar generator leading to increased electrical power generation. Results show an average error of 3%–4% from the temperature predicted by the model to the temperature measured under experimental conditions in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The minimum roof-module separation required to ensure minimal PV performance loss from heating from the roof is ∼10 cm for red ceramic and cement fiber roofs. For galvanized steel, the optimal distance is between 20 cm and 30 cm. Cement fiber shows the best predicted and measured characteristics for PV-panel roof mounting among the 3-common commercial roofs evaluated in these studies. These investigations were based on roof installations and local materials in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Ghanim Kadhem Abdulsada ◽  
Tawfeeq Wasmi Mohammed Salih

The application of thermal insulation technique for buildings in hot arid region still under development and requires investigation for many aspects, especially those related to the individual elements of the construction. The present study investigates the impact of efficient insulation on the thermal performance of the following construction elements: wall, roof and foundation. The techniques used for the insulation have followed the Passive House criteria. The study introduces many benefits for passive design of the building in extreme hot climate. The work has done experimentally in Kirkuk, Iraq for two building models; one is efficiently insulated and the other is traditional. The data, which are collected in summer time, show reduction in indoor temperature of the efficient model by 8 °C in average comparing to that of traditional one. Measurements show stability in the internal wall temperatures for efficient model with an average temperature of 33 °C comparing to 42 °C for traditional one. Similarly, the insulated roof radiates less heat into the indoor than that of traditional model. Furthermore, the effect of both efficient insulated roof and canopy shading reduces the temperature of internal surface temperature of the roof by 12 °C comparing to the traditional model. A local simulation program based on ASHRAE relations has shown an energy saving in the cooling load up to 70%.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Mário Joel Ramos Júnior ◽  
Paulo Soares Figueiredo ◽  
Xisto Lucas Travassos

The use of renewable sources for electricity generation has as main benefits the preservation of natural resources, security in the distribution of electricity and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Research has shown that the participation of wind in the Brazilian electrical matrix has increased considerably in recent years, despite the existence of multiple barriers to the implementation of wind farms in the country. This study aims to identify and evaluate the current barriers to the expansion of wind farms in Brazil, suggesting ways to overcome them. Based on a systematic review of the literature, the evaluation of the complexity level and associated risk, the barriers were categorized into seven groups. The results indicated that four barriers are more relevant in relation to the expansion of wind farms in Brazil: unstable macroeconomic environment, government policy uncertainty, system constraints, and lack of infrastructure. On this basis, apart from the recent growth of wind energy in Brazil, actions must be taken to mitigate the identified barriers, as the most complex barriers need government intervention to be removed or mitigated, since the electricity market is highly regulated and complex in Brazil. Further research is needed to rank and analyze more deeply the barriers that were identified here, through interviews with stakeholders and visits to wind farms.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Naser Waheeb Alnaser ◽  
Hanan Mubarak Albuflasa ◽  
Waheeb Essa Alnaser

The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCCC) are largely engaged in renewable energy compared to other sources of energy for achieving sustainable development, i.e., maintaining balance between environmental, socio-economic and energy security and governance; this include mitigating climate change, reducing air pollution, improving energy access and enhancing energy security. According to IRENA report, by 2030, the GCCC could save 354 million barrels of oil equivalent (a 23% reduction), create more than 220,500 jobs, reduce the power sector's carbon dioxide emissions by 22%, and cut water withdrawal in the power sector by 17% based on the renewables targets already in place. The GCCC have been undertaking renewable energy projects for more than 30 years but recently a trend for increasingly ambitious projects is being witnessed. These are being supported by renewable energy targets, innovative research and development, and investments across the entire industry value chain. The renewable energy targets in GCCC are as follows: Bahrain; 5% by 2025 (250 MW) and 10% by 2035, UAE; 30% by 2030 (5000 MW), KSA; 30% by 2040 (5400 MW), Oman 10 by 2020 (600 MW), Kuwait; 15% by 2030 (11,000 MW) and Qatar; 20% by 2030 (1800 MW). The paper highlight on the vast investment and applications carried in GCCC which can be considered as a transition phase in solar and wind energy use in these countries. It also suggests advantageous investments in sustainability in GCCC like investing in Electric Vehicle, Building Integrated PV or Building Integrated Wind Turbine, Rooftop PV for small −scale installation, and Solar and Wind Water Desalination.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Riadh AL-Dabbagh

Over the years, Dubai − UAE has achieved undoubtedly fascinating development in city styles and construction. The desert has been transferred to an advanced modern city with the tallest buildings in a considerable time. It has always encouraged achieving healthy and sustainable development in all sectors, explicitly building construction. It has and still working towards maintaining the balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection. It has been announced and put within the national vision that it is of priority for the Government to transform Dubai into a smart city with an eco-friendly economy. This is under the aim to make it the most sustainable city in the world by 2021. The other Emirates are also trying to build their own fully sustainable cities. A sustainable plan is “a building that reduces its environmental impact by decreasing energy and water use and reducing the waste production. Dubai's Green Building Regulations and Specifications encourage all contractors to build toward an eco-friendlier tomorrow, maintaining the future cohorts without negatively impacting the resident's health. It covers a wide range of topics related to green building design, including ecology planning, building vitality, resource efficiency in energy, water, materials, and waste management. Dubai has made the environment a part of its overall strategic plan, including many sub-plans, initiatives, and projects to improve the emirate's environmental conditions and reduce energy use. Dubai's strategic plan to become a green metropolis includes green buildings and green building materials. The difficulties that sustainable urban development presents are considerable. They are working on various techniques to lead today's urbanisation toward sustainability, including urban planning, transportation infrastructure, quality of life, and renewable energy use, to name a few. Green construction and green towns are part of a long-term national drive in the UAE to promote a green economy with the tagline “A green economy for sustainable development”. This paper is highlighting the advanced initiatives, technologies, materials, strategies, difficulties and challenges that Dubai has been through to achieve sustainable smart city goals.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Miguel Mendonça ◽  
Victor Mantilla ◽  
João Patela ◽  
Valter Silva ◽  
Fernanda Resende

This paper addresses the design, development and experimental tests of a prototype of fuel gas generation system based on biomass gasification for small-scale applications, around 5 kW. It comprises the small scale downdraft gasifier and the gas cleaning system aiming to clean-up the producer gas to be used in the upstream Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). The design of the downdraft gasifier prototype follows the methodologies that have been reported on the available literature. However, since these methodologies apply to gasifiers with larger rated powers, the adopted methodology is based on the extrapolation of the main parameters used for larger gasifiers design. For runing the ICE the producer gas requires to have a specific gas composition with an acceptable range of impurities. Therefore, a clean-up system was proposed following three stages: in first instance a hot gas clean-up using a cyclone designed to eliminate particles and compounds; then a heat exchanger was used for cooling the gas to condensate tars and water; finally a cold gas clean-up is performed by filtration using two filter steps: the first one using organic material (biomass) and the second one using a polypropylene cartridge filter. Experimental tests were performed using the developed imbert downdraft gasifier prototype, using pellets as feedstock. The preliminary results allow verifying several drawbacks that will difficult an effective integration of the developed prototype for small scale power generation applications based on ICE using low density feedstock.


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