scholarly journals Is Investing in Companies Manufacturing Solar Components a Lucrative Business? A Decision Tree Based Analysis

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Sebastian Klaudiusz Tomczak ◽  
Anna Skowrońska-Szmer ◽  
Jan Jakub Szczygielski

In an era of increasing energy production from renewable sources, the demand for components for renewable energy systems has dramatically increased. Consequently, managers and investors are interested in knowing whether a company associated with the semiconductor and related device manufacturing sector, especially the photovoltaic (PV) systems manufacturers, is a money-making business. We apply a new approach that extends prior research by applying decision trees (DTs) to identify ratios (i.e., indicators), which discriminate between companies within the sector that do (designated as “green”) and do not (“red”) produce elements of PV systems. Our results indicate that on the basis of selected ratios, green companies can be distinguished from the red companies without an in-depth analysis of the product portfolio. We also find that green companies, especially operating in China are characterized by lower financial performance, thus providing a negative (and unexpected) answer to the question posed in the title.

Author(s):  
Radian Belu

The use of renewable energy sources is increasingly being pursued as a supplemental and an alternative to traditional energy generation. Several distributed energy systems are expected to a have a significant impact on the energy industry in the near future. As such, the renewable energy systems are presently undergoing a rapid change in technology and use. Such a feature is enabled clearly by power electronics. Both the solar-thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies have an almost exponential growth in installed capacity and applications. Both of them contribute to the overall grid control and power electronics research and advancement. Among the renewable energy systems, photovoltaic (PV) systems are the ones that make use of an extended scale of the advanced power electronics technologies. The specification of a power electronics interface is subject to the requirements related not only to the renewable energy source itself but also to its effects on the operations of the systems on which it is connected, especially the ones where these intermittent energy sources constitute a significant part of the total system capacity. Power electronics can also play a significant role in enhancing the performance and efficiency of PV systems. Furthermore, the use of appropriate power electronics enables solar generated electricity to be integrated into power grid. Aside from improving the quality of solar panels themselves, power electronics can provide another means of improving energy efficiency in PV and solar-thermal energy systems.


2015 ◽  
pp. 2016-2072
Author(s):  
Radian Belu

The use of renewable energy sources is increasingly being pursued as a supplemental and an alternative to traditional energy generation. Several distributed energy systems are expected to a have a significant impact on the energy industry in the near future. As such, the renewable energy systems are presently undergoing a rapid change in technology and use. Such a feature is enabled clearly by power electronics. Both the solar-thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies have an almost exponential growth in installed capacity and applications. Both of them contribute to the overall grid control and power electronics research and advancement. Among the renewable energy systems, photovoltaic (PV) systems are the ones that make use of an extended scale of the advanced power electronics technologies. The specification of a power electronics interface is subject to the requirements related not only to the renewable energy source itself but also to its effects on the operations of the systems on which it is connected, especially the ones where these intermittent energy sources constitute a significant part of the total system capacity. Power electronics can also play a significant role in enhancing the performance and efficiency of PV systems. Furthermore, the use of appropriate power electronics enables solar generated electricity to be integrated into power grid. Aside from improving the quality of solar panels themselves, power electronics can provide another means of improving energy efficiency in PV and solar-thermal energy systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 367
Author(s):  
Yosoon Choi

With growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, the security of conventional energy supplies, and the environmental safety of conventional energy production techniques, renewable energy systems are becoming increasingly important and are receiving much political attention [...]


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Schicker ◽  
Petrina Papazek ◽  
Elisa Perrone ◽  
Delia Arnold

<p>With the increasing usage of renewable energy systems to meet the climate agreement aims accurate predictions of the possible amount of energy production stemming from renewable energy systems are needed. The need for such predictions and their uncertainty is manifold: to estimate the load on the power grid, to take measures in case of too much/not enough renewable energy with reduced nuclear energy availability, rescheduling/adjusting of energy production,  maintenance, trading, and more. Furthermore, TSOs and energy providers need the information as finegrained, spatially and temporarily, as possible, on third level hub or even on solar farm / wind turbine level for a comparatively large area.</p><p>These needs pose a challenge to numerical weather prediction (NWP) post-processing methods. Typically, one uses selected NWP fields aswell as observations, if available, as input in post-processing methods. Here, we combine two post-processing methods namely a neural network and random forest approach with the Flex_extract algorithm. Flex_extract is the pre-processing algorithm for the langrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART and the trajectory model FLEXTRA. Flex_extract uses the three-dimensional wind fields of the NWP model and calculates additionally the instantaneous surfaces fluxes. Thus, coupling Flex_extract with a machine learning post-processing algorithm enables the usage of native NWP fields with a higher vertical accuracy than pressure levels. To generate an ensmeble in post-processing from deterministic sources different tools are available. Here, we will apply the Schaake Shuffle. </p><p>In this study a neural network and random forest approach for probabilistic forecasting with a high horizontal grid resolution (1 km ) as well as a high temporal forecasting frequency of wind speed and global horizontal irradiance for Austria will be presented. Evaluation will be carried out against gridded analysis fields and observations.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 110-116 ◽  
pp. 2188-2193 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.V. Atuchin ◽  
I.B. Troitskaia ◽  
O.Yu. Khyzhun ◽  
V.L. Bekenev ◽  
Yu.M. Solonin

— The electronic structure of hexagonal WO3 and triclinic CuWO4 nanocrystals, prospective materials for renewable energy production and functional devices, has been studied using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) methods. The present XPS and XES results render that the W 5d-and O 2p-like states contribute throughout the whole valence-band region of the h-WO3 and CuWO4 nanocrystalline materialls, however maximum contributions of the O 2p-like states occur in the upper, whilst the W 5d-like states in the lower portions of the valence band, respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Oğuz ◽  
Ayşe Eylül Şentürk

Energy production without destroying the environment has been one of the most crucial issues for people living in today’s world. In order to analyze whole environmental and/or economic impacts of the energy production process, life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) are widely used. In this study, two distinct renewable energy systems are assessed. First, a land-based wind farm, which has been operating in Bozcaada Island since 2000, is compared to a proposed solar photovoltaic power plant in terms of Energy Pay-Back Time (EPBT) periods and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and life cycle cost. The energy production process including the recycling phase evaluated “from cradle to grave” using GaBi software for both cases. All scenarios are compared by considering different impact categories such as global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), and eutrophication potential (EP). Following this, levelized unit cost to produce 1 MWh electricity (LUCE) is calculated for both systems. This study revealed that LCA and LCCA are useful and practical tools that help to determine drawbacks and benefits of different renewable energy systems considering their long-term environmental and economic impacts. Our findings show that onshore wind farms have a number of benefits than proposed photovoltaic power plants in terms of environmental and cost aspects.


2013 ◽  
Vol 341-342 ◽  
pp. 1351-1362
Author(s):  
Fang Lin Luo

Multilevel DC/AC Inverters have various structures. They have many advantages. Unfortunately, most existing inverters content too many components (independent/floating batteries/sources, diodes, Capacitors and switches). The author introduces the "Laddered Multilevel DC/AC Inverters in this paper that is new approach of the development in this area. Their simple structure and clear operation are obviously different from the existing inverters. Its application in Solar Panel Energy Systems is successful. The simulation and experimental results strongly support our design. We believe that these inverters will draw much attention over the world, and be applied in other renewable energy systems.


Energies ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 500
Author(s):  
Aditya Pandey ◽  
Pramod Pandey ◽  
Jaya Shankar Tumuluru

This review uses a more holistic approach to provide comprehensive information and up-to-date knowledge on solar energy development in India and scientific and technological advancement. This review describes the types of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, existing solar technologies, and the structure of PV systems. Substantial emphasis has been given to understanding the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the solar energy installed capacity. In addition, we evaluated the prospects of solar energy and the revival of growth in solar energy installation post-COVID-19. Further, we described the challenges caused by transitions and cloud enhancement on smaller and larger PV systems on the solar power amended grid-system. While the review is focused on evaluating the solar energy growth in India, we used a broader approach to compare the existing solar technologies available across the world. The need for recycling waste from solar energy systems has been emphasized. Improved PV cell efficiencies and trends in cost reductions have been provided to understand the overall growth of solar-based energy production. Further, to understand the existing technologies used in PV cell production, we have reviewed monocrystalline and polycrystalline cell structures and their limitations. In terms of solar energy production and the application of various solar technologies, we have used the latest available literature to cover stand-alone PV and on-grid PV systems. More than 5000 trillion kWh/year solar energy incidents over India are estimated, with most parts receiving 4–7 kWh/m2. Currently, energy consumption in India is about 1.13 trillion kWh/year, and production is about 1.38 trillion kWh/year, which indicates production capacities are slightly higher than actual demand. Out of a total of 100 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, the existing solar capacity in India is about 40 GW. Over the past ten years, the solar energy production capacity has increased by over 24,000%. By 2030, the total renewable energy capacity is expected to be 450 GW, and solar energy is likely to play a crucial role (over 60%). In the wake of the increased emphasis on solar energy and the substantial impacts of COVID-19 on solar energy installations, this review provides the most updated and comprehensive information on the current solar energy systems, available technologies, growth potential, prospect of solar energy, and need for growth in the solar waste recycling industry. We expect the analysis and evaluation of technologies provided here will add to the existing literature to benefit stakeholders, scientists, and policymakers.


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