Sustainable urban energy: Development of a mesoscale assessment model for solar reflective roof technologies

Buildings and other engineered structures that form cities are responsible for a significant portion of the global and local impacts of climate change. Consequently, the incorporation of building design strategies and materials such as the use of reflective roof materials, or ‘cool’ roofs, are being widely investigated. However, although their benefits for individual buildings have been studied, as yet there is little understanding of the potential benefits of urban scale implementation of such systems. Here we report the development of a new methodology for assessing the potential capacity and benefits of installing reflective roofs in an urbanized area. The new methodology combines remote sensing image data with a building energy computer simulation to quantify the current rooftop reflectivity and predict the potential benefits of albedo improvement. In addition to the direct electricity savings, cool roof systems reduce peak electrical demand in the month of August when the peak demand is at its highest in the case study area. Environmental benefits associated with lowering greenhouse-gas emissions are also substantial. The new methodology allows the calculation of payback periods to assist planners to evaluate the potential economic benefits of the widespread installation of cool roof systems.     

Estimation of rooftop solar photovoltaic potential using geo-spatial techniques: A perspective from planned neighborhood of Karachi – Pakistan

With an ever increasing population and significant solar resource availability throughout the whole year, Karachi metropolis hold a promising rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) potential considering its millions of urban households. This research work highlights techniques to combine geographic information systems (GIS) and object-based image recognition approach to identify the available rooftop area for PV deployment in a small scale region of DHA Phase 7 Karachi. A six step methodology has been adopted for the estimation of rooftop PV potential which involves geographic division of high resolution satellite imagery; sampling and rooftop feature extraction using FE tool of ENVI EX software; extrapolation of rooftop areas for the entire ROI using roof area-population relationship; visual inspection to analyze different rooftop factors such as building orientation, shading effect from trees and nearby buildings and other roof uses; a comparison of extracted rooftops to the physically measured sample rooftops, reduction for shading and other uses; and finally conversion to energy and power outputs. A relationship of total roof area and population of 13 m²/capita ±5% has been found. With higher efficiency rooftop PV panels, 12.24 MW of solar power can be generated which is 122.4% of peak power demand of DHA Phase 7.     

基于水库大坝的水能与太阳能融合型并网发电系统研究与应用

针对中国大中型面南的水库电站大坝,向光性比较好,具备安装太阳能光伏发电系统的条件,并使得2种可再生能源融合并网发电模式具有一定的创新性.水库电站的发电系统是已建成的,增加太阳能光伏发电系统并建设融合型并网发电系统,不仅体现了投资成本低发电效益高等特点,同时具有节约国土资源、保护大坝和节能减排等社会效益.在设计和实践过程...     

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy; latest developments in the building integrated and hybrid PV systems

Environmental concerns are growing and interest in environmental issues is increasing and the idea of generating electricity with less pollution is becoming more and more attractive. Unlike conventional generation systems, fuel of the solar photovoltaic energy is available at no cost. And solar photovoltaic energy systems generate electricity pollution-free and can easily be installed on the roof of residential as well as on the wall of commercial buildings as grid-connected PV application. In addition to grid-connected rooftop PV systems, solar photovoltaic energy offers a solution for supplying electricity to remote located communities and facilities, those not accessible by electricity companies.The interest in solar photovoltaic energy is growing worldwide. Today, more than 3500 MW of photovoltaic systems have been installed all over the world. Since 1970, the PV price has continuously dropped [8]. This price drop has encouraged worldwide application of small-scale residential PV systems. These recent developments have led researchers concerned with the environment to undertake extensive research projects for harnessing renewable energy sources including solar energy. The usage of solar photovoltaic as a source of energy is considered more seriously making future of this technology looks promising.The objective of this contribution is to present the latest developments in the area of solar photovoltaic energy systems. A further objective of this contribution is to discuss the long-term prospect of the solar photovoltaic energy as a sustainable energy supply.     

基于水电站大坝的太阳能融合型并网发电系统研究与应用

针对双可再生能源融合发电模式的诸多技术难题,提出了一种在水电站大坝上建设太阳能电站并进行融合发电的创新模式,重点突破了水电与太阳能发电共享型控制技术、光伏逆变谐波抑制技术、无功补偿和共享型直流技术等技术难题.水电和太阳能发电共享型控制技术实现了水电现地控制单元、太阳能现地控制单元、共享型公用现地控制单元的分布式构架;实...     

Life cycle cost analysis of a multi-storey residential Net Zero Energy Building in Denmark

It is well recognized that in the long run, the implementation of energy efficiency measures is a more cost-optimal solution in contrast to taking no action. However, the Net ZEB concept raises a new issue: how far should we go with energy efficiency measures and when should we start to apply renewable energy technologies? This analysis adopts the LCC methodology and uses a multi-family Net ZEB to find the answer to this question. Moreover, it looks at the issue from the building owner’s perspective, hence it should be seen as a private economy analysis. The study includes three levels of energy demand and three alternatives of energy supply systems: (1) photovoltaic installation with photovoltaic/solar thermal collectors and an ambient air/solar source heat pump; (2) photovoltaic installation with a ground-source heat pump; (3) photovoltaic installation with district heating grid. The results indicate that in order to build a cost-effective Net ZEB, the energy use should be reduced to a minimum leaving just a small amount of left energy use to be covered by renewable energy generation. Moreover, from the user perspective in the Danish context, the district heating grid is a more expensive source of heat than a heat pump for the Net ZEB.     

Scalable methodology for the photovoltaic solar energy potential assessment based on available roof surface area: Application to Piedmont Region (Italy)

During the last few years the photovoltaic energy market has seen an outstanding growth. According to the new directive on renewable energies of the European Commission (2009/28/EC), the European Union should reach a 20% share of the total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. The national overall targets impose for Italy a 17% renewable share: in case of failure the gap would be filled by importation of renewable energy from non-UE countries. The ambitious national targets and thus the continuously increasing interest on renewable fuels, require simple but reliable methods for the energy potential assessment over large-scale territories. Considering roof-top integrated PV systems, the assessment of the PV energy potential passes through the evaluation of the roof surface area available for installations. In the present paper a methodology for estimating the PV solar energy potential is presented, together with its application to Piedmont Region (North-Western Italy). The roof area suitable for solar applications, is calculated through the analysis of available GIS data. The solar radiation maps are taken from the database of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Different solar energy exploitation scenarios are proposed with the relative perspective results and confidence interval. Further developments and applications of the presented methodology are finally discussed.     

Augmenting rooftop solar energy penetration ratio with secondary distribution network using smart inverter for maximum power transfer capacity for subordinate grid- A review

A rooftop photovoltaic power station, or rooftop PV system, is a photovoltaic system that has its electricity-generating solar panels mounted on the rooftop of a residential or commercial building or structure. The various components of such a system include photovoltaic modules, mounting systems, cables, solar inverters, and other electrical accessories. Rooftop mounted systems are small compared to ground-mounted photovoltaic power stations with capacities in the MW (megawatt) range. With the significant improvement of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Energy System (RSPES) among various Renewable Energy Systems, the major issues, effects, and several operational characteristics of the rooftop solar PVs in the Distribution System (DS) with Low Power Utility Network are actively being studied and investigated by global researchers and operation engineers. The most important objective of various researches about RSPES is to design a Power System with Optimal Maximum Power Transfer Capacity (MPTC). These review papers analyze the performance of Secondary Distribution System integrated to grid with Smart Inverter with or without the presence of Distribution Generation (DG) units. The effects caused by the penetration of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) units in the Distribution Equipment (DE) are detailed in this paper with various research techniques. With the consideration of different objective constraints, Optimization techniques are utilized for solving minimization problems of objectives such as Size, Area, Operational Characteristics, Energy Loss, Cost of Installation, Generation Cost, Peak Load, Reverse Power Flow, and maximization problems of objectives such as PV power generation, Energy Saving Capability, Electricity Energy Mix, etc.. The various optimization techniques and frameworks for improving the performance of Power System and their corresponding results are demonstrated in this paper. This paper reviews totally 42 related researches done on the different phases of Optimization based Rooftop Solar PV system in the period between 2015 and 2017. This review summarizes the evaluation of the i) Solar rooftop energy with effects of increase in penetration; ii) The performance of efficient secondary distribution system with grid integrated smart inverter; iii) Algorithms based on optimization for solving the objectives in rooftop solar PV system are investigated.     

Siting of PV power plants on inclined terrains

Most of the studies conducted on solar energy assessment and solar system siting focus on flat terrains that are usually difficult and expensive to acquire in urban areas. This paper investigates the possibility of using inclined terrains for siting photovoltaic (PV) power plants surrounding urban area. Both analytical analysis and simulations are carried out in order to analyse and validate the effectiveness and benefits of the use of inclined land for PV siting. Geographical information system and numerical weather prediction were used to implement the suggested original approach and to select suitable inclined terrains for the PV system installation and to calculate the total generation potential for energy production. Muscat, the capital of Oman, was selected as a reference for the implementation of this approach.     

Assessment of retrofitting measures and solar systems' potential in urban areas using Geographical Information Systems: Application to a Mediterranean city

Energy efficient management of urban environment is undoubtedly a challenging task. Although the topography of cities and their urban built environment are considered as the main layers for environmental analysis, further geographical data has to be taken into account as well. In particular, economic and social data should also be considered on spatial level, as they highly affect the need for energy conservation measures. Furthermore, land and building uses, urban mobility and transactions are also crucial factors that influence energy use and management. Within this framework, this paper examines the establishment of a methodology approach in order to estimate energy conservation and solar systems potential in urban environments, based on the implementation of geoinformatics decision-making tools into a fine-scale analysis over an extended geographical area. All above multi-criteria variables can be efficiently analyzed by applying Geographical Information System (GIS) tools, which are particularly applied for the establishment of the proposed methodology. The scope of the paper is to deliver an integrated assessment tool, in order to aid researches as well as public bodies for the implementation of energy policies concerning the urban built environment. A case study of the urban area of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece is presented focusing on the evaluation of current energy performance and possible retrofit measures for the existing urban building stock, especially for typical residential multi-family (MF) buildings. Conclusively, the general outcome obtained by current research, indicate that denser urban areas perform limited potential both for retrofitting interventions on buildings' envelope and solar systems applications, apart from the quality and the age of building constructions.     

Effects of solar photovoltaic panels on roof heat transfer

Indirect benefits of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems for building insulation are quantified through measurements and modeling. Measurements of the thermal conditions throughout a roof profile on a building partially covered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels were conducted in San Diego, California. Thermal infrared imagery on a clear April day demonstrated that daytime ceiling temperatures under the PV arrays were up to 2.5 K cooler than under the exposed roof. Heat flux modeling showed a significant reduction in daytime roof heat flux under the PV array. At night the conditions reversed and the ceiling under the PV arrays was warmer than for the exposed roof indicating insulating properties of PV. Simulations showed no benefit (but also no disadvantage) of the PV covered roof for the annual heating load, but a 5.9 kWh m⁻² (or 38%) reduction in annual cooling load. The reduced daily variability in rooftop surface temperature under the PV array reduces thermal stresses on the roof and leads to energy savings and/or human comfort benefits especially for rooftop PV on older warehouse buildings.     

Optimal operation of DC smart house system by controllable loads based on smart grid topology

From the perspective of global warming mitigation and depletion of energy resources, renewable energy such as wind generation (WG) and photovoltaic generation (PV) are getting attention in distribution systems. Additionally, all-electric apartment houses or residence such as DC smart houses are increasing. However, due to the fluctuating power from renewable energy sources and loads, supply-demand balancing of power system becomes problematic. Smart grid is a solution to this problem. This paper presents a methodology for optimal operation of a smart grid to minimize the interconnection point power flow fluctuation. To achieve the proposed optimal operation, we use distributed controllable loads such as battery and heat pump. By minimizing the interconnection point power flow fluctuation, it is possible to reduce the electric power consumption and the cost of electricity. This system consists of photovoltaic generator, heat pump, battery, solar collector, and load. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, results are used in simulation presented.     

既有公共建筑轻质屋面光伏一体化探索与应用

既有公共建筑中绝大多数屋顶存在屋面形式复杂、可利用有效面积小等问题,导致屋顶太阳能光伏系统安装面积小、安装困难。本文主要通过技贸大厦屋顶改造工程的成功案例,探索将具有隔热功能的轻质采光系统屋面和光伏系统结合使用的可行性、难点、解决方案等及在各种既有公共建筑屋顶上实现光伏建筑一体化、规模化的可行性。     

An evaluation of domestic solar energy potential in Taiwan incorporating land use analysis

Solar energy is widely regarded as a major renewable energy source, which in future energy systems will be able to contribute to the security of energy supply and the reduction of CO₂ emissions. This study combined an evaluation of solar energy resources in Taiwan with land use analysis, which allows the potentials and restrictions of solar energy exploitation resulting from local land use conditions to be considered. The findings unveiled in this study indicate that photovoltaic electricity generation and solar water heating have the potential of producing 36.1 and 10.2 TWh of electricity and thermal energy annually in Taiwan, accounting for 16.3% and 127.5% of the total domestic consumption of electricity and energy for household water heating in 2009, respectively. However, the exploited solar photovoltaic power generation in 2009 accounted for only 0.02% of total potential in Taiwan, while the exploited solar water heating accounted for 11.6% of total potential. Market price and investment incentive are the dominant factors that affect market acceptance of solar energy installation in Taiwan. The administrative barriers to the purchase and transmission of electricity generated from renewable energy sources have to be removed before the potential contribution of solar energy can be realized.     

Available remodeling simulation for a BIPV as a shading device

A building integrated photovoltaic system as a shading device is used as an application and remodeling model. This study applies the simulation program SOLCEL and the computational fluid dynamics method to cases with solar irradiance components analysis and a ventilated double façade remodeling of the BIPV. For the validation of the theoretical work, experimental results of the Samsung Institute of Engineering and Construction Company building are used with a wind velocity of the weather data of Suwon area, Korea, where the real building is located. A photovoltaic system can be used only to generate electricity, but if a photovoltaic module can be used as an element of a double envelope, it could be more useful at the point of view of renewable energy usage and night insulation. Increase of PV module surface temperature is negative for power generation by installing PV module as an element of double envelope. A reasonable combination between renewable energy usage and power generation should be well analyzed for better usage of natural energy to design a BIPV.     

太阳能光伏发电技术及其应用

随着现代工业的发展,全球能源危机和大气污染问题日益突出,太阳能作为理想的可再生能源受到了许多国家的重视。目前太阳能光伏发电技术正在迅速发展,应用的规模和范围也在不断地扩大,已成为当今世界新能源发电领域的一个研究热点。本文在介绍太阳能光伏发电基本原理的基础上,详细阐述了太阳能光伏发电的相关重要技术,论述了太阳能光伏发电技术的主要应用方式和应用领域,并分析了太阳能光伏发电技术的应用前景。     

Model-based optimal control of a hybrid power generation system consisting of photovoltaic arrays and fuel cells

Hybrid renewable energy systems are expected to become competitive to conventional power generation systems in the near future and, thus, optimization of their operation is of particular interest. In this work, a hybrid power generation system is studied consisting of the following main components: photovoltaic array (PV), electrolyser, metal hydride tanks, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The key advantage of the hybrid system compared to stand-alone photovoltaic systems is that it can store efficiently solar energy by transforming it to hydrogen, which is the fuel supplied to the fuel cell. However, decision making regarding the operation of this system is a rather complicated task. A complete framework is proposed for managing such systems that is based on a rolling time horizon philosophy.