scholarly journals Technology assessment of solar-energy systems: Part I. An analysis of life-cycle costs of solar facilities. Part II. Minerals critical to the development of future energy technologies in high and low solar scenarios

1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sathaye ◽  
H. Ruderman
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Energy Technologies

scholarly journals Adjustment of the Life Cycle Inventory in Life Cycle Assessment for the Flexible Integration into Energy Systems Analysis

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4437
Author(s):  
Thomas Betten ◽  
Shivenes Shammugam ◽  
Roberta Graf
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Use Case ◽  
Double Counting ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Energy Systems Analysis ◽  
The Difference

With an increasing share of renewable energy technologies in our energy systems, the integration of not only direct emission (from the use phase), but also the total life cycle emissions (including emissions during resource extraction, production, etc.) becomes more important in order to draw meaningful conclusions from Energy Systems Analysis (ESA). While the benefit of integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into ESA is acknowledged, methodologically sound integration lacks resonance in practice, partly because the dimension of the implications is not yet fully understood. This study proposes an easy-to-implement procedure for the integration of LCA results in ESA based on existing theoretical approaches. The need for a methodologically sound integration, including the avoidance of double counting of emissions, is demonstrated on the use case of Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell photovoltaic technology. The difference in Global Warming Potential of 19% between direct and LCA based emissions shows the significance for the integration of the total emissions into energy systems analysis and the potential double counting of 75% of the life cycle emissions for the use case supports the need for avoidance of double counting.

scholarly journals Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Impact Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Microgrid Systems for Off-Grid Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Daniel Akinyele
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Reliability Indices

<p>This thesis proposes Solar Photovoltaic Microgrids (SPMs) for six different remote communities in Nigeria, one from each of the country’s geopolitical zones. The research analysis is presented based on the basic load demand of 24 households within each of the selected communities. The arrangements of the houses are obtained from the community’s layout provided by a building consortium.  The study first presents the intended users’ basic energy needs and their daily energy usage. The available solar energy resources of the different locations are also carefully examined, in relation to their disparities, intermittent characteristics and seasonal variations. The research also emphasises the possibility of load growth. With such consideration, more practical electrification solutions can be achieved. The study considers users’ electricity demand growth of 25 to 75% of the baseline value of 175 kWh/d.  The photovoltaic microgrid systems are modelled in the DIgSILENT PowerFactory environment. The lengths of the lines running from the electric power plant to the households are obtained from the community’s layout. This information is included in the model, coupled with the solar energy data and the technical configurations of the PV arrays.  The effectiveness of the proposed SPMs is evaluated by first comparing the techno-economic and environmental assessment results with those of a diesel power plant. This is also done by comparing the results with some existing related outputs in the literature, which are reported for solar photovoltaic systems in different regions of the world.  The research results indicate that it is possible to develop practical, cost-effective and reliable clean energy systems for the specified communities based on solar photovoltaic technology. The SPMs have the capability to compete with conventional electricity options – diesel/petrol generators with which some households are already familiar. Furthermore, even though the diesel plant’s initial capital cost is as low as ~ 10 - 17% of those of the SPMs, its life cycle costs are ~ 2 - 2.3 times the life cycle costs of the proposed SPMs for the six locations. Over the 25-year project life span, the SPMs clearly provide a significant economic benefit.  The battery average SoC probability distribution values of >98% above the minimum set point of 30% were also achieved. The reliability indices, i.e. LOEP of < 5%, availability of > 95% achieved in this study for the SPMs, are also comparable with the existing results in the literature. The SPM’s estimated emission rate is ~57 gCO₂/kWh, which is lower than the values of 576 - 695 gCO₂/kWh obtained for diesel systems. The SPM system’s GWP ranges from 3,409 to 7,945 kgCO₂-eq. Also, the system’s EPBTs and EROIs range from 1.11 to 1.6 years and 15.63 to 22.52, respectively, of the specified locations.  The proposed SPM model is based on the global engineering standards and best practices and has very considerable practical applications. These can provide a reference point for governments, policymakers, researchers, designers, planners, and other stakeholders of interest in conceptualising and proceeding with the design, planning, and development of new electrification systems for remote communities.</p>

scholarly journals Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Impact Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Microgrid Systems for Off-Grid Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Daniel Akinyele
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Reliability Indices

<p>This thesis proposes Solar Photovoltaic Microgrids (SPMs) for six different remote communities in Nigeria, one from each of the country’s geopolitical zones. The research analysis is presented based on the basic load demand of 24 households within each of the selected communities. The arrangements of the houses are obtained from the community’s layout provided by a building consortium.  The study first presents the intended users’ basic energy needs and their daily energy usage. The available solar energy resources of the different locations are also carefully examined, in relation to their disparities, intermittent characteristics and seasonal variations. The research also emphasises the possibility of load growth. With such consideration, more practical electrification solutions can be achieved. The study considers users’ electricity demand growth of 25 to 75% of the baseline value of 175 kWh/d.  The photovoltaic microgrid systems are modelled in the DIgSILENT PowerFactory environment. The lengths of the lines running from the electric power plant to the households are obtained from the community’s layout. This information is included in the model, coupled with the solar energy data and the technical configurations of the PV arrays.  The effectiveness of the proposed SPMs is evaluated by first comparing the techno-economic and environmental assessment results with those of a diesel power plant. This is also done by comparing the results with some existing related outputs in the literature, which are reported for solar photovoltaic systems in different regions of the world.  The research results indicate that it is possible to develop practical, cost-effective and reliable clean energy systems for the specified communities based on solar photovoltaic technology. The SPMs have the capability to compete with conventional electricity options – diesel/petrol generators with which some households are already familiar. Furthermore, even though the diesel plant’s initial capital cost is as low as ~ 10 - 17% of those of the SPMs, its life cycle costs are ~ 2 - 2.3 times the life cycle costs of the proposed SPMs for the six locations. Over the 25-year project life span, the SPMs clearly provide a significant economic benefit.  The battery average SoC probability distribution values of >98% above the minimum set point of 30% were also achieved. The reliability indices, i.e. LOEP of < 5%, availability of > 95% achieved in this study for the SPMs, are also comparable with the existing results in the literature. The SPM’s estimated emission rate is ~57 gCO₂/kWh, which is lower than the values of 576 - 695 gCO₂/kWh obtained for diesel systems. The SPM system’s GWP ranges from 3,409 to 7,945 kgCO₂-eq. Also, the system’s EPBTs and EROIs range from 1.11 to 1.6 years and 15.63 to 22.52, respectively, of the specified locations.  The proposed SPM model is based on the global engineering standards and best practices and has very considerable practical applications. These can provide a reference point for governments, policymakers, researchers, designers, planners, and other stakeholders of interest in conceptualising and proceeding with the design, planning, and development of new electrification systems for remote communities.</p>

Optimal Design of Solar Energy Systems With Uncertain Data

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Richard W. Leigh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Uncertain Data ◽  
Mathematical Expression ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Total System ◽  
System Parameters ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
The Cost

The technical and economic characteristics of optimized solar energy systems can be expressed in a concise mathematical expression and this expression manipulated to show the dependence of total system cost on variables such as collector cost and efficiency, weather data, or the cost of the backup fuel. The lack of certain knowledge of future weather, fuel prices, and system performance implies that a system optimized, with respect to an assumed set of these data, may not be optimal with respect to the realities of operation. This formulation demonstrates clearly how the life cycle costs of the system increase as a result of errors in estimating various system parameters; in most cases, the costs of errors are not large over their expected ranges. In particular, most solar energy systems designed to satisfy a given load (that is, having a given nameplate capacity) should be optimized for the best weather they may encounter, and this design used wherever the systems are economically viable, as it is likely that the savings due to standardization will outweigh the relatively small costs of being imperfectly optimized.

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