• Energy Research

In this work-in-progress, an educational tool based on a PSpice photovoltaic (PV) module simulation model is presented. An innovative practice relies on a monitoring system for PV applications that supports this didactic tool. The monitoring system manages to provide real data about the performance of the PV module such as irradiance, ambient temperature and the current, voltage and power of the PV module. Students can study and calculate the effect of irradiance and ambient temperatures on these variables. Afterwards, they use the simulation models provided to observe the PV module performance. Finally, both set of data (calculated and simulated) will be compared with the real data obtained from the monitoring of the PV module mentioned above. The tool here developed not only shows the effect of a given instantaneous solar irradiance and temperature upon photovoltaic cell and module performance but manages to show, through a friendly and didactic graphic interface, their performance throughout a determined interval of time (e.g. days), given real irradiance and ambient temperatures profiles obtained from the monitoring system. Moreover, this tool has a high potential as it can be added more functionalities as energy estimation and the effect of shadows on a PV generator.

In this work-in-progress, an educational tool based on a PSpice photovoltaic (PV) module simulation model is presented. An innovative practice relies on a monitoring system for PV applications that supports this didactic tool. The monitoring system manages to provide real data about the performance of the PV module such as irradiance, ambient temperature and the current, voltage and power of the PV module. Students can study and calculate the effect of irradiance and ambient temperatures on these variables. Afterwards, they use the simulation models provided to observe the PV module performance. Finally, both set of data (calculated and simulated) will be compared with the real data obtained from the monitoring of the PV module mentioned above. The tool here developed not only shows the effect of a given instantaneous solar irradiance and temperature upon photovoltaic cell and module performance but manages to show, through a friendly and didactic graphic interface, their performance throughout a determined interval of time (e.g. days), given real irradiance and ambient temperatures profiles obtained from the monitoring system. Moreover, this tool has a high potential as it can be added more functionalities as energy estimation and the effect of shadows on a PV generator.

To ensure the survival of society, an enormous amount of energy is required to sustain the economic and social development of communities. In addition, there is a pressing need to achieve significant reductions in climate change and the associated costs of implementing systems based on traditional energy sources, as well as addressing the issue of providing electricity to isolated areas. In rural environments, there is an alternative energy source with enormous potential, agricultural biomass, which can produce electrical and thermal energy and can progressively help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The purpose of this work is to present a dynamic simulation model of a power generation plant that uses the Joule Brayton thermodynamic cycle, based on a gas turbine which is fueled by residual agricultural biomass; the cycle converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The problem is approached through the characterization of the biomass, mathematical models of the plant components, and simulation of the system behavior in different scenarios. The simulations are processed in Matlab/Simulink, which allows the model to be verified, validating the equilibrium relationship between generation and load demand.

To ensure the survival of society, an enormous amount of energy is required to sustain the economic and social development of communities. In addition, there is a pressing need to achieve significant reductions in climate change and the associated costs of implementing systems based on traditional energy sources, as well as addressing the issue of providing electricity to isolated areas. In rural environments, there is an alternative energy source with enormous potential, agricultural biomass, which can produce electrical and thermal energy and can progressively help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The purpose of this work is to present a dynamic simulation model of a power generation plant that uses the Joule Brayton thermodynamic cycle, based on a gas turbine which is fueled by residual agricultural biomass; the cycle converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The problem is approached through the characterization of the biomass, mathematical models of the plant components, and simulation of the system behavior in different scenarios. The simulations are processed in Matlab/Simulink, which allows the model to be verified, validating the equilibrium relationship between generation and load demand.

Abstract A proper assessment of the cost-competitiveness and profitability of self-consumption systems is crucial to promoting the transition from grid-dependent to energy self-sufficient buildings. Most of the approaches found in the literature may not take into account economic parameters such as taxes, depreciation and the cost of financing, which have a significant effect on the economic profitability of an investment. Moreover, they only focus on discrete array powers and relatively high recording intervals when estimating the self-consumed energy. In order to manage the aforementioned challenges, a new method will be developed to size the PV generator in a PV self-consumption system which provides the NPV curve together with the self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices for a wide range of array powers which suits residential self-consumption systems. Two scenarios will be considered depending on whether the generated surplus electricity is wasted or it is remunerated from the grid operator. Results show that not only the chosen scenario but the electricity tariff may be key parameters when optimizing NPV. Furthermore, the impact of the recording interval may be significant when estimating NPV. Percentage errors of 11.4% and 33.6% may be reached when considering a recording interval of 15 and 60 min, respectively.

Abstract A proper assessment of the cost-competitiveness and profitability of self-consumption systems is crucial to promoting the transition from grid-dependent to energy self-sufficient buildings. Most of the approaches found in the literature may not take into account economic parameters such as taxes, depreciation and the cost of financing, which have a significant effect on the economic profitability of an investment. Moreover, they only focus on discrete array powers and relatively high recording intervals when estimating the self-consumed energy. In order to manage the aforementioned challenges, a new method will be developed to size the PV generator in a PV self-consumption system which provides the NPV curve together with the self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices for a wide range of array powers which suits residential self-consumption systems. Two scenarios will be considered depending on whether the generated surplus electricity is wasted or it is remunerated from the grid operator. Results show that not only the chosen scenario but the electricity tariff may be key parameters when optimizing NPV. Furthermore, the impact of the recording interval may be significant when estimating NPV. Percentage errors of 11.4% and 33.6% may be reached when considering a recording interval of 15 and 60 min, respectively.

The industrial sector is not the one with the highest energy consumption but, together with, it represents the most, together with the transport sector, the most polluting ones. Photovoltaic Rooftop systems and battery energy storage systems are very strong candidates to include renewable energy, allowing greater grid autonomy and greenhouse gas mitigation. Therefore, this paper aims to outline it will be provided a methodology based on monitored data to analyze the potential of photovoltaic Rooftops with battery energy storage systems regarding self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices in the industrial sector. Direct self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices, either with or without storage, will be analyzed. In addition, the iso self-consumption and iso self-sufficiency curves are used, which allow us to evaluate the matching between the generation and consumption profiles considering either direct self-consumption or the use of batteries. In this sense, a large, medium, and small olive mill were selected in order to cover the entire spectrum of these industries. Olive mills are suitable candidates for the incorporation of photovoltaic systems since generation profiles match the consumption profiles. However, the size of these systems is highly dependent on the period of consumption to be faced. Regarding batteries, both during the harvest and off-harvest periods, the impact on self-sufficiency becomes significant, reaching increases of up to 10%, depending on the battery capacity used.

The industrial sector is not the one with the highest energy consumption but, together with, it represents the most, together with the transport sector, the most polluting ones. Photovoltaic Rooftop systems and battery energy storage systems are very strong candidates to include renewable energy, allowing greater grid autonomy and greenhouse gas mitigation. Therefore, this paper aims to outline it will be provided a methodology based on monitored data to analyze the potential of photovoltaic Rooftops with battery energy storage systems regarding self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices in the industrial sector. Direct self-consumption and self-sufficiency indices, either with or without storage, will be analyzed. In addition, the iso self-consumption and iso self-sufficiency curves are used, which allow us to evaluate the matching between the generation and consumption profiles considering either direct self-consumption or the use of batteries. In this sense, a large, medium, and small olive mill were selected in order to cover the entire spectrum of these industries. Olive mills are suitable candidates for the incorporation of photovoltaic systems since generation profiles match the consumption profiles. However, the size of these systems is highly dependent on the period of consumption to be faced. Regarding batteries, both during the harvest and off-harvest periods, the impact on self-sufficiency becomes significant, reaching increases of up to 10%, depending on the battery capacity used.