On the Environmental Sustainability of Building Integrated Solar Technologies in a Coastal City

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lebassi ◽  
J. E. González ◽  
R. D. Bornstein
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Sea Breeze ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Energy Budgets ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Heat Islands

In this study, a first-order environmental impact study of a large-scale deployment of solar energy-installed technologies in a complex coastal urban environment is conducted. The work is motivated by the positive prospects of building-integrated solar technologies as a sustainable alternative to energy demands and reduction of green house gases. Large-scale deployment of solar technologies in rooftops of densely populated cities may have the potential of modifying surface energy budgets resulting in cooling or heating of the urban environment. To investigate this case, a mesoscale simulation (regional atmospheric simulation system (RAMS)) effort was undertaken, with a horizontal grid resolution of 4 km on an innermost grid over Southern California (South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB)). The simulation period was selected in summer 2002 where strong urban heat islands (UHIs) were observed for the region. The urban landscape was modified to represent a percentage of the rooftops with optical and thermal properties corresponding to solar PV and thermal collectors. Results show that the large-scale presence of solar technologies in rooftops of SoCAB may have a net positive thermal storage of the buildings, an effect enhancing the existing UHI by up to 0.2 °C. This additional heat is advected inland as the sea breeze develops warming further inland areas. The net environmental effect of solar technologies when compared with solar energy production was not investigated in this study.

On the Environmental Sustainability of Solar Technologies in a Coastal City

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lebassi ◽  
J. E. Gonza´lez ◽  
R. D. Bornstein
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sea Breeze ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Energy Budgets ◽  
Solar Pv

In this study, a first order environmental impact study of a large scale deployment of solar energy installed technologies in complex coastal urban environment is conducted. The work is motivated by the positive prospects of building integrated solar technologies as a sustainable alternative to energy demands and reduction of green house gases. Large scale deployment of solar technologies in rooftops of densely populated cities may have the potential of modifying surface energy budgets resulting in cooling or heating of the urban environment. To investigate this case the meso-scale model, Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) is used, with a horizontal grid resolution of 4 km on an innermost grid over South Coast Air Basin (SocAB) region of Southern California. The simulation took place in summer 2002 where strong urban heat islands (UHIs) were observed for the region. The urban landscape was modified to represent a percentage of the rooftops with optical properties corresponding to solar PV and thermal collectors. Results show that the large scale presence of solar technologies in rooftops of SoCAB may have a net positive thermal storage effect enhancing the existing UHI by up to 0.3°F. This additional heat is advected inland as the sea-breeze develops warming further inland areas. The net environmental effect of solar technologies when compared with solar energy production was not investigated in this study.

scholarly journals Study of Vortex Systems as a Method to Weakening the Urban Heat Islands within the Financial District in Large Cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13206
Author(s):  
Luis Rodriguez-Lucas ◽  
Chen Ning ◽  
Marcelo Fajardo-Pruna ◽  
Yugui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Heat Islands ◽  
Large Cities

This paper presents a new concept called the urban vortex system (UVS). The UVS couples a vortex generator (V.G.) that produces updraft by artificial vortex and a vortex stability zone (VSZ) consisting of an assembly of four buildings acting as a chimney. Through this system, a stable, upward vortex flow can be generated. The Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation was carried out to investigate the flow field in the UVS. The Renormalized Group (RNG) k–ε turbulent model was selected to solve the complex turbulent flow. Validation of the numerical results was achieved by making a comparison with the large-size experimental model. The results reported that a steady-state vortex could be formed when a vapor-air mixture at 2 m/s and 450 K enters the vortex generator. This vortex presented a maximum negative central pressure of −6.81 Pa and a maximum velocity of 5.47 (m/s). Finally, the similarity method found four dimensionless parameters, which allowed all the flow characteristics to be transported on a large scale. The proposed large-scale UVS application is predicted to be capable, with have a maximum power of 2 M.W., a specific work of 3 kJ/kg, buildings 200-m high, and the ability to generate winds of 6.1 m/s (20 km/h) at 200 m up to winds of 1.5 m/s (5 km/h) at 400 m. These winds would cause the rupture of the gas capsule of the heat island phenomenon. Therefore, the city would balance its temperature with that of the surrounding rural areas.

scholarly journals A Demonstration That Large-Scale Warming Is Not Urban

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 2882-2895 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Heat Islands ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Regional Trends ◽  
Windy Weather ◽  
Complete Networks ◽  
Urban Heat ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract On the premise that urban heat islands are strongest in calm conditions but are largely absent in windy weather, daily minimum and maximum air temperatures for the period 1950–2000 at a worldwide selection of land stations are analyzed separately for windy and calm conditions, and the global and regional trends are compared. The trends in temperature are almost unaffected by this subsampling, indicating that urban development and other local or instrumental influences have contributed little overall to the observed warming trends. The trends of temperature averaged over the selected land stations worldwide are in close agreement with published trends based on much more complete networks, indicating that the smaller selection used here is sufficient for reliable sampling of global trends as well as interannual variations. A small tendency for windy days to have warmed more than other days in winter over Eurasia is the opposite of that expected from urbanization and is likely to be a consequence of atmospheric circulation changes.

scholarly journals A Review of Solar PV-Grid Parity in Akure, South-West Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 879
Author(s):  
Adegoke Oladipo Melodi ◽  
Sola Richard Famakin
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Unit Cost ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Energy Unit ◽  
South West ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Pv Grid

<p>The abundance of solar energy in Akure, South-West Nigeria and its feasibility as an alternative energy source has been proven. However, cheap, Government subsidized but unreliable grid electricity and high cost of solar equipment are considered the major hindrances to deployment of solar energy for improved power supply and environmental sustainability. An earlier work pointed out realistic pricing of electricity, reduced cost of solar equipment and reduction in solar cell degradation factor as major factors capable of speeding up parity hence, motivating solar energy consumption. It showed that parity is attainable within 14 years. Documented significant improvements in these factors in recent times are the motivations for this review. This review cost-comparatively re-assesses both sources of energy under the prevailing National electricity policy and market realities using simple mathematical and graphical modeling techniques. This is with a view to determining a new timing for parity of solar energy with grid supply. Results showed that solar PV-grid energy cost parity is now attainable within 6 years in the study region. It was also observed that sustained improvement in grid energy unit cost and reduction in cost of solar equipment and accessories may accelerate solar-grid energy parity to less than three years.</p>

Urban Climate and Risk

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodoro Georgiadis
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Urban Metabolism ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Heat Islands ◽  
Complex Interactions

This work reports on the main physical processes that arise in the environment of the megacity from the “urban metabolism”—the complex interactions of the climate with the activities performed in the city and its built structure and texture—as well as on associated large-scale processes that generate hazards for the megacity’s inhabitants. It is estimated that in a few decades most of the world’s population will live in urban centers. Both the growth of megacities and climate change will increase the vulnerability of huge sectors of the population to climatic consequences of the urban metabolism. These include urban heat islands, pollution, and extreme weather events such as heat waves and floods. Developing policies to mitigate these threats will require integrating scientific knowledge with management skills, communication among cities about effective approaches, and taking into account residents’ needs for health and the capacity to live safely.

scholarly journals Features of the formation of urban heat islands effects in tropical climates and their impact on the ecology of the city

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 05005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Tuan Le ◽  
Nguyen Anh Quan Tran
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Urban Heat Islands ◽  
Heat Islands ◽  
Urban Heat ◽  
Tropical Climates ◽  
The City

The cumulative heating in some urban areas due to the urban growth and its types of industry, energy and transport, is the effect of urban heat island (UHI). It is recognized as one of the characteristics of the urban climate. The temperature increase caused by the effect (UHI) affects the energy flow in urban ecological systems, creates an unusual urban climate. By studying the effects of climate factors, local building materials to optimize energy efficiency, urban landscape, UHI phenomenon could be significantly moderated.

scholarly journals Energy storage system design for large-scale solar PV in Malaysia: techno-economic analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Laajimi ◽  
Yun Ii Go
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Output Ratio ◽  
The Difference

AbstractLarge-scale solar is a non-reversible trend in the energy mix of Malaysia. Due to the mismatch between the peak of solar energy generation and the peak demand, energy storage projects are essential and crucial to optimize the use of this renewable resource. Although the technical and environmental benefits of such transition have been examined, the profitability of energy storage systems combined with large-scale solar PV has not been studied in Malaysia. This project aims to determine the most profitable business model of power systems, in terms of PV installed capacity, and energy storage capacity, and power system components. A comparative study has been done to compare the economic outcomes from different types of projects, with different scales and multiple configurations of large-scale solar PV combined with energy storage. The lowest values of LCOE are guaranteed with energy storage output to LSS output ratio, A = 5%. In this case, 30-MW projects have the cheapest electricity, equal to RM 0.2484/kWh. On the other hand, increasing the energy storage output to LSS output ratio, A to 60% results in the increase of LCOE, exceeding RM 0.47/kWh. On the economical side, with a difference of 0.06 kWh/m2/day for the analysis carried out in Pahang and Perak, the difference in net present worth is more than 7.5% of the net present cost. The difference between the two locations is comparatively higher for 50-MW projects. It is equal to RM 11.67 Million for A = 60%, while it is equal to RM 13.5 Million with A = 5%. Due to the energy prices in Malaysia, the projects that include large-scale solar only are more profitable technically and financially than those including large-scale solar and energy storage. It is found that adding storage to a large-scale solar project is more profitable technically and financially with greater large-scale solar capacities and smaller storage capacities. Nevertheless, with the current energy prices in Malaysia, projects that include only energy storage are not financially profitable. This study determined the parameters that affect the profitability of large-scale solar energy projects and energy storage projects, and the configurations that maximize financial profits. The findings of this study are useful for the future regulations that intend to enhance the deployment of large-scale solar PV and energy storage in Malaysia.

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