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This paper describes the control of temperature rise in photovoltaic panels by using wickless heat pipe cooling technique. These heat pipes take the help of gravity for circulation of their working fluid without using a wick structure. For current thermal management study, two solar panels of same dimensions and two identical gravity assisted wickless heat pipes are designed and fabricated. One of the panels is cooled by using these two heat pipes. Other panel, without heat pipes is used for performance comparison purpose and has been designated as the reference module. In order to have the same operating conditions, these panels have been installed together. Experimental parameters such as voltage, current from both panels, module temperatures along with solar irradiance and ambient temperature are recorded with the help of a data logger. For this study, minute wise data of various parameters have been recorded for the test period of 9 AM to 5 PM, since solar radiation intensity is high during this time period. Actual data tabulation for the analysis has been done at 15 minute intervals. The comparative analysis for each panel has been carried out for various dates and has been presented in this paper. A significant drop in temperature of around10%, corresponding to a temperature reduction of5.96°C, has been estimated in the operating temperature of photovoltaic module equipped with wickless heat pipes. Further, due to the thermal management, in this study, the optimum enhancement in photoelectric conversion efficiency is found to be 7.69%, with 15.4% of panel with cooling and 14.3% of panel without cooling. Similarly optimum improvement of 4.03% in power output has been recorded with 27.09 W from panel with cooling and 26.04 W from the panel with no cooling. The outcomes of this experimental study are highly encouraging in the field of photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to sustainable transportation has fueled the need for innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) systems have emerged as a promising technology that combines renewable energy generation with the infra‐structure of buildings. This paper comprehensively reviews the BIPV system for EV charging, focusing on its technology, application, and performance. The review identifies the gaps in the existing literature, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of BIPV systems in the context of EV charging. A detailed review of BIPV technology and its application in EV charging is presented, covering aspects such as the generation of solar cell technology, BIPV system installation, design options and influencing factors. Furthermore, the review examines the performance of BIPV systems for EV charging, focusing on energy, economic, and environmental parameters and their comparison with previous studies. Additionally, the paper explores current trends in energy management for BIPV and EV charging, highlighting the need for effective integration and recommending strategies to optimize energy utilization. Combining BIPV with EV charging provides a promising approach to power EV chargers, enhances building energy efficiency, optimizes the building space, reduces energy losses, and decreases grid dependence. Utilizing BIPV‐generated electricity for EV charging provides electricity and fuel savings, offers financial incentives, and increases the market value of the building infrastructure. It significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions associated with grid and vehicle emissions. It creates a closed‐loop circular economic system where energy is produced, consumed, and stored within the building. The paper underscores the importance of effective integration between Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, emphasizing the necessity of innovative grid technologies, energy storage solutions, and demand‐response energy management strategies to overcome diverse challenges. Overall, the study contributes to the knowledge of BIPV systems for EV charging by presenting practical energy management, effectiveness and sustainability implications. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working towards sustainable transportation and energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the escalating urgency for sustainable energy alternatives, solar power in urban landscapes has gained prominence. Building‐integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are pivotal in this shift, blending efficient energy generation with architectural aesthetics. This review casts a spotlight on BIPV technologies, with a special emphasis on the less‐explored semitransparent photovoltaics (PVs). These systems are not only energy generators but also natural light facilitators, setting them apart from their opaque PV counterparts. Advancements in both transparent and opaque PV, such as crystalline silicon, are discussed. However, the paper prioritizes semitransparent PV's unique benefits, including harmonious integration with building design and simultaneous energy and daylight management. An exhaustive examination of current literature and developments sketches BIPV's trajectory, highlighting applications, challenges, and technological strides. The narrative extols the aesthetic, financial, and efficiency merits of BIPV, particularly the semitransparent variants' blend of functionality and design. Performance optimization of BIPV systems is scrutinized across various environments and architectural styles. This meticulous discussion seeks to clarify the status quo, emerging research avenues, and future prospects of BIPV in fostering a greener energy transition. The review compares BIPV configurations with traditional solar PV systems, charting a path for enhanced energy production, cost efficiency, and aesthetic integration, with semitransparent PV as a key player. By exploring the interplay between architectural design, energy efficiency, and urban planning, this paper aims to solidify the groundwork for future research, reinforcing the sustainability narrative in urban energy infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of energy demand in buildings is one of the key challenges in contemporary construction. To this end, the application of structural and material partitioning solutions that provide a high level of thermal insulation and the employment of technical installations with high energy performance have become widespread. However, there are a number of other factors that can reduce energy demand. These include the optimal use of heat gains from solar radiation. An aspect that is often discussed in the literature is the overheating of buildings due to excessive heat gains from solar radiation. This article is a case study showing the impact of the orientation of a single-family passive house on its heating energy demand. The building under consideration is located in Central Europe. External climate parameters measured directly at the site during experimental examinations were used for the calculations. This paper adopts six calculation options, considering the different orientations of the glazed façade. As the simulations showed, the effect of solar radiation on the energy demand between two extreme options of glazing orientation, that is south and north-facing orientation, reached 4.7% of the annual energy demand for heating, while for the option corresponding to the actual location of the building and the option involving south-facing windows, the difference was 0.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power system network is complex and diverse in nature because of the random and irregular existence of renewable sources, various types of varying and constant loads. Under these circumstances, the stabilization of DC link voltage and obtaining reduced power fluctuations are the main control aspect of DC microgrid (MG) system. This paper explores a Kalman filter (KF) based voltage–current control algorithm for the battery unit to control the medium voltage direct current (MVDC) bus voltage accurately with trivial oscillations as compared to the traditional VI algorithm. The stability and monitoring of DC microgrids are greatly influenced by gathering sufficient and precise information. Since installing several sensors on DC MGs is costly and increases DC MG ripple. In this work, an extended Kalman filter (KF) is used to estimate the current of the lead-acid battery. Hence the current represents an important factor in guaranteeing safe operations. Where the Kalman Filter, which improves the estimation efficiency, to reach a good performance in the current prediction. By updating the proposed approach provides smooth and noise-less operation from the measured DC voltage. The control strategy established for electric vehicle (EV) in this paper is to improve the overall charging ability of the EV only if the system's total power is greater than the load level by means of the current loop management technique. The feasibility of the designed MG system with the established battery management mechanism and the Escape Ford EV performance is studied using MATLAB/Simulink platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has an impact on the ecosystem, and subsequently, it affects the built environment. Building envelope has a vital role in controlling the integration between indoor and outdoor environmental quality. The responsivity of the façade has proven its efficiency in optimizing the global energy performance of buildings. Adaptive façades are multifunctional reconciling envelope dynamic systems that improve sustainability with the purpose of utilizing environmental parameters. This paper tackles the research gap in integrating façades circularity, adaptive envelopes, and design for disassembly. The research investigates the merge between biodegradability, circularity of adaptive façades components, and interior space micro-climate control for energy efficiency. This paper presents a proof of concept for a circular adaptive façade during two phases in its life cycle: operation and reuse phases. A scientific quantitative method took place which is based on a hybrid method; computational simulation, smart control, and an up-scale model. Adaptability is investigated through the façade life cycle from design to disassembly instead of demolition and consequent waste production, by exploiting sustainable materials. As a result, an empirical prototype is constructed. The prototype provides 3 levels of adaptability across the design, operation, and disassembly for reuse. Subsequently, this work proposes an up-scale physical model that can help in mitigating the climate change effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countless years have been spent researching the strategies necessary for improving the energy consumption of buildings globally. There have been numerous attempts at achieving both passive solutions and enhancing and optimising the existing active systems. This paper seeks to review, analyse and summarise the possibilities of using thermoelectricity in two different contexts to the integration with buildings, integrated thermoelectric systems, and non-integrated thermoelectric systems. The utilisation of thermoelectricity in cohorts with existing renewable technologies and the utilisation of thermoelectric systems that operate individually, both have the potential to provide the occupants of a building with conditions pertinent to thermal and visual comfort. The results in this paper are classified according to the integration types of thermoelectric systems within different parts of the fabric of a building while maintaining an active role in enhancing the building envelope and self-contained thermoelectric systems that sustain a passive role for the same. The introduction to this paper also gives a very broad and surface-level insight into categorisation of different kinds of thermoelectric systems that are being studied and researched across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC), when coupled with the photovoltaic system, namely the Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal System (CPVT), makes utilizing solar energy efficient. The major challenge that hinders the electrical and thermal performance of the CPC-CPVT system is the non-uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. In the present paper, detailed ray-tracing simulations have been carried out to understand the heat flux distribution characteristics of CPC with different geometrical conditions, and those are concentration ratio, truncation ratio, incident angle, and average heat flux on the absorber surface. To have a thorough understanding, the analysis has been carried out in multiple steps. First, it is performed by analyzing the effect of concentration ratio and incident angle on heat flux distribution characteristics at a fixed truncation ratio. Second, investigations have been carried out to understand the heat flux distribution characteristics at different truncation ratios and different incident angles by keeping the concentration ratio constant. Local concentration ratio and non-uniformity index have been employed to quantify the non-uniformity of heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. It has been observed that the 0-deg incidence angle is the most effective angle to achieve uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. This paper sheds insight into the heat flux distribution characteristics on the absorber surface of a CPC-CPVT system which can be used by the research community for designing an effective CPVT system from the perspective of uniform heat flux distribution on the absorber surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the reliability and signature reliability of solar panel k-out-of-n-multiplex system with the help of universal generating function. Design/methodology/approach: Energy scarcity and global warming issues have become important concerns for humanity in recent decades. To solve these problems, various nations work for renewable energy sources (RESs), including sun, breeze, geothermal, wave, radioactive and biofuels. Solar energy is absorbed by solar panels, referred to as photovoltaic panels, which then transform it into electricity that can be used to power buildings or residences. Remote places can be supplied with electricity using these panels. Solar energy is often generated using a solar panel that is connected to an inverter for power supply. As a result, a converter reliability evaluation is frequently required. This paper presents a study on the reliability analysis of k-out-of-n systems with heterogeneous components. In this research, the universal generating function methodology is used to identify the reliability function and signature reliability of the solar array components. This method is commonly used to assess the tail signature and Barlow-Proschan index with independent and identically distributed components. Findings: The Barlow-Proschan index, tail signature, signature, expected lifetime, expected cost and minimal signature of independent identically distributed are all computed. Originality/value: This is the first study of solar panel k-out-of-n-multiplex systems to examine the signature reliability with the help of universal generating function techniques with various measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable allocation of production schedules and savings in overall electricity costs are crucial for large manufacturing conglomerates. In this study, we develop an optimization model of off-site industrial production scheduling to address the problems of high electricity costs due to the irrational allocation of production schedules on the demand side of China's power supply, and the difficulty in promoting industrial and commercial distributed photovoltaic (PV) projects in China. The model makes full use of the conditions of different PV resources and variations in electricity prices in different places to optimize the scheduling of industrial production in various locations. The model is embedded with two sub-models, i.e., an electricity price prediction model and a distributed photovoltaic power cost model to complete the model parameters, in which the electricity price prediction model utilizes a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network. Then, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimization model. Finally, the production data of two off-site pharmaceutical factories belonging to the same large group of enterprises are substituted into the model for example analysis, and it is concluded that the optimization model can significantly reduce the electricity consumption costs of the enterprises by about 7.9%. This verifies the effectiveness of the optimization model established in this paper in reducing the cost of electricity consumption on the demand side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes a low-energy building in Changchun, China, as an object to test and study the characteristics of two heating modes, AC/DC (Alternative current/Direct current) switching and AC/DC synthesis, from the perspectives of temperature change, irradiation intensity, power generation, electricity consumption, etc. Firstly, the experimental research was conducted under two heating cable modes by establishing mathematical models and a test rig, and it was found that the photoelectric conversion efficiency on sunny, cloudy, and overcast days was 18%, 14.5%, and 12%, respectively. A simulation model was established by TRNSYS to run an ultra-low-energy building throughout the year. It was found that the highest and lowest monthly power generation occurred in February and July, respectively. The annual power generation of the system was 6614 kWh, and the heating season power generation was 3293.42 kWh. In the current research, the DC electricity consumption was slightly higher than the AC electricity consumption. Under conditions of similar radiation intensity and power generation, the indoor temperature of the AC/DC synthesis cable heating mode were 1.38% higher than the AC/DC switching heating able mode, and the electricity consumption were 10.9% and 4.76% higher, respectively, than those of the AC switching heating cable mode. This is of great significance for clean-energy heating, energy savings, and emissions reduction in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As photovoltaic (PV) panels are installed outdoors, they are exposed to harsh environments that can degrade their performance. PV cells can be coated with a protective material to protect them from the environment. However, the coated area has relatively small temperature differences, obtaining a sufficient database for training is difficult, and detection in low-resolution thermal images is complicated. This paper proposes a method for detecting the relative temperature difference on PV panels and a method for accumulating detection results within consecutive thermal images. To verify the performance of the proposed method, we installed PV panels coated with three different materials. Subsequently, 60 infrared (IR) thermal and visible images were acquired using an IR thermal imaging camera mounted on the drone. When more than 16 out of 60 results were accumulated, the highest performance was achieved with an F1 score of 0.7178. This case study demonstrated that even low-resolution thermal images can be acquired continuously to detect areas with small temperature differences without applying machine learning, which requires a large database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in buildings is a challenge that can be addressed through the deployment of multienergy microgrids (MGs). In this context, the Interreg SUDOE project IMPROVEMENT was launched at the end of the year 2019 with the aim of developing efficient solutions allowing public buildings with critical loads to be turned into net-zero-energy buildings (nZEBs). The work presented in this paper deals with the development of a predictive energy management system (PEMS) for the management of thermal resources and users' thermal comfort in public buildings. Optimization-based/optimization-free model predictive control (MPC) algorithms are presented and validated in simulations using data collected in a public building equipped with a multienergy MG. Models of the thermal MG components were developed. The strategy currently used in the building relies on proportional–integral–derivative (PID) and rule-based (RB) controllers. The interconnection between the thermal part and the electrical part of the building-integrated MG is managed by taking advantage of the solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation surplus. The optimization-based MPC EMS has the best performance but is rather computationally expensive. The optimization-free MPC EMS is slightly less efficient but has a significantly reduced computational cost, making it the best solution for in situ implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical analysis of photovoltaics and building integrated photovoltaics is a key step for their optimal design and certification, and requires careful consideration, alongside solar power, durability and functionality issues. The solar cells are encapsulated in thin interlayers that are usually composed of a viscoelastic Ethylene–Vinyl Acetate compound, and protected by thin glass and/or plastic layers. This paper investigates the out-of-plane bending response of a full-scale commercial PV module and focuses attention on the shear bonding efficiency of the thin encapsulant for quasi-static and dynamic mechanical considerations. The parametric analytical analysis, carried out in this study for a laminated glass plate, highlights the possible consequences of the viscoelastic shear coupling on the cross-section load-bearing demand in the covers. As a direct effect of severe operational conditions (i.e., ageing, non-uniform/cyclic thermal gradients, humidity, extreme mechanical/thermal loads, etc.) the shear rigidity and adhesion of these films can suffer from repeated/progressive modification and even degradation, and thus induce major stress and deflection effects in the out-of-plane mechanical response of the PV module components. The minimum shear bond efficiency required to prevent mechanical issues is calculated for various configurations of technical interest. Accordingly, it is shown how the quasi-static and dynamic mechanical performance of the system modifies as a function of a more rigid or weak shear coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic power generation can directly convert solar energy into electricity, but most of the solar energy absorbed by the photovoltaic panel is converted into heat, which significantly increases the operating temperature leading to a reduction in the power generation efficiency of the panels. To reduce the working temperature of photovoltaic panels and improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency, this paper installs aluminum fins and air channels at the traditional photovoltaic cell back sheets and cools them with forced-circulation cooling through fans. The relationships between fin spacing, fin height, air channel inlet wind speed and panel temperature, power generation, and electrical efficiency were investigated. The results show that the temperature of the photovoltaic panel decreases and then increases with the decrease of the fin spacing during natural convection and gradually decreases with the increase of the fin height. The use of forced-circulation cooling technology can effectively reduce the PV panel temperature and increase the net power generation. When the solar radiation intensity is 1000 W/m2, the ambient temperature is 35°C, the fin spacing is 6 mm, the height is 80 mm, the inlet wind speed is 1 m/s, the net generating power reaches the maximum value, and the net generating power and the electrical efficiency are increased by 14.6% and 2.25%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Scrapped PV panels are recovered comprehensively. • Leaching efficiency of Ag is over 96% by HNO 3. • The impurities in solar cells are removed efficiently. • Cu strips are purified and recovered by replacement reaction. • The proposed method for PV panels recycling is profitable. The increasing scrapped Si-based photovoltaic (PV) panels has become an urgent problem, and their disposal is essential for resources utilization and environment issues. This paper proposes a comprehensive process for recycling of discarded silicon-based PV panels economically, environmentally, and efficiently. Based on the thermal properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), they are removed from the discarded PV panels at 600 °C with heating rate of 5 °C/min and maintain for one hour. The glass, solar cells, and copper strips were separated after heat treatment. Simultaneously, the solar cells were crushed into powder. Nitric acid was used to recover silver from the solar cell powder, while most of the metal impurities such as Mg, Ti and Al, were removed as well. The leaching efficiency of silver was over 96 % under the optimized conditions: HNO 3 of 4.0 mol/L, liquid-to-solid ratio of 10:1, temperature of 50 °C for 80 min. Regarding the copper strips, they were sequentially treated with 0.5 mol/L CH 3 COOH and NaOH solution to remove the oxides of Pb and Sn on their surface. Subsequently, they were placed into the solution of 1.0 mol/L CuSO 4 with pH of 2 ∼ 3 to eliminate Pb and Sn. This article provides significant reference for the recycling of Si-based PV panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Metaheuristic Multi-Start algorithm for the demand consumption planning. • Determining the optimum PV installation sizing. • Nearly Zero Energy Building using photovoltaic energy. The energy consumption planning of smart homes connected to a grid with flexible power pricing, and complemented with a local PV installation, is studied. Advanced energy management is necessary to implement the Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) concept in these smart homes. To do so, in the Energy Management System, it is essential to consider the flexibility provided by power pricing schemes, the distributed generation from renewable energies and the use of smart household appliances. This paper studies a novel formulation that depends on the comfort index required by the user, the PV power production, and the price variation of the grid energy. The study is performed on two levels: in the first, a metaheuristic multi-start, consisting of two steps, constructive heuristics and refinement heuristics (local search), is proposed to regulate the power demand of household appliances. The second level consists of determining the optimum PV installation that ensures the economic viability of the plant. The novelty of the paper is that the user defines a desired comfort level as input data, and the algorithm defines a demand plan that meets this comfort at the lowest possible cost. Six real case studies were carried out, considering the insertion of photovoltaic generation, to evaluate the performance of the proposed model from a technical and economic point of view. The results show that the proposed approach allows user requirements to be fulfilled and the energy production cost to be minimized. Without needing to reduce user comfort, the proposed demand planning algorithm can reduce the energy cost by 48.07 %. In this same scenario, combining the proposed method and the insertion of a photovoltaic system composed of 15 modules (Scenario 6), the total energy cost is reduced by 73.90 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are prone to experiencing various overlays and faults that can affect their performance and efficiency. The detection of photovoltaic panel overlays and faults is crucial for enhancing the performance and durability of photovoltaic power generation systems. It can minimize energy losses, increase system reliability and lifetime, and lower maintenance costs. Furthermore, it can contribute to the sustainable development of photovoltaic power generation systems, which can reduce our reliance on conventional energy sources and mitigate environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of sustainable energy and environmental protection. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey of the existing detection techniques for PV panel overlays and faults from two main aspects. The first aspect is the detection of PV panel overlays, which are mainly caused by dust, snow, or shading. We classify the existing PV panel overlay detection methods into two categories, including image processing and deep learning methods, and analyze their advantages, disadvantages, and influencing factors. We also discuss some other methods for overlay detection that do not process images to detect PV panel overlays. The second aspect is the detection of PV panel faults, which are mainly caused by cracks, hot spots, or partial shading. We categorize existing PV panel fault detection methods into three categories, including electrical parameter detection methods, detection methods based on image processing, and detection methods based on data mining and artificial intelligence, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital twin (DT) is a prolific buzzword in this era, where digitization plays a significant role. The perception of solar energy harvesting has been gaining popularity with the advent of solar panels. Solar asset maintenance is a need of the hour for investors because of the smart city scheme and green building certificate evaluation for all industries, educational institutions, etc. Among the list of factors that reduce PV system efficiency, the issue of partial shading is a vital distress that must be resolved. This paper focuses on the development of a digital twin framework that is proactively driven by shading patterns and a proposed optimization-based reconfiguration embedded controller that electronically relocates the panel in the physical world. The real-time system has been created for a three-by-three series parallel panel arrangement. The proposed switching matrix controller achieves the maximum power, i.e., 40% of increased power output, row current difference is made almost zero from 3 to 4 A, and fill factor increases by 20% by reconfiguring the solar array. It is done based on a decision taken by a nature-inspired (equal irradiation distribution algorithm) or puzzle-based (skyscraper) optimization algorithm. Switching matrix controllers overcome the disadvantages of physical relocation. The users can query the digital twin build to know the historical performance and current operating conditions of the system. It can trigger alarms as early warnings and make predictions about possible system anomalies, if and when they occur using a digital twin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic panels play a pivotal role in the renewable energy sector, serving as a crucial component for generating environmentally friendly electricity from sunlight. However, a persistent challenge lies in the adverse effects of rising temperatures resulting from prolonged exposure to solar radiation. Consequently, this elevated temperature hinders the efficiency of photovoltaic panels and reduces power production, primarily due to changes in semiconductor properties within the solar cells. Given the depletion of limited fossil fuel resources and the urgent need to reduce carbon gas emissions, scientists and researchers are actively exploring innovative strategies to enhance photovoltaic panel efficiency through advanced cooling methods. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of various cooling technologies employed to enhance the performance of PV panels, encompassing water-based, air-based, and phase-change materials, alongside novel cooling approaches. This study collects and assesses data from recent studies on cooling the PV panel, considering both environmental and economic factors, illustrating the importance of cooling methods on photovoltaic panel efficiency. Among the investigated cooling methods, the thermoelectric cooling method emerges as a promising solution, demonstrating noteworthy improvements in energy efficiency and a positive environmental footprint while maintaining economic viability. As future work, studies should be made at the level of different periods of time throughout the years and for longer periods. This research contributes to the ongoing effort to identify effective cooling strategies, ultimately advancing electricity generation from photovoltaic panels and promoting the adoption of sustainable energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an assessment of the potential of solar rooftops, and an analysis of the feasibility of investing in rooftop photovoltaic systems for the buildings at Lampang Rajabhat University. The ArcGIS solar radiation analysis tool was used to prepare the solar radiation maps. The derived solar radiation values were then used to evaluate the viability of investing in rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, considering factors that included Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period (PB) through project analysis and evaluation. According to the analysis, 23 buildings could be fitted with a solar rooftop, and 4,106 solar panels would cover 8.29% of the roof area. Southerly oriented pitched roofs had high solar radiation; nevertheless, slopes steeper than 40° reduced the radiation. Flat roofs with solar panels that were oriented southward and inclined at around 15° were found to be effective. When the PV-potential value was compared with the PV output value, a 0.19% difference between the values was observed. After we adjusted the PV-potential value in the PVpotential areas, the solar energy potential was determined to be 1,540,389.14 kWh per year. This potential could result in a 42.73% reduction in the total electricity cost at the university. Furthermore, the system's financial and environmental analyses revealed that the discounted PB would be 9 years and 6 months, with a reduction of 791.44 tCO2eq/year. These findings could be used to guide the university in developing a policy about the installation of a rooftop PV system, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and increase self-generated clean energy. These indicators are critical milestones for the university toward becoming a green university and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the stochastic nature of wind and solar energy, maintaining quality power in grid-connected hybrid energy system is crucial for efficient energy utilization, especially in the presence of non-linear loads. This paper deals with the control and performance assessment of grid-integrated hybrid energy system that comprises of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) and photovoltaic (PV) system including battery energy storage (BES) as a stand-by supply to meet utility and load demand. In order to maintain power balance and address various power quality issues encountered with hybrid renewable integration along the source and the grid/load end, a dual-layer variable-step size adaptive control is implemented for the grid-interfaced converter of the proposed system. The variable step-size based dual-layer least mean square (LMS) adaptive control functions by extracting weights of various control signals (stator and load current) where the step-size parameter adjusts according to the conditions that limit the maladjustment error and increase the rate of convergence. The DC-link voltage control realized by bidirectional BES control reduces the steady-state error and fluctuations in the voltage. An artificial bee colony (ABC) optimization is adopted for optimal gain tuning of the DC-link voltage controller as a result of which the battery performance and grid-side converter performance is enhanced with the increased power exchange to the grid. The system model is developed in MATLAB/Simulink and controller performance is evaluated for diverse operating conditions including steady-state, unbalanced non-linear load conditions, wind-speed and solar irradiation variation and specified grid power modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) modules in PV-TE systems has shown potential for expanding the utilization of the solar spectrum, enhancing the total power output, and reducing the space that is required for PV power plants. This paper discusses the characteristics of a practical PV-TE system model. Typically, to boost the power output of the TE component, a significant temperature difference is induced across the thermoelectric generator (TEG) module using various heat removal methods. These cooling techniques not only enhance the TEG module's efficiency but may also improve the performance of the PV component. In this study, we evaluate the efficiencies of PV-TE systems that are equipped with polycrystalline silicon solar cells and seven distinct TEGs under four different conditions. Initially, the PV-TE hybrid systems are tested without a cooling mechanism at an ambient temperature of 25 °C (Standard Test Conditions EN/IEC 61215). Subsequently, we examine the systems with a passive cooling approach, employing aluminum heat sinks to facilitate improved heat dissipation. Further tests involve an active cooling system using water and then nanofluid as coolants. The results from these assessments aim to establish a benchmark for enhancing the efficiency of future PV-TE systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy has an effective role in economic growth and development of societies. This paper is studying the impact of climate factors on performance of solar power plant using machine learning techniques for underlying relationship among factors that impact solar energy production and for forecasting monthly energy production. In this context this work provides two machine learning methods: ANN for forecasting energy production and decision tree useful in understanding the relationships in energy production data. Both structures have horizontal irradiation, sunlight duration, average monthly air temperature, average maximal air temperature, average minimal air temperature and average monthly wind speed as inputs parameters and the energy production as output. Results have shown that used machine learning models perform effectively, ANN predicted the energy production of the PV power plant with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.97. The results can help stakeholders in determining energy policy planning in order to overcome uncertainties associated with renewable energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) transparent panels represent one part of a subset of Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). These elements hold a great potential to develop and find new and innovative solutions to utilize most of the energy generated from renewable sources. So the buildings can be operated more energetically independent. In this paper we focused on the possibility of BIPV application as a replacement for standard glazing for office building in the climatic conditions of Slovakia. The first part is theoretical, introducing on the basic concepts and types of transparent PV panels, as well as a comparison of the properties of commonly used glazing and selected PV panels. The aim of the second part is to evaluate the application of transparent PV panels in the conditions of Bratislava on the office building. For this case study a high-rise administration building of the Faculty of Civil Engineering was selected. A computer simulation was performed using a climatic data in various alternations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal collectors are two major technologies used to extract electrical and thermal energy, respectively, from solar irradiation. PV panels convert only 15–20% of incident solar radiation into electricity. The remaining radiation elevates the panel’s surface temperature, which badly affects the conversion efficiency and reduces the overall lifespan of the panel. Hence, in this paper, we investigate three cooling techniques developed in-house to maintain the PV panel’s surface temperature: passive cooling, active cooling, and combined cooling. A novel PV/T-PCM system was designed and fabricated to conduct a detailed experimental analysis of each of the cooling methods used on the performance of PV panel in the form of temperature and electrical efficiency of the panel. The temperature of the panel surface got reduced by a maximum of 36% at 1,050 W/m², and as an effect of that, the electrical efficiency was also improved by around 42% in the case of a combined cooling technique. Finally, empirical correlations were also developed to predict the electrical efficiency and PV panel surface temperature using the experimental data of present investigation considering investigated system and operating parameters. Based on the experimental results, the coefficient of determination (R²), for the correlation of electrical efficiency, was found to be 0.90 and 0.9188 for surface temperature that indicate good confidence level for both the correlations. As a result, the correlations and results are more important from an application standpoint for the design and development of the PV/T system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with renewable energy sources, the courtyards of the buildings provide space for the installation of agrivoltaics for sustainable development. This paper proposes the use of courtyards of low-rise buildings for agrivoltaics. This will increase the area for installing photovoltaic systems, which have so far only been installed on roofs or facades or on open fields. The advanced design of the photovoltaic systems will enable the dual use of the area both for the cultivation of crops and for the production of electricity at the same time. The increased amount of electricity produced in photovoltaic systems also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint. On the courtyard as well as on the open fields, it is possible to grow agricultural crops between rows of photovoltaic panels. The partial shading of seedlings during summer sunny days reduces their heat stress and slows down soil drying. Solar eclipses are rare, but their impact on electricity generation is significant. We evaluated the measured data and we assessed the electricity production and the influence of a solar eclipse on the electricity production in photovoltaic power plants in the Czech Republic. The daily loss in production depends on the size of the eclipse. A comparison of the annual electricity production in two selected PV power plants with the expected values according to PVGIS testifies to the quality of the construction and the PV panels used in both power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in the temperature severely affects photovoltaic cell efficiency and hence its power output. Moreover, it also causes the development of thermal stresses that may reduce their life span. Thus, there is a need for an accurate estimation of the cell's working temperature. In this paper, a detailed thermal model based on various heat transfer modes involved and their governing equations has been presented to estimate the cell temperature of a PV module using MATLAB software under different climatic and solar insolation conditions. In order to validate the presented model, an experimental setup has been built and operated under actual outdoor conditions of Jodhpur, a city in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. For the peak summer month of June, the predicted glass cover outer surface temperature has been found to be within 0.2–4.5°C of experimentally measured values and the back sheet temperature is found to be within 0.5–5.5°C. The predicted and measured power outputs have been found to be within 0.85–1.2 W while the efficiency values are within 0.17–0.38%. For the early summer month of April, the variations are 0.13–4.1°C, 0.2–4.1°C, 0.44–1.65 W, and 0.1–0.5% for glass cover temperature, back sheet temperature, power output, and efficiency, respectively. Thus, the predictions of the developed thermal model have exhibited a good agreement with the experimental results. The maximum glass cover temperatures recorded were 60°C and 65.5°C when the ambient temperatures were 35°C and 42°C near the noon for the early summer and peak summer day experiments, respectively. The presented model can be used to generate a year-round cell temperature data for the known environmental data of a location, which can help in the selection or development of appropriate cooling technology at the planning stage of the installation of a solar PV plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire/smoke barriers are designed to isolate building spaces into manageable compartments that resist the spread of fire and/or smoke, but there are situations in which these life-safety barriers are purposely compromised. Firestopping is a construction and postconstruction activity used to maintain the integrity of fire/smoke barriers. The activity of firestopping is typically the responsibility of either the contractor(s) that caused the penetration or a designated specialty contractor whose primary project function is to monitor and remediate barrier penetrations. There has been limited research on the classification and/or quantity of penetrations that are typically installed in the built environment. This case study collected data from the construction of two separate healthcare construction projects along Colorado's Front Range. Results of this case study across both buildings showed that the majority of penetrations were the results of electrical/low-voltage scopes of work, followed by plumbing, mechanical, fire, structural, and pneumatic tube system penetrations. Life-safety barriers are common in certain building types, and penetrating these barriers is often necessary. This paper provided a method and classification for penetrations of these barriers. Being able to classify the type of penetration and responsible party allows contractors and designers the ability to manage the mitigation efforts. This process also provides a benchmark for owners and designers to quantify the impact of barrier penetrations on building design and maintenance requirements. This may result in building designs that minimize the number of penetrations and provide access areas for building operators to easily inspect and maintain these penetrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, floating photovoltaic (FPV) technologies have gained more importance as a key source of clean energy, particularly in the context of providing sustainable energy to buildings. The rise of land scarcity and the need to reduce carbon emissions have made FPV systems a cost‐effective solution for generating electricity. This review article aims to explore the rapidly growing trend of floating PV systems, which can be a practical solution for regions with limited land areas. The article discusses the structure of the PV modules used in FPV plants and key factors that affect site suitability choice. Moreover, the article presents various techniques for cooling and cleaning FPV to keep optimal performance and discusses feasible trends and prospects for the technology. Finally, this paper proposes the potential integration of FPV systems with other technologies to enhance energy generation efficiency and discusses other research aimed at the advancement of the technology. By examining the various features of FPV systems, this review article contributes to understanding the advantages and challenges associated with using this sustainable energy technology in different regional contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a Modified Reptile Search Algorithm (MRSA) designed to optimize the operation of distribution networks (DNs) considering the growing integration of renewable energy sources (RESs). The integration of RESs‐based Distributed Generation (DG) systems, such as wind turbines (WTs) and photovoltaics (PVs), presents a complex challenge due to its significant impact on DN operations and planning, particularly considering uncertainties related to solar irradiance, temperature, wind speed, consumption, and energy prices. The primary objective is cost reduction, encompassing electricity acquisition, PV and WTs unit costs, and annual energy losses. The proposed MRSA incorporates two strategies: the fitness‐distance balance method and Levy flight motion, enhancing its searching capabilities beyond standard Reptile Search Algorithm and mitigating local optima issues. The uncertainties in load demand, energy prices, and renewable energy generation are represented through probability density functions and simulated using Monte Carlo methods. Evaluation involves typical bentchmark functions and a real 112‐bus Algerian DN, comparing MRSA's efficacy with other optimization techniques. Results indicate that the proposed DN optimization program with WTs and PVs integration reduces annual costs by 21.43%, from 6.2715E + 06 to 4.9270E + 06 USD, reduce voltage deviations by 21.67%, from 77.1022 to 60.4007 USD, and enhance system stability by 2.59%, from 2.3699E + 03 to 2.4314E + 03 USD, compared with the base case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar based power generation has a significant role all over the world. It has the distinct features like cleanliness and low maintenance costs. However, the solar based power generation is severely affected by the atmospheric solar irradiation fluctuations. Therefore, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is necessary in view of enhancing the energy efficiency of the solar PV system. This paper majorly focuses on the solar fed two-stage converter for power system applications. It includes the first stage boost converter (BC) besides the second stage high gain dc-dc converter (HGC). The first stage converter is intended to track peak power from the solar photovoltaic (PV) panel. The P-V as well as I-V characteristics and also MPPT curves of a 230 W solar panel are shown for various solar irradiations. Moreover, this paper highlights the novel beta MPPT algorithm besides the incremental conductance (INC) and perturbation & observation (P&O) algorithms. The beta algorithm has exhibited the dominant dynamics with a transient settling time of 0.1 msec as compared to 0.4 msec and 0.25 msec in case of the INC & P&O MPPT algorithms. The second stage HGC can effectuate the good voltage regulation besides the excellent line and load regulations. The exhaustive simulation results of the voltage mode control (VMC) based HGC are presented in terms of the figure of merits (FOMs) such as transient voltage deviation (TVD) and transient settling time (TST). The VMC is superior with converter dynamics of less than 25 msec as compared to few sec in case of the open-loop operation. The simulation is performed in MATLAB/Simulink as well as PSIM softwares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the mitigation of voltage disturbances deteriorating power quality and disrupting the operation of LV distribution grids due to the high penetration of PV energy sources in prosumer installations. A novel control strategy for 3-phase 4-wire PV inverters is proposed, which ensures the transmission of PV active power and simultaneous compensation of load unbalance and reactive power, making the prosumer installation balanced and purely active. It results in the balance of phase voltages and the mitigation of their variability. Unlike other methods used for voltage regulation in LV grids, the proposed solution contributes to the reduction in losses, is simple, and does not require additional costs. In the paper, a control algorithm for the PV inverter is described. Its effectiveness was tested by simulation using a model of the real LV distribution grid developed in the PSCAD/EMTDC program. The results of the simulations are presented and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]