• Energy Research
• other engineering and technologies close
• 7. Clean energy close
• English close

The integration of Grid-Connected PV systems into buildings or public areas is one of the most usual applications of the photovoltaic solar energy in developed countries. Since early 2009, the University is working on an ambitious project, the so-called UNIVERSOL project, where its main goal is to convert the University Campus in a big public area which combines the PV electricity generation with the common uses of a university place. The aim of this paper is to show to the scientific community the main results of this project and that the methodology proposed for the “large urban-area photovoltaic potential” estimation can be easily exportable to other locations with similar characteristics, so the photovoltaic generators integration examples proposed in this project, and the software tools used to represent it, can be helpful for other designers, taking into account that this project has been adapted to the new Spanish legislation. 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 4068-4072

A conversion efficiency of 22.75 % for silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells using standard 40 um finger width of copper electroplating process has been successfully achieved in our RD line at AU Optronics (AUO). However, 40 um finger width of copper (Cu) electroplating (EP) technique has encountered difficulties for further efficiency improvements. Our power loss simulation reveals efficiency gains from fine fingers. AUO solar RD team has been developing a new manufacturing technology by employing 20 um finger width of Cu EP to improve shortcircuit current. Both the experimental result and theoretical calculation show that the total power loss of 20 um finger width and optimum TCO film resistance of Cu EP cells is much smaller than the power loss from the state of 40 um finger width technique. According to the simulation result, an efficiency of more than 23.1% is achievable by our unique metallization technique. 29th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 1352-1354

The 2011 world average carbon footprint of PV system manufacturing is estimated as 1798 kg CO2- eq/kWp using technology shares (multi, mono, film Si, CdTe, CIGS) as weighting factors. The electricity mixes of all production countries of poly-Si, wafer, cell and modules was taken into account. New yearly irradiation data (kWh/m2) and PV energy output (kWh/kWp) are calculated for different regions in Europe on NUTS level 1 and 2 for horizontal, optimum and vertical angle. The world average carbon footprint of PV electricity generation is estimated as 55 g CO2- eq/kWh with cumulative installations as weighting factors. Lowest value of 38 g CO2-eq/kWh is for Cyprus which has a high irradiation and the highest value of 89 g CO2-eq/kWh is for Iceland which has a low irradiation. It is assumed that the PV modules are installed at optimal angle to the sun and end-of-life treatment is excluded. The majority of countries can decrease the greenhouse gas emission of electricity generation by increasing the share of photovoltaics. 29th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 3421-3430

Highly conductive sintered silicon is a promising material which can be used as substrates for high efficiency devices deposited on or bonded to the surface of such supporting substrates. This work presents results concerning sintering of such material by hot pressing (HP) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) methods. The samples were characterized by Light and electron microscopy, Electron Backscatter Diffraction, Energy Dispersive Diffraction and Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry. The texture was substantially different between the two materials with random orientation and grain boundaries for HP and considerable Coincidence Site Lattice (CSL) and twinning for the SPS material. Considerable particulate contamination of W, Fe, Cr and Al was detected by EDS. Dislocation density was high, but could not be reliably characterized by etching method. Such defect and contamination levels are not necessarily detrimental for hybrid structures, although presence of fast diffusing elements may pose challenges due to transfer to the high quality layer during depositing or bonding. 28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 427-430

The scope of this paper is to present the work carried out by the European project SUNRISE which aims at strengthening the interaction between architects, construction companies and PV module manufactures. The fruitful cooperation between the PV community and the key stakeholders just mentioned will lead to a larger deployment of PV systems in building and therefore to a substantially cost reduction. The paper covers the following issues: • identification of barriers to overcome for enhancing the diffusion of PV products in the building and construction sector • overview of the multiple applications of PV in buildings • collaboration between building and construction sector and PV module manufactures in developing new ways of cooperation and creating better channels for a proper communication and dissemination • standardisation and regulations for PV products in building environments This project is co-financed by the European Commission, FP6-2005-TREN-4, SUNRISE project. 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 3300-3304

It is well known, that the electrical energy storage in the large scale is basically a difficult process. Such a process is connected with energy losses, as most frequently it is the conversion of electrical energy into another form, for example mechanical, and then back to the primal electrical form. Though, the SMES technology offers the energy storage in an unchanged form, which is advantageous primarily in the achieved efficiency. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, commonly used in the medical facilities are based on the basis of superconducting magnet. After its rejection from operation, (basically caused only by its „software fustiness“ and not by functional faults), there is a possibility of using such devices for the energy storage purposes. Additionally, such a technology of storage is also ecological. A research project is running at the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies (F BERG), the Department of Business and Management, in the field of using rejected MRI for energy storage purposes.

Abstract preview not available - see full-text PDF article.

The concept of energy transition can be interpreted in different ways depending on the nature of the agent involved. However, practitioners and existing literature agree that a country’s energy transition is the variation of fossil fuel share in the total primary energy supply (TPES). Public policies mostly focus on changing the energy mix directly or indirectly. However, the production of fossil fuels depends mostly on market-related determinants, including prices and investment in the means of production. But what is the contribution of global energy transition? The objective of this paper is to estimate to which extent public policies related to energy transition affect fossil fuel production in producing countries. For this purpose, we consider as a proxy of energy transition the evolution over 40 years of the TPES of a large panel of fossil fuel–exporting countries, which we compare to its total primary energy production (TPEP). Moreover, we analyze these effects to determine if they differ according to country characteristics, such as its level of development or its membership in OPEC. Finally, we describe the long-run and short-run effects by studying separately the effects of production investments and those of R&D investments in RES technologies. The European Journal of Comparative Economics, Vol 17. no. 1, p. 5-30

In this study, thermodynamic and statistical analyses were performed on a gas turbine system, to assess the impact of some important operating parameters like CIT (Compressor Inlet Temperature), PR (Pressure Ratio) and TIT (Turbine Inlet Temperature) on its performance characteristics such as net power output, energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and fuel consumption. Each performance characteristic was enunciated as a function of operating parameters, followed by a parametric study and optimization. The results showed that the performance characteristics increase with an increase in the TIT and a decrease in the CIT, except fuel consumption which behaves oppositely. The net power output and efficiencies increase with the PR up to certain initial values and then start to decrease, whereas the fuel consumption always decreases with an increase in the PR. The results of exergy analysis showed the combustion chamber as a major contributor to the exergy destruction, followed by stack gas. Subsequently, multiple regression models were developed to correlate each of the response variables (performance characteristic) with the predictor variables (operating parameters). The regression model equations showed a significant statistical relationship between the predictor and response variables.

11th International Fluid Power Conference, 11. IFK, Aachen, Germany, 19 Mar 2018 - 21 Mar 2018; Aachen : [Mainz], 14-27 (2018). Published by [Mainz], Aachen