Advanced Energy Technologies
Allen G. Njovana; Wenying Yu; Qiying Shen; Jiarui Li; Yanyan Zhu; Yongsheng Liu
Abstract
This study aims to assess the potential of coupling solar PV power plants with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to curtail load-shedding and provide a stable and reliable baseload power generation in Zimbabwe. Data from geographical surveys, power plant proposals, and investment information from ...
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This study aims to assess the potential of coupling solar PV power plants with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to curtail load-shedding and provide a stable and reliable baseload power generation in Zimbabwe. Data from geographical surveys, power plant proposals, and investment information from related sources were reviewed and applied accordingly. Areas considered to be of good potential to employ the use of BESS were identified considering such factors as feasibility of PV plants, proximity to transmission lines, the size of a town or neighborhood, and energy demands for BESS Return On Investment (ROI) calculations. Previous studies have proven that 10% of the suitable land for PV systems has the capability to generate thirty times the current power demand of the nation operating even with the least efficiency. In recent years, coupling renewable energy sources with a suitable energy storage system yielded improved performances, giving consumers a reliable, stable, and predictable grid. BESS technologies on the utility scale have improved in recent years, giving more options with improved safety, and decreasing the purchase costs, too.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Gunasagar Sahu; Hifjur Raheman
Abstract
A solar energy operated two-row weeder was developed for weeding in wetland paddy crop. Its major components are power source, power transmission system, weeding wheels, and a float. The power source comprised a DC motor, solar panel, and power storage unit with maximum power point tracker and motor ...
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A solar energy operated two-row weeder was developed for weeding in wetland paddy crop. Its major components are power source, power transmission system, weeding wheels, and a float. The power source comprised a DC motor, solar panel, and power storage unit with maximum power point tracker and motor controller. Solar panel/power storage unit through a motor controller supplied power to the DC motor and it was transmitted to the shaft of the weeding wheel through a dog clutch. A pair of wheels attached with jaw tooth and plane blades at wheel circumference was used for carrying out weeding and movement of the weeder in the field. A float was used to prevent sinkage of the weeder in soft soil which, in turn, ensured stability during operation. The developed weeder could do weeding at a rate of 0.06 ha per hour with field efficiency, weeding efficiency, and plant damage of 83.3 %, 83 % and 2-3 %, respectively. As compared to cono-weeder, the cost of weeding was 41.2 % lower due to higher field capacity and fewer labor requirements. Annual use less than 4.13 ha for the developed weeder was found uneconomical for carrying out weeding. The developed powering system comprising solar photovoltaic panels could supply power to do weeding continuously for 2 hours with a maximum discharge of 20 % from the battery.
Mohammad Ameri; Mojtaba Yoosefi
Abstract
This paper presents sizing, energy management strategy, and cost analysis for a configuration consisting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, fuel cell (FC) storage system, and reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology for combined power and fresh water production. In this system, PV is the main power ...
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This paper presents sizing, energy management strategy, and cost analysis for a configuration consisting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, fuel cell (FC) storage system, and reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology for combined power and fresh water production. In this system, PV is the main power supply source; fuel cell is a storage system accompanied by Hydrogen production and storage devices; and for fresh water production, RO technology is considered as desalination unit. Energy production strategy, developed on the basis of solar irradiance, hourly electricity consumption, and daily fresh water demand to minimize the capacity of components. To this goal, a flowchart diagram is designed, and sizing method is modeled using MATLAB software based on this flowchart. Finally, economic analysis for co-production of fresh water and electricity is discussed, and results of sensitivity analysis for variations of net present value (NPV) cost in terms of different fuel cell storage system prices and different interest rates are presented. Results show that described energy management strategy causes the configuration to follow hourly electrical demand and daily fresh water requirement precisely, so that the total surplus energy production during a day is very little and negligible. Moreover, calculations show that the largest part of costs is due to the energy storage system. So, while the solar PV is the main energy source and solar irradiance in Khark Island more than Astara, the overall configuration cost is greater in Khark Island just because of greater energy storage system costs, nevertheless, using such energy storage systems is necessary due to intermittent inherent of solar energy.
