Solar Photovoltaic Power for Residential Use

1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Hammond

As fossil fuel prices increase along with concern for the environment, interest in converting sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic solar cells continues to mount. And a common question is — when will photovoltaics be economical for residential use? Phoenix, Arizona, was chosen as the site to evaluate the economics of photovoltaic application to an energy conservative home (7109 kwh/yr). The analysis shows that a large summer load exists — which is what the utility company has been telling us for years. With such a load profile, optimum tilt angle of the solar array is 10 deg from the horizontal facing south (of interest in design of the roof structure). Peak power loads can be most economically handled with an auxiliary power source — either by power from the utility grid or from a gasoline generator. The auxiliary source would handle 18 percent of the load in June, 34 percent in July, and 24 percent in August. For the remainder of the year, power would be supplied 99 percent by the solar array. The need to handle peak loads with auxiliary power considerably reduces the solar energy storage problem in 1979. However, auxiliary power and energy storage in 1989 becomes a major part of the cost when grid power is not available. Cost per kwh for PV power in 1989 is projected at 2.8¢ when using utility grid backup and 11¢ when using generator backup.

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein M. K. Al-Masri ◽  
Ayman Al-Quraan ◽  
Ahmad AbuElrub ◽  
Mehrdad Ehsani

A study combining wind power with pumped hydro energy storage for the Jordanian utility grid is presented. Three solvers of the Matlab optimization toolbox are used to find the optimal solution for the cost of energy in a combined on-grid system. Genetic algorithm, simulated annealing (SA), and pattern search (PS) solvers are used to find the optimal solution. The GA solution of 0.0955388 $/kWh is economically feasible. This is 28.7% lower than the electricity purchased from the conventional utility grid. The discounted payback period to recover the total cost is 10.271 years. The suggested configuration is shown to be feasible by comparing it to real measurements for this case and a previous wind-only case. It is shown that the indicators of the optimal solution are improved. For instance, carbon dioxide emissions (ECO2) and conventional grid energy purchases are reduced by 24.69% and 24.68%, respectively. Moreover, it is shown that the benefits of adding hydro storage, combined with increasing the number of wind turbine units, reduces the cost of energy of renewables (COERenewables). Therefore, combining hydro storage with wind power is economically, environmentally, and technically a more efficient alternative to the conventional power generation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5752
Author(s):  
Reza Sabzehgar ◽  
Diba Zia Amirhosseini ◽  
Saeed D. Manshadi ◽  
Poria Fajri

This work aims to minimize the cost of installing renewable energy resources (photovoltaic systems) as well as energy storage systems (batteries), in addition to the cost of operation over a period of 20 years, which will include the cost of operating the power grid and the charging and discharging of the batteries. To this end, we propose a long-term planning optimization and expansion framework for a smart distribution network. A second order cone programming (SOCP) algorithm is utilized in this work to model the power flow equations. The minimization is computed in accordance to the years (y), seasons (s), days of the week (d), time of the day (t), and different scenarios based on the usage of energy and its production (c). An IEEE 33-bus balanced distribution test bench is utilized to evaluate the performance, effectiveness, and reliability of the proposed optimization and forecasting model. The numerical studies are conducted on two of the highest performing batteries in the current market, i.e., Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and redox flow batteries (RFBs). In addition, the pros and cons of distributed Li-ion batteries are compared with centralized RFBs. The results are presented to showcase the economic profits of utilizing these battery technologies.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 5432-5443
Author(s):  
Shyam K. Pahari ◽  
Tugba Ceren Gokoglan ◽  
Benjoe Rey B. Visayas ◽  
Jennifer Woehl ◽  
James A. Golen ◽  
...  

With the cost of renewable energy near parity with fossil fuels, energy storage is paramount. We report a breakthrough on a bioinspired NRFB active-material, with greatly improved solubility, and place it in a predictive theoretical framework.


Aerospace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Gonzalez-Llorente ◽  
Aleksander A. Lidtke ◽  
Ken Hatanaka ◽  
Ryo Kawauchi ◽  
Kei-Ichi Okuyama

As small satellites are becoming more widespread for new businesses and applications, the development time, failure rate and cost of the spacecraft must be reduced. One of the systems with the highest cost and the most frequent failure in the satellite is the Electrical Power System (EPS). One approach to achieve rapid development times while reducing the cost and failure rate is using scalable modules. We propose a solar module integrated converter (SMIC) and its verification process as a key component for power generation in EPS. SMIC integrates the solar array, its regulators and the telemetry acquisition unit. This paper details the design and verification process of the SMIC and presents the in-orbit results of 12 SMICs used in Ten-Koh satellite, which was developed in less than 1.5 years. The in-orbit data received since the launch reveal that solar module withstands not only the launching environment of H-IIA rocket but also more than 1500 orbits in LEO. The modular approach allowed the design, implementation and qualification of only one module, followed by manufacturing and integration of 12 subsequent flight units. The approach with the solar module can be followed in other components of the EPS such as battery and power regulators.


2019 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 01007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Lepszy

Due to the random nature of the production, the use of renewable energy sources requires the use of technologies that allow adjustment of electricity production to demand. One of the ways that enable this task is the use of energy storage systems. The article focuses on the analysis of the cost-effectiveness of energy storage from the grid. In particular, the technology was evaluated using underground hydrogen storage generated in electrolysers. Economic analyzes use historical data from the Polish energy market. The obtained results illustrate, among other things, the proportions between the main technology modules selected optimally in technical and economic terms.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Stein ◽  
Moe Tun ◽  
Keith Musser ◽  
Richard Rocheleau

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are being deployed on electrical grids in significant numbers to provide fast-response services. These systems are normally procured by the end user, such as a utility grid owner or independent power producer. This paper introduces a novel research project in which a research institution has purchased a 1 MW BESS and turned ownership over to a utility company under an agreement that allowed the institution to perform experimentation and data collection on the grid for a multi-year period. This arrangement, along with protocols governing experimentation, has created a unique research opportunity to actively and systematically test the impact of a BESS on a live island grid. The 2012 installation and commissioning of the BESS was facilitated by a partnership between the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) and the utility owner, the Hawaiian Electric and Light Company (HELCO). After the test period ended, HELCO continued to allow data collection (including health testing). In 2018, after 8500 equivalent cycles, the BESS continues to operate within specifications. HNEI continues to provide HELCO with expertise to aid with diagnostics as needed. Details about the BESS design, installation, experimental protocols, initial results, and lessons learned are presented in this paper.


An ‘ideal* converter would accept the power flow of a 3-phase a.c. system operating with sinusoidal voltage and current, and, without energy storage and by a continuous process, convert to or from d.c. Present-day converters rely, however, on repetitive circuit switching operations, more than 12 per cycle being generally uneconomic despite the cost of the energy storage components required in damping circuits and in the filters to maintain acceptable waveforms. Analysis of the operation of such converters is based on the mathematics of repetitive transients (Laplace and Fourier) and on the use of a d.c. transmission simulator, an extensive model at 10 -7 scale in power, which is also necessary in the development of complex electronic control circuits. There exists a great background of experience contributing to the design of most components of the power circuit. In contrast, the development of the switching device, whether thyristor stack or mercury arc valve, calls for advances in the state of art, both in scientific appreciation and in technology, which must be supported by full scale tests. There is little immediate prospect of the theoretical ‘ ideal * converter, but this is unimportant, provided that development leads to enhanced overall reliability.


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