Search

Abstract: Solar-power based sorption refrigeration systems do not suffer from the problem of greenhouse gas emission and release of ozone layer depleting substances as in the case of conventional vapour compression refrigeration system. Absorption based systems are already commercially available while adsorption based systems are still in research and development stage. Progress and development of solar-powered adsorption cooling systems have been described in this paper. Factors preventing commercialization of this system have been discussed in detail. The state of the ongoing research, to make the system more efficient and cost effective, has been presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Dust accumulation is one of the natural phenomena that adversely affects the performance of solar systems. Since 1942, many efforts have been made to address the severity of deposited particles like dust, water stains, carbon from smoke, pollen in agricultural regions, etc. on the efficiency reduction of solar devices, which results in additional costs either from oversizing the system or from cleaning it. Although various innovative methods have been employed to clean the surface of grimy PVs, a holistic approach needs to show the cleaning mechanism under different climate conditions. This review highlights the findings from several references in three time periods and focusing on their similarities. For scaling up the appropriate mitigation method, four different global zones are explored based on suspended particles in the air. Consequently, the pattern of dust distribution in different parts of the world is assessed and it was found that the Middle East and North Africa have the worst dust accumulation zones in the world. Finally, a set of recommendations and guidelines with regard to the different climatic zones and their characteristics are presented especially for the installers of PV or other solar devices to implement a suitable cleaning system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Malaysia is one of the leading producers and exporters of oil palm, and the industry contributes significantly to the growth of the national economy. Nonetheless, the consequential oil palm biomass (OPB) with a potential yield of ∼97 million tonnes annually presents both challenges and opportunities, demanding innovative waste management solutions. This paper explores the feasibility of converting OPB into valuable commodities by employing concentrated solar-driven pyrolysis. A detailed overview of the biomass produced from oil palm plantations and mills is provided, along with a discussion of the industry stakeholders and associated biomass management challenges. The pyrolysis of OPB is explored, emphasizing benefits, potential barriers, and techniques. The focus then shifts to Malaysia's solar potential, which ranges from 1470 to 1900 kWh/m2 annually. The potentials of solar pyrolysis are explored, encompassing discussions on solar concentrator types, reactors, and the distribution of solar and OPB resources throughout Malaysia. The paper then recommends Tawau in Sabah, as an ideal location for OPB solar pyrolysis, due to its solar availability (up to 1873 kWh/m2), potential OPB resources from 19 mills and 241 plantations, and supportive infrastructure. The paper proposes solar-driven pyrolysis as a sustainable solution for Malaysia's OPB management, offers insights for policy initiatives and technological innovations in optimizing OPB and solar energy utilization. • Analyzes oil palm biomass potential for solar pyrolysis in Malaysia. • Explores solar resources in Malaysia for solar-driven pyrolysis. • Examines solar concentrators and reactors for pyrolysis. • Identifies potential city, as the optimal location for solar pyrolysis. • Discusses commercialization challenges of solar-driven pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As subsidies continue to fall, the technology and cost performance of distributed photovoltaic (PV) determines the progress of its grid parity. Based on the discussion of technology and cost, this paper analyzed the economic performance of China's distributed PV industry by utilizing the two indicators of levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and internal rate of return (IRR). The results show that: firstly, the current external environment is generally conducive to the development of distributed PV, but there are still some constraints. Secondly, with the decrease of unit investment cost, distributed PV can achieve the goal of parity before 2025. Thirdly, distributed PV projects in the three types of solar energy resources all have high IRR, and the economic performance is better for the projects with high proportion of spontaneous self-use. At the end of the paper, policy recommendations are offered as references for the government. • We comprehensively analyzed the technology and cost performance of China's distributed PV. • We focused on the trend and decline path of China's distributed PV costs. • The LCOE of distributed PV in China is expected to achieve full parity in 2025. • Except 100% grid-connected mode, the IRR of distributed PV power plants in three areas is higher than 8% which has shown good economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Propelled by the actual demand from the renewable energy industry, the progress of literature on quantitative forecasting models during the past years is extensive. Research provides a vast output of papers on wind speed, wind power, solar irradiance and solar power forecasting models, accompanied by models for energy load and price forecasting for short-term (e.g. for the intraday trading schemes available at many market places) to medium-term (e.g. for day-ahead trading) usage. While the models themselves are, mostly, rather sophisticated, the statistical evaluation of the results sometimes leaves headroom for improvement. Unfortunately, the latter may occasionally result in the rejection of papers. This review aims at giving support at this point: It provides a guide on how to avoid typical mistakes of presenting and evaluating the results of forecasting models. The best practice of forecasting accuracy evaluation, benchmarking, and graphically/tabularly presenting forecasting results is shown. We discuss techniques, examples, guide to a set of paragon papers, and clarify on a state-of-the-art minimum standard of proceeding with the submission of renewable energy forecasting research papers. Highlights • We provide a baseline for the empirical assessment of renewable energy forecasting. • Prices, wind speed/power solar irradiance or price and load forecasts are covered. • We show how to present and evaluate forecasting results. • Performing and evaluating OOS studies and probabilistic forecasts is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Under the circumstances of global carbon emissions reduction, it has become a trend to promote the adoption of clean energies, such as solar energy. With the increasing maturity of photovoltaic (PV) technology, household-type distributed solar PV power generation projects are increasingly popular in China. Nevertheless, compared with conventional power generation, the initial cost of a solar PV project remains relatively high. Therefore, to mobilize the incentives of the general public, there is an urgent need for studies on how to share the costs and benefits of a solar PV power generation project between the government and users. By adopting the Shapley Game methodology, this paper has conducted a theoretical analysis of the cost-sharing among the central government, local government, and users and has built an investment cost-sharing model ( C i ′ = P (i) − V s (i) − V r i , i = 1 , 2 , 3) , which is able to coordinate the benefit of all three stakeholders. This is followed by a case study. The results show that, under China's central government subsidy of 0.42 yuan per kWh, the best strategy for the local government to encourage the public to install solar PV facilities is to provide a one-off compensation equal to 30% of the initial investment. Finally, this paper proposes relevant policy recommendations to promote the development of solar PV power generation for emissions reduction in China. Highlights • We made a cost-sharing analysis of a solar PV project using the Shapley value. • We built an investment cost-sharing model (C′i = P(i)- Vs(i)- Vri, i = 1,2,3). • Providing 30% of initial subsidy is the best strategy for China's local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The energy consumption in buildings accounts for a significant proportion of total energy and carbon emissions over the world. To reduce the building energy consumption and achieve sustainable development of buildings, nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs) have attracted widespread attention as a future building energy target. This paper reviews energy-efficient measures (EEMs) and renewable energy technologies (RETs) in NZEBs and discusses the application and suitability of the key technologies, i.e. minimizing the energy demand in NZEBs by EEMs and adopting RETs to meet the remaining energy needs. EEMs contain efficient thermal insulation system, high-performance window system, good airtightness and fresh air heat recovery system. RETs are composed of solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system, air source heat pump system (ASHP), ground source heat pump system (GSHP), and wind power. In addition, this paper emphasizes further research works, which involve life cycle energy analysis (LCEA), meteorological parameters change, intelligent building operation management (IBOM) system, energy storage system and social policy issues. This paper will provide some references for the further development of NZEBs in different climatic regions in China. Highlights • This paper systematically reviews application of EEMs and RETs in NZEBs in China. • Feasibility and suitability of EEMs and RETs are evaluated from different aspects. • Further research work and development direction of NZEBs are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has caused growing concern in the international community. The Kyoto Protocol was signed by a majority of the world with the clear intention of reducing emissions. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a part of the Kyoto Protocol and allows industrialized countries to reduce their emission by making contribution to developing countries. In this study, several research papers related to sustainability and multi-criteria analysis of energy projects were reviewed and classified based on their focus, motivation and contribution to achieve a comprehensive summary. Additionally, this paper presents a review of multi criteria decision methods and sustainability indicators under five pillars: technical, economic, social, environmental, and risk. Moreover, sustainability analysis of worldwide CDM concentrated solar power (CSP) projects was performed by using MAUT method. The analysis was repeated based on several scenarios including different criteria and criteria weights. The purpose of this research is proposing a framework and providing an understanding for decision makers to evaluate the sustainability of CDM energy projects. This work can provide perceptions to future installations and further insights for the development of sustainable CDM energy projects around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of needing for renewable energy sources is completely clear. The sun is one of the biggest and most reliable sources and two types of major devices for extracting energy from it, are solar cells and collectors. The produced energy by these devices extremely depends on solar irradiance which means by increasing of irradiation, the out coming energy will get high. This paper is going to review some of the main models of irradiance estimation and two main approaches of detecting optimum tilt angle. In the last part of the paper these models compared and the optimum tilt angle for major cities of Iran calculated and finally four relations expressed to compare results of four common models, Perez, Hay, Gueymard and S&O (Skartveit and Olseth). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault current studies are often required to determine the proper settings for the overcurrent relays. The conventional synchronous generators are known to exhibit high current magnitude during fault, which present an ideal scenario for fault isolation using the cost-effective overcurrent relays. On the other hand, the fault current magnitude from renewable based generation such as solar photovoltaic (PV) is intentionally limited due to the constraints in the power electronic components. Therefore, dispute pertaining to the feasibility of overcurrent relay in inverter based distributed generations (IBDG) applications arises. These disputes mainly arise due to the unavailability of firm understanding of the fault current characteristics from the IBDGs. The problem is further compounded with the availability of numerous possible fault current controls, where various fault current characteristics can be obtained from the IBDGs. In light of this problem, this paper aims to establish the various possible IBDG fault current characteristics, with special attention paid to compliance to the latest grid codes requirements such as low voltage ride through (LVRT) with reactive current injection (RCI). Five different types of RCI controls are analyzed as follows: variable active current control, constant active power control, constant reactive power control, constant active current control, and maximum current control. From the established fault current characteristics in this paper, the disputes pertaining to the feasibility of overcurrent relay for IBDG applications can be resolved and the suitable types of RCI control that allow satisfactory performance of overcurrent relays can be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy becomes necessary for human being. Generation of electrical energy mostly depends on fossils fuel, they are limited in nature and also responsible for environmental pollution. Renewable energy resources provides a better alternative for future,In comparison to conventional energy resources economical aspect is a major issue of renewable energy sources with the feasibility and efficiency. These limitations are tried to overcome by deployment hybrid renewable energy resources. There are certain criteria to analyze and implement the sized, optimized and cost efficient system. This paper focus on hybrid energy systems based on solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind resources. This paper shed lights on various parameters of economic feasibility, sizing strategies with logical advancements to enhance their utilization, future prospects, and their arrangement. Strategies to develop an effective storage system is also presented here.A brief review on developments in optimization techniques, reliability index and cost analyzing techniques for hybrid renewable energy systems are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By year 2030, the world's energy demand is expected to increase by over 60% of current demand. Thus, the potential of renewable energy should be investigated. Renewable energy is the energy from natural and unnatural available forms including wind, biomass, solar, and waste heat energy generated through various human activities. Solar energy is an available and clean form of renewable energy used as an alternative to fossil fuel in generating energy. However, the maximum extraction of thermal energy from the sun is most challenging. This study focuses on energy generation using the parabolic trough collector (PTC). This review contains geometrical analysis including the thermal approach of the PTC model, heat transfer, and method of enhancing thermal efficiency on the PTC receiver. This paper also includes performance analysis, thermal efficiency, and applications of the solar-powered PTC and the history of PTC evolution. The PTC applications include desalination process, air heating system, power plants, refrigeration, and industrial heating purposes. This paper benefits researcher that focus on the solar-powered PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the barriers that inhibit the deployment of renewable energy technologies to achieve long-term reductions in carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels is paramount to Barbados. Although there are targets towards renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal) uptake, the share of these technologies in the energy mix does not exist in Barbados due to the total dependence on fossil fuels. In this paper, a review of potential challenges and the main problems for deployment of alternative energy sources is presented. Through interviews, questionnaires with a focus group of key personnel's, the paper documents the lack of renewable energy sources (with emphasis on solar energy) as one of the main alternatives to meet the carbon emission targets set by the country. The barriers and challenges facing the implementation of solar energy deployment have been clarified. From the results, it is evident that significant policy barriers still exist at the country level, which has reduced the effectiveness of a concerted national effort to deploy renewables. The current policy landscape which benefits from fossil fuel imports, the lack of technical know-how and the lack of research and development in the renewable energy space are amongst the key barriers identified. The paper also outlines the key policy's frameworks, regulatory environment and the lack of incentives, which encompasses the renewable energy sector, and presents a critical analysis of the barriers faced by the industry. A mitigation framework is proposed to bridge the gap of solar energy (renewable energy) deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive review on solar tracking systems and their potentials in solar energy applications. The paper overviews the design parameters, construction, types and drive system techniques covering different usage application. There are two main solar tracking systems types that depending on their movement degrees of freedoms are single axis solar tracking system and dual axis solar tracking system, which are addressed in the recent studies. The solar tracker drive systems encompassed five categories based on the tracking technologies, namely, active tracking, passive tracking, semi-passive tracking, manual tracking, and chronological tracking. The paper described the various designs and components of the tracking systems. There are 42.57% of the studies discussed and presented single axis tracking systems while 41.58% of these studies to the dual axes tracking systems. In the recent research studies, the most common solar tracker drive type was active tracker by 76.42% usage in applications while in the second most impact type is the chronological solar tracker by 7.55%. Furthermore, in the solar tracking techniques, Azimuth and altitude tracking achieved 16.67% in usage, Horizontal tracking by 16.67%, Azimuth tracking by 10%, and polar tracking by 4.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic literature review of solar energy studies conducted in Nordic built environments to provide an overview of the current status of the research, identify the most common metrics and parameters at high latitudes, and identify research gaps. 55 publications are included in the review and categorized according to three main urban spatial domains: (i) outdoor, (ii) envelope, and (iii) indoor. In addition, a category for publications investigating more than one spatial domain (multi-domain) is included. The first part of the paper presents a publication analysis of keywords, history and methods, channels, citations, geographical distribution, and spatial domain coverage. In the second part, the main findings for each urban spatial domain are presented and discussed. The results show that the majority of the studies applied numerical methods in their workflow and the envelope is the most researched spatial domain, with studies focusing either on the potential exploitation of solar energy through active solar systems, or the prediction of indoor daylight conditions by using the façade as a proxy for the indoor domain. Among the main findings, urban density, building morphology, and orientation are the most utilized parameters, while solar irradiation and direct sunlight are the most common metrics. This review paper reveals significant research gaps in the field of solar accessibility in high-latitude Nordic built environments: (i) numerical studies that simultaneously address and interlink all three urban spatial domains are missing; (ii) deeper investigation of the outdoor domain is needed. • Growing interest in the field of solar accessibility in high-latitude urban areas. • Urban density, building morphology and orientation identified as common parameters. • Solar irradiation and direct sunlight identified as the most utilized metrics. • Most researched urban spatial domain is the envelope while outdoor is the least. • Significant gap in the research of numerical studies overarching multiple domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing energy demands worldwide, the consumption of fossil fuels has increased unprecedently which are scarce in nature. This has led to environmental degradation and global warming which is a matter of concern. These factors lead to the rise in renewable energy sector in last decade. Among various renewable energy sources, solar energy is most exclusively used because of its ease of availability and least impact on the environment. Flat plate solar collector is most widely used solar collector but is less efficient (low capability to convert solar energy to thermal energy). The use of nanofluid (fluid obtained by mixing nanoparticle in base fluid) in place of base fluid has improved effect on thermophysical properties such as thermal conductivity. The use of nanofluid on flat plate solar collector (FPSC) & direct absorption solar collector (DASC) can be identified as an effective way to enhance the performance of solar collector. With the advancement in nanotechnology and growing thrust over increasing the performance of solar devices a lot of work has been done in this regard. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the various research work done on the application of nanofluid in solar thermal devices. This review paper identifies the effect of various parameters and the optimum working condition. This paper also identifies the probable challenges we ought to face while developing thermal collector using nanofluids thus identifying the opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive review on research and developments on solar assisted compression heat pump systems, mostly reported during the last two decades. The first part of this paper provides a detailed description of the past efforts on various system configurations, system modeling, enhancement of system performance, modifications in compression heat pump cycles and environment friendly refrigerant options for solar assisted compression heat pump systems. The economical and environmental impacts of solar assisted compression heat pump systems are also described. Further research needs in this important field of solar assisted compression heat pump are listed. The outcomes of this review confirm that, there is a lot of research scope for improving the performance of the system and reducing its initial cost to make it competitive in the global market. The information presented in this paper is shall be highly beneficial for the active researchers working presently on solar assisted compression heat pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic system is widely installed to increase the share of renewable energy as well as to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel based energy. Photovoltaic (PV) is one of the most potential renewable energy based power generation systems. Monitoring of PV system is very important to send information that allows owners to maintain, operate and control these systems to reduce maintenance costs and to avoid unwanted electric power disruptions. Different monitoring systems have been introduced with the time following different requirements. Circuit complexity, availability of friendly graphical user interface, easy to understand system architecture, maintenance facility and customization ability for end user differ from system to system along with cost issues. This paper provides an overview of architectures and features of various PV monitoring systems based on different methods. There are various technologies for PV monitoring and control, developed as for commercial use or research tasks. It has been seen that a large portion of the work is done on classifications, for example, Internet based Monitoring using Servers, TCP/IP, GPRS and so forth. There are various methodologies for data acquisition, for example, PLC (Power Line Communication), PIC, Reference cell, National Instruments etc. Various requirements are considered while selecting a proper monitoring system for an application. Review of various monitoring technologies with system attributes and working structures have been discussed to get a clear view of merits and demerits of existing PV monitoring systems. All the systems discussed in this paper have pros and cons, and these systems were developed following different requirements. In the end, a particular cost effective monitoring system using Arduino microcontroller has been proposed considering both research and user level requirements from perspectives of cost, availability of parts/modules and features, compatibility with sensors and end-devices etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural convection primarily driven by the absorption of thermal energy known as penetrative or thermo-convection is a topic that generates attention due to its importance in various physical systems. A very common example of where this process can be found in geophysical systems such as lakes, where radiation induced natural convective transport have been seen to influence water temperature, biological activity and water quality. The present paper reviews previous analytical, experimental and numerical studies reported in literature concerning natural convection driven by absorption of thermal radiation. Many of the reviewed studies were motivated by the interest of investigators to understand the physical processes in volumetric absorption thermal radiation in a fluid layer process and its associated energy transport. In this class of problems, temperature fields are generally described as non-linear and the associated fluid flow is considered rather complex owing to coupling between the direct absorption of radiation and fluid flow. Parametric investigations for the effect of various parameters of interest such as the Rayleigh numbers, Prandtl numbers, spectral nature of incident radiative flux, optical depth, fluid absorptivity, aspect ratio, albedo and boundary emissivity on natural convection have been investigated. The overall aim of the current review is to present a comprehensive review of the previous and recent approaches applied in the investigations of radiation induced natural convection in reservoirs. The paper also aims to contribute to improving the understanding of the physical processes, heat transfer and fluid dynamics associated with the thermal energy deposition into a fluid layer. The paper is also highlight the potential application of this concept to help keep solar energy capture costs to a minimum and inform efficient designs of energy systems based on the concept of direct absorption of thermal energy inside a fluid layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is moving towards the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels. Various innovations are undergoing to make the use of sources of renewable energy like wind, solar, tidal etc. Among these sources, solar energy is available in enormous quantity and best option that may be used for space heating and generation of electric energy. For drying agricultural and non-agricultural products, solar energy can be used directly or indirectly. But in open sun drying the products are affected by external calamities such as rain, insects and animals. To overcome the shortcomings of open sun drying various greenhouse solar dryer had been proposed so far. Some of recent researches have been discussed in the paper. This paper provides the data of already developed greenhouses so the reader can develop new and modified the greenhouse structure. To accomplish this, various researches of recent years have been studied and presented in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a review of the design parameters, mathematical techniques and simulations used in the design of parabolic trough solar systems, along with a review on their applications. Recent studies that analyze the deployment of solar parabolic trough collectors (SPTC) in different countries and the operational SPTC plants are also presented and discussed. The paper also discusses the different kinds of software and test methods of solar collectors developed since 1981 which can be distinguished by their particular mathematical models or tracking techniques. In particular, since the mathematical models are especially required for the design, analysis, testing and validation of the systems results as they provide an approximation of the dynamic behavior of the physical properties of the system, they are discussed in depth. The mathematical models allow the calculation of different parameters of the solar parabolic trough system, the angle of inclination of the collecting surface and the forces acting on the system. The validity and experimental validation of the major mathematical models on practical solar parabolic trough concentrators, receivers and other components of different dimension are also reviewed. The paper showed the optical efficiency values are close to 63% and the theoretical peak optical efficiency reached 75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change materials (PCMs) can be applied to several different solar energy systems for the extended heat energy storage which is quite useful as the solar energy is intermittent in nature and is unavailable during the night period. Application of PCMs in solar energy systems allows the solar energy to be used at any time even in the absence of the natural solar radiation. Thus, the use of PCMs in the solar energy systems can bridge the demand and supply gap of the normal electrical energy. This paper deals with the recent advances in PCMs application in different solar energy systems and presents almost all of the emerging areas where the applications of PCM in solar energy systems are urgently required. The novel and most recent developments of PCMs in solar thermal energy systems, such as, solar thermal power plants, solar air heater, solar water heater and solar cooker have been duly covered. Furthermore, the application of PCMs in heating and cooling of buildings have been presented as well as the investigation of the PCM application in the solar photovoltaic systems for the performance enhancement of PCMs. Intrinsically important, from the study it has been found that PCMs have been in use in almost all of the solar energy systems even though their uses are still limited and commercially not available due to several economic and environmental constraints. Thus, the paper attempts to present recent and novel approaches by the authors around the world on PCMs applications in the solar energy in well documented forms. Based on the findings, future recommendations have also been given to provide the idea and pragmatic concepts for the researcher to work on the areas of research for further improvements in the systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunlight is often deemed as the only abundant and truly “free” energy resource. Among all the different techniques available to harness solar energy, the most popular and mature technology is the photovoltaic conversion of sunlight into electricity. Despite its merits, solar PV technology has issues with the land requirement (especially in urban areas), capture efficiency and public perception (due to the absence of pleasing aesthetics). The concept of a solar tree is capable of addressing these problems effectively with elegance. In this paper an attempt is made to review the components of the solar tree and its design. The various commercial designs are also discussed along with applications of the solar tree. The paper also addresses the challenges involved with this technology and suggests future research direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-objective model for expansion with a high share of renewable energy. The model considers three objective functions (minimizing the total cost, maximizing generation at the peak load, and maximizing the contribution of non-hydro renewable sources). The model was then applied to the Brazilian case, using the new government targets for renewable energy. The introduction of the objectives regarding peak load and non-hydro renewable generation lead to an increase of solar power generation. In many studies about Brazil, solar power was not considered, or its participation was negligible, but in this paper the results show solar energy as the main non-hydro renewable source in 2030, due to its capacity to meet the peak demand, since its daily curve coincides with the peak load period. In this study, it was possible to meet 90% of the annual load with renewable sources (with 23% being ensured by non-hydro) and the solar power increased from 21 MW to 40000 MW by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison between empirical models in the literature and the development of new models for estimating global solar radiation on the horizontal surface in the city of Muğla/Turkey. The necessary meteorological data are collected using a Kipp and Zonen pyranometer installed at the University Campus of the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and the records are available from 2007 to 2015, inclusive. In total 105 literature models are assessed to estimate global solar radiation in the Muğla Province using MATLAB software program on the basis of statistical tests such as mean bias error (MBE), mean percentage error (MPE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute bias error (MABE), root mean squared error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R 2 ). The results indicate that only two models (Veeran and Kumar/model 24, Chegaar and Chibani/model 35) are within the ±10% acceptable statistical error limits. In this paper, 7 new models are calibrated in the same manner leading to less than 0.8 error values as high R 2 values. In order to reduce the error values of these models data sets are divided into two semesters (January–June and July–December). In addition, Benson's model is investigated and compared with the previous models. Finally, it is found that the cubic and quadratic models are appropriate for January–June and July–December periods, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the media image of solar power in order to understand the recent technology development trends. The increase in both solar PV panels as well as concentrated solar power plants has been influenced by decrease in solar power price, as well as subsidies and general public acceptance. This paper focuses to the latter, through quantitative media analysis. This paper utilises a modern method for media sentiment analysis from both editorial and social media, learning machine based analysis including over 50 000 data points. The results indicate that sentiment toward solar power, especially in social media, has been mostly neutral or positive thus with expected positive effect on technology market deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate quality and reliability of drinking water is vital for all inhabitants and for agriculture and industrial applications. Solar desalination is impactful method for getting potable water from brackish/wastewater in hot climatic condition and/or remote area where the scarcity of water as well as for electricity. In recent years, attention has been focused on development of various designs of solar still in order to overcome limitations possesses by conventional single basin single slope solar still. Pyramid solar still is one of the outcomes of such a development. The present paper reviews the development in the field of pyramid solar still as well as the various techniques to improve the performance of still. From the review on research carried out by the various researchers, it has been found that pyramid solar still is more efficient and economical in compare to conventional single slope single basin still. Thus, the review paper will assist the researchers to understand the fundamentals of pyramid solar still with the need, developments and challenges in pyramid solar still to improve its thermal performance and to make it more and more economic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have the greatest potential to meet the scale of sustainable energy demands, yet large surface areas beyond rooftop areas are required. One source of additional surface area that avoids conflict with food production while scaling with population density is noise barriers, which provide dual use of land area both as noise abatement and energy generation. This paper provides a method to quantify the potential of mass scale deployment of photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB) systems in a country. Based on a feasibility analysis of the irradiation levels and noise barrier locations, the PV power potential and the energy output for the photovoltaic modules is calculated for specific locations using a tool chain of free GIS software. This method, is then demonstrated with a case study for the state of California and the results are then extrapolated for the entire U.S. The U.S. is an ideal candidate country because noise abatement mandates fall well short of World Health Organizations guidelines and PVNB technology has not been implemented on a wide scale. Using conservative assumptions, the results show that the total PVNB power potential for the U.S. ranges from 7 to 9 GW using only existing noise barriers. According to findings of the paper the installed capacity of the large scale photovoltaic system deployed on noise barriers in a single state is comparable to the installed capacities of the largest solar farms in the U.S. and yet due to the unique mounting of PVNB, such systems provide better land utilization ratios for energy production than conventional solar PV farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and energy are the key drivers of agricultural production while the world is facing severe energy and water crisis. Increasing crop production per unit area for the increasing population of the world is dire need of time. Thus, sustainable approaches are required to ensure food security and energy security. One of the sustainable development approach is solar photovoltaic water pumping system (SPVWPS). It is a promising alternative to the conventional pumping systems and a cost-effective application especially in remote off-grid areas of developing countries. In recent years, through continuous improvement, the photovoltaic pump system has been widely used in agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors. Present paper intends to review and summarize the recent research and development performed in SPVWPS. The study focuses on components of the photovoltaic pump system, factors affecting system efficiency, performance assessment, optimization of the system, and possibility of combination with other green technologies. An update on the research and current situation of SPVWPS is presented. SPVWPS is found to be feasible in comparison to the conventional pumping systems. Application of PV pumping in different regions of the world are also discussed. This paper aims to provide a broad outlook on SPVWPS for the researchers, engineers, manufacturers, and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laboratory for renewable energy sources of the Higher Education Technical School of Professional Studies in Novi Sad (Serbia) contains the equipment regarding solar and thermal techniques, based on the implementation of solar panels, heat pumps and a pellet stove. Photovoltaic systems include the implementation of static photovoltaic panels, trackers and inverters for power supply of autonomous consumers. In addition, the laboratory is equipped with modern systems of internal and external lighting, a wind generator with accompanying inverter, elements of smart installations and fuel cell systems for laboratory measurements. This paper presents experiences in the implementation of the photovoltaic systems in the educational process through laboratory exercises. The specification of the laboratory equipment, the methodology of work, as well as the electrical schemes of experiments of open circuits and short circuit, recording of electricity-voltage characteristics, tracking the maximum power point, serial and parallel connection and shading of photovoltaic cell are presented. The second group of the trial is performed on the "off grid" photovoltaic system set in the schoolyard and connected to the appropriate inverter with the autonomous group of consumers. The paper presents the results of laboratory measurements, issues for discussion, evaluation of the performance and conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to determine which voltage regulation strategies best allow grid-tied Photovoltaic (PV) Systems to be integrated into distribution networks. More particularly, this involves performing a literature review on the negative impacts of grid-tied PV systems on distribution networks, and also the current and proposed voltage regulation methods available. The next step is to assess, through simulation, which strategies allow the greatest amount of PV to be integrated with minimal effect on power quality. This will be done by simulating various Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) radial feeders under varying load conditions and changing solar irradiance levels. Real network data will be incorporated with an accurate model for PV output power to accurately model high penetrations of PV. Our research highlights the necessity of reducing peak loadings through strategies such as energy storage, off-peak loading methods, and reactive power control of inverters to decrease the voltage deviations. It has been shown that voltage rise and reverse power-flows can and should be avoided on distribution feeders. Voltage unbalances can also be easily avoided by following the simple steps outlined in this paper. Now, a proactive approach should be taken by Governments, Distribution Networks System Providers, and customers with PV to ensure that as penetrations increase, Power Quality is not diminished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a global era, continuous increment in energy requisition with its associated cost and relevant climate problems is causing accentuation in exploring more efficient ways to provide air conditioning in enclosed space without degradation of the environment. In the hot and humid area, major part of conventionally produced electrical energy is consumed by air conditioning. Also in the rapidly growing world scarcity of clean water is dilemma as equal as green-house and ozone layer depletion. Thus, there is emergence of dehumidified air for human comfort conditions with having potable clean water same time. In summer with largely available solar radiation, use of hybrid solar system is viable option to overcome problems of dehumidification of liquid desiccant as well as of potable water. Up till now the conventional dehumidification with desiccant solution has been improved or replaced by less costly new systems. This paper provides an extensive literature review on development of liquid desiccant regeneration using solar energy. The paper also includes the recent findings of hybrid solar system in which either two sources of heat is used for regeneration of liquid desiccant or solar energy is used for regeneration of liquid desiccant along with other application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality assurance procedures associated with the financing of large PV plants are becoming increasingly more relevant to the PV scene in general. In this context, PV performance modelling is required in order to predict the energy yield and to rate the operating plant performance. Despite the availability of PV performance models since the early days of photovoltaics, the emergence of new proposals and the current debate on the development of an energy rating standard means that this can still be considered an open question. In the specific context of Quality Assurance Procedures, PV performance models must not only be accurate but must also be based on features specifically supported by manufacturers (datasheet information), in order to maintain the chain of responsibility in the event of failure. This paper reviews the currently available PV performance models with regard to accuracy and also compliance with datasheet specifications and guarantees. Accuracy is assessed through a meticulous measurement campaign conducted on PV arrays of four different technologies at a PV plant located in Navarra (northern Spain). The models reviewed are classified into physical models, based on the full I-V curve, and empirical models, which are solely based on the maximum power point (MPP). Despite the fact that physical models and MPP models with more than three parameters are currently widely used, this paper shows that empirical models with just three independent parameters suffice to accurately describe the relationship between PV array performance and operating conditions and are more easily derived from standard datasheet information. This result suggests that 3-parameter empirical models are the best option for PV performance modelling in the context of technical quality assurance procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity is the fastest-growing final form of energy. The strong growth of renewable in many countries raises their share in global power generation to one-third by 2040 [1] . Lack of access to electricity is one of the biggest troubles facing the world's poor, with over 1.6 billion left in the dark globally. The substantial majority of human beings live in rural areas of developing countries which is too far away to be reached through the national grid. For their lighting needs they depend on candles, kerosene lanterns, and firewood* This consequence in an each day rate that is high priced in the long run. Long-term, solar energy is the most practical and low-budget way of bringing power to far flung communities. Small-scale, distributed solar home systems provide an effective and affordable way to bring light to people without electricity. Egypt's electricity use has been growing swiftly as a end result of economic growth in the closing decade. However, Egypt has a massive of its populace residing in rural areas access to energy is still a challenge. The power sector is key to Egypt's monetary development and poverty decrease goals. This paper represents support sustainable livelihoods for rural communities. The paper refers to renewable energy for rural populations with no access to centralized electricity power. The focus is on solar electrical energy and its economic applications for village electrification. The Paper goals to compare between electrical energy cost (kWh) using PV panels, diesel generator and the end of result suggests the cost of 1 kWh from the PV system is less than diesel system for rural residential electricity are 0.22$/kWh and 0.5$/kWh respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional technologies of carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being focused on capturing CO 2 in large-scale demonstrations, which has been proved to result in the high cost and energy penalty. Meanwhile, typical innovative measures, commonly defined as the second generation CCS technologies, elude conventional ones by integrating with solar energy and thus contributing to a more energy-efficient conversion of CO 2 . However, few reviews pay attention to thermodynamic processes and parameters of these novel technologies, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation and comparison among them. This paper firstly presents a guided tour on the state-of-art of typical and innovative CCS technologies integrated with solar energy. An overview on thermodynamic processes, including chemical reactions, operating conditions and efficiency indexes of five typical technologies is presented so that the current development level can be clarified. Since the high energy requirement and related operating cost are the main barriers to the application of existing CCS technologies, the minimum work and second-law efficiency are applied as the main indicators in the second part of this paper which relates to performance evaluation. In addition, the performance windows for innovative technologies are illustrated for the comparison of technological maturity. The results show that energy requirement of innovative CCS technologies from the flue gas is avg. 100–200 kJ/mol CO 2 and the second-law efficiency of them is only 5–12%. Therefore, the maturity and popularity of these novel technologies are still relatively low. But the well-integrated systems and diversified output of these technologies can benefit existing energy infrastructures in a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a review of tilt angle and azimuth angles in solar energy applications. The paper involves an overview of design parameter, applications, simulations and mathematical techniques covering different usage application. The number of references analysing the tilt angle deployment in the context of the research papers of the different countries currently having operations in solar systems is much more significant. Different kinds of models and test methods of optimum tilt angle in different solar systems have been developed since 1956 which can be distinguished by their particular mathematical models or tracking techniques as shown in the latest researches. The mathematical models allows the calculation of different parameters of the solar radiation, the angle of inclination, and the optimum tilt angle of the collecting surface and the effects acting on the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns over environment and increased demand of energy have led the world to think about alternate energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar and fuel cells. Out of these, photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems have become increasingly important all over the world due its availability, cleanness, low maintenance cost and inexhaustible nature. But power produced by the photovoltaic system is stochastic in nature due to the variation of solar irradiation and cell temperature throughout the day. In order to track the varying power, a DC-DC converter with maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is used. Different MPPT algorithms have been proposed for tracking peak power from the PV panel. Selection of adequate DC-DC converter is also an important factor since it has an influence on overall performance of the PV system. This paper presents a comparative study on the characteristics of different non-isolated DC-DC converters and highlights the various research works that has been done on DC-DC converters based MPPT PV system. Study shows that selection of converter also has an impact on the overall performance of the PV system. Based on the survey and comparative study, selection criteria to choose DC-DC converter for PV system is described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar electricity that is produced from photovoltaic solar systems has the potential to deliver clean sustainable energy. Positive steps are being undertaken to minimise greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and photovoltaic solar systems are contributing towards sustainability. The current amount of installed photovoltaic solar systems cannot address the global warming issues in whole, however renewable energy production is contributing towards minimising carbon emissions. One of the main concerns for the residential householders is the economic issue on the use of photovoltaic solar systems. This paper examines life cycle cost effectiveness in using photovoltaic solar systems with capacities ranging from 1.5 kW to 5 kW in relation to the number of occupants and consumption for residential dwellings over a 25-year period. Eight major cities in Australia, including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth, are investigated. Life cycle cost comparisons among different types of electricity grid connected systems, including a gross-feed-in-tariff (GFIT) scheme, a net-feed-in-tariff (NFIT) scheme and a buy-back scheme, are also explored. It is found that all major cities can receive life cycle cost saving in installing photovoltaic solar systems in their residential dwellings. The life cycle cost saving is between $273 and $53,021 and the percentage of cost saving is between 0.35% and 123.83% in a 15-year period. It appears that the GFIT and NFIT schemes offer better benefits than the buy-back scheme in installing photovoltaic solar systems. It is also found that the higher the capacity of the photovoltaic solar systems, the higher the life cycle cost saving can be received. This paper contributes to prove the cost effectiveness of using photovoltaic solar systems with the example from Australian residential dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy has seen tremendous development in recent years towards fulfilling the energy requirements of our planet. This paper presents an extensive review of solar-energy-based technologies and research work conducted under cold climatic conditions. These conditions include mountainous, continental, cold oceanic and polar climates and in general, all climates where below Zero temperatures are common during the winter. This article describes the use of solar energy under cold conditions from various aspects: greenhouses, buildings and housing, heat pumps, heat storage, PV panels, solar thermal and PV/T, high-latitude issues, cooling, and policies. Both environmental and economic aspects are considered in this paper, and the zones covered more or less intensively are Central and Northern Europe, North America, Turkey, Iran, China, Japan, the Andes and Antarctica. This analysis shows that, for most cold climatic conditions, it is worth implementing solar energy technologies for certain uses. However, many parameters need to be carefully considered before concluding on the relevance of a given technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources (including hydropower, wind, biomass, geothermal, tidal, wave and solar energy sources) can satisfy the present and future energy demands, with minor environmental impact respect to traditional sources of energy. Solar energy is the cheapest and widely available renewable energy and solar cooling systems are a green cold production technology that produce minor CO 2 emissions due to use of heat pumps. Infect, absorption refrigeration is a mature technology that has proved its applicability with the possibility to be driven by low grade solar energy. In this contest, thermal storage systems contribute to balance the disadvantages of the intermittent nature of solar energy and the variation in cooling demand, receiving more attention of researchers in the recent years. This paper presents an innovative and comprehensive literature review on solar systems integrated with environmental-friendly processes as absorption heat pumps and thermal energy storages. A study about processes regarding the renewable and sustainable energy according the European policy is carried out. Photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal solar systems can be used to this purpose and are the most promising technologies growing very fast in recent years. Researches show that one, half, two effect of absorption heat pumps integrated with solar systems and thermal energy storages can be an attractive alternative in cooling systems, meeting the demands for energy conservation and environmental protection. Showing various systems, a discussion about the improvement of cooling applications respecting the environment is also presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today solar power is still dominantly presented to be expensive source of electricity. However, the profitability of solar and other electricity generation technologies is typically evaluated with the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) approach. This paper questions the traditional investment evaluation logics of power production (LCOE) in the interesting case of rooftop PVs and based on customer value generation logics presents a new approach for evaluating the profitability of rooftop PV investments. The approach recognizes the value that PVs produce to real estate owners and utilize basic real estate investment models to evaluate the profitability of PVs. The results imply that, if PVs are considered as a part of the underlying property, rooftop PV systems are already today profitable in many European cities and can provide substantial returns on investment for property owners. More interestingly, the results imply that rooftop PV investments are most profitable in the dense urban cores instead of more remote (industrial) locations, and thus the current trend of urbanization seems to further strengthen the profitability of rooftop solar power. This paper points out that spatial locations drive the economic analysis of real estate, and thus it is likely that it will drive the economic analysis of decentralized on-site energy investments as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar radiation data is critical to the design and operation of solar energy utilization systems, so a large number of models have been proposed and developed to estimate solar radiation in the past ten years. However, the performances of such models are controversial in different studies, and there is a lack of systematic comparison among them. In addition, few studies pay attention to the time scales and practicability of the models. This paper focuses on solving these questions through a critical literature review and the authors believe it can benefit researchers to perform further investigations about solar radiation. This paper reviews and compares the models from the points of view of time scale and estimation type for the first time. Furthermore, a large amount of data about the evaluation metrics (root mean square error and mean absolute percentage error) from different studies is summarized to clarify the performances of proposed models. The questions arising from the processing of source data are also carefully examined. This paper has presented a novel method to compare the estimation models and has provided a detailed analysis on available models. The results indicate that the sunshine duration fraction models and artificial neural networks have similar performances when used to estimate monthly average daily global radiation and daily global radiation, while more work is needed to study the estimation method on smaller time intervals and the mechanisms of atmospheric attenuation for solar radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the rapid developments in the semiconductor and power electronics techniques, Photovoltaic energy is one of the interest area of concern in electrical power applications. Similarly, photovoltaic energy is clean, easily accessible, pollution-free and inexhaustible. It is normally important to operate the photovoltaic energy conversion systems closer to the maximum power point, to perk-up the output efficiency of the photovoltaic arrays. This paper elaborates the illustration and operating principles of twenty-seven state-of-the-art Maximum Power Point Tracking techniques that are prevalent in the photovoltaic systems. The selection of the photovoltaic system is dependent on diverse factors like cost, efficiency, complexity, technology and array dependency. Therefore, to come out with the design of a resourceful system, various aspects of different Maximum Power Point Tracking techniques have to be considered. An expressive comparative chart has been entailed at the end of this paper, which in future , will serve as a valuable reference to the photovoltaic system engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern nanotechnology can produce metallic or non-metallic particles of nanometer dimensions that have unique optical, mechanical, magnetic, electrical, and thermal properties. The purpose of this review is to summarise important published articles on the enhancement of convection heat transfer using nanoparticles dispersed in Ethylene Glycol (EG) and the effects on thermal properties and applications. This paper reviews all the articles relevant to nanoparticles suspended in EG. The studies of thermal properties including experimental measurement and correlations are reported. The effects of nanofluid volume fraction, temperature, and base fluid have been included. The stability of nanofluid was shown through testing to avoid agglomeration and clusters for many applications. In this paper, the applications of nanofluids in different types of heat exchangers, cooling systems, and solar energies are reviewed. In the field of economics, nanotech reduces manufacturing costs as a result of using a low-temperature process. In order to focus future studies of nanofluid applications, the articles on this field are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India with a fast growing demand for electricity and increasing consideration to emissions reduction is investing strongly in renewable electricity generation. Among renewables, the Central and State Governments have set aspirational targets for on-grid solar electricity and legislated several supporting policies to realise these targets. As a result of the favourable political environment, the development of on-grid solar, in terms of the rate of growth in installed capacity, has been increasing in the recent years, and it is expected to continue in the future. This paper aims to investigate the impact of historical transitions of India's electricity sector on the ongoing development of on-grid solar electricity and to explore the prospect of solar sector development in the future. First of all, we investigate how the historical transformation of governmental intervention's approach intertwined with the gradual shift of the source of generation has paved the way for the current achievements in on-grid solar electricity. Second, we envision the future challenges and opportunities for the development of solar sector by looking ahead and discussing the continuity of government's support and the prospective competitions between different sources. We conclude the paper with some required steps to be taken in order to secure the achievement of the targets in solar electricity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of solar energy based technologies has attracted increased interest in recent times in order to satisfy the various energy demands of our society. This paper presents a thorough review of the open literature on solar energy based heat and power plants. In order to limit the scope of the review, only fully renewable plants with at least the production of electricity and heat/hot water for end use are considered. These include solar photovoltaic and solar thermal based plants with both concentrating and non-concentrating collectors in both solar-only and solar-hybrid configurations. The paper also presents a selection of case studies for the evaluation of solar energy based combined heat and power generation possibility in Denmark. The considered technologies for the case studies are (1) solar photovoltaic modules, (2) solar flat plate collectors, (3) a ground source heat pump, (4) a biomass burner, and (5) an organic Rankine cycle. The various cases are compared on the basis of economic profitability and environmental performance. The results from the case studies indicate that it is economically and environmentally beneficial to invest in both small and large capacity solar-biomass hybrid plants for combined heat and power production in the Nordic climatic conditions. The results also suggest that the configuration with an organic Rankine cycle with solar thermal collectors and a biomass burner is particularly attractive for large capacity plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years solar energy has received worldwide attention in the field of renewable energy systems. Among the various research thrusts in solar PV, the most proverbial area is extracting maximum power from solar PV system. Application dof Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for extracting maximum power is very much appreciated and holds the key in developing efficient solar PV system. In this paper, a state of the art review on various maximum power point techniques for solar PV systems covering timeworn conventional methods and latest soft computing algorithms is presented. To date critical analysis on each of the method in terms of (1) tracking speed, (2) algorithm complexity, (3) Dynamic tracking under partial shading and (4) hardware implementation is not been carried out. In this regard the authors have attempted to compile a comprehensive review on various solar PV MPPT techniques based on the above criteria. Further, it is envisaged that the information presented in this review paper will be a valuable gathering of information for practicing engineers as well as for new researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the European Green Deal and the Recovery Plan for Europe, CSP can play its role, by providing dispatchable and flexible energy when other renewable technologies cannot. The aim of this paper is to identify the potential socioeconomic, social and environmental impacts associated to the future deployment of CSP projects in Spain, taking into account the global value chain. Based on an extended multiregional input-output model developed by the authors, this paper identifies the country and sector-origin of nine sustainability indicators for the two dominant CSP technologies (parabolic trough and central receiver). The research considers the deployment of a 200 MW CSP power plant in Spain to compare the sustainability impacts of these two technologies under three different scenarios regarding the country-origin of the main components. The results show that central receivers have more positive economic impacts, both in terms of value added and employment creation, and lower negative environmental and social impacts than the parabolic trough alternative. The economic and environmental impacts of the CSP deployed in Spain depend on the origin of components, with the highest negative environmental impacts occurring when the components come from China and the lowest when they come from Germany. The same occurs for the social impacts and supply risks, which are lower when Germany supplies the main components. The scenario in which Spain supplies all the components performs better than the Chinese supply scenario in terms of social risks, whereas no major differences among them were found on supply risks. • CSP deployment in Spain will have socioeconomic benefits, mostly retained in Europe. • CSP electricity has low silver extraction and carbon and water footprints compared to other energy sources. • Chinese penetration in the European CSP market worsens the sustainability of plants. • The best sustainability performance occurs in the European cooperative scenario. • There are tradeoffs between the sustainability impacts driven by the CSP investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of solar parking lots aims at coupling the development of clean solar electricity and electric mobility. Solar panels provide shade and generate electricity to charge parked electric vehicles. In a vehicle-to-grid approach, the vehicles may also feed the grid and support it with ancillary services. In this paper, we explore the potential of this solution, starting with a concise overview discussing the technical, environmental and financial issues constraining the development of solar parking lots. A comprehensive review of the literature follows, and finally open issues and prospects for future work are identified. It is intended that this paper may serve as a standalone summary of the most important work on this topic to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, renewable energies are more preferable to fossil fuels because of being free, widely available and producing minimal pollution. One of the disadvantages of renewable energy systems is that using only one type of renewable energy cannot guarantee a continuous power generation. To overcome this problem, two or more renewable energy systems should be used simultaneously to compensate for times when one of them is not available or the renewable system should be used aligned with the generator. In addition, another weakness is that they are not accessible in every geographical position and location. It is clear that renewable energy systems can be exploited to their fullest capacity when used in the proper place. Therefore, given the importance of finding suitable places for co-utilization of several renewable energies, present paper attempted to find the ideal locations for construction of hybrid solar-wind power stations in Middle-East using Boolean model in GIS software. The Boolean method is, in a way, a more stringent method compared to the other positioning methods. Therefore, the selected locations will definitely have greater energy potential by using the Boolean method. Data obtained by RETScreen4 software from 400 stations in Middle-East were used for collecting monthly weather information. Results of the current paper may be helpful in creating prospects for sustainable energy development for systems based on natural resources and facilitating the national power transmission and sustainable environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]