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Abstract: Industry represents a very promising application area for solar thermal technology, since it accounts for 27% of the total final energy consumption in Germany and uses 74% of its energy consumption as thermal energy. In order to develop this application area, it is necessary to know which industrial sectors have the highest potential and which processes within these sectors are most suitable for the integration of solar heat. For this paper the industrial heat consumption in Germany was analyzed, which leads to the selection of the most promising sectors within industry. Furthermore, the quantitative potential for Germany in total and for 11 selected sectors, that were identified to be most promising for the use of solar heat, was calculated. These are Chemicals, Food and beverages, Motor vehicles, Paper, Fabricated metal, Machinery and equipment, Rubber and plastic, Electrical equipment, Textiles, Printing and Wood. These sectors are analyzed to identify suitable processes for the integration of solar heat. In total the theoretical potential of solar heat for industrial processes below 300°C in Germany accounts for 134TWh per year, the technical potential being 16TWh per year or 3.4% of the overall industrial heat demand. This is the highest share of the European potential of 72TWh per year. The results of this study facilitate the prioritized application of solar thermal energy in industrial sectors and processes for Germany and other countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy is essential for our preservation and the improvement of our life-style. Today all major production of energy is generated from fossil fuels, which are non-renewable and significantly pollute the environment. Access to clean and reliable energy is crucial for assuring the development of countries such as Mexico. Mexico's economy is based on producing energy from fossil fuels 1 [1] 91% of Mexico's energy is produced from non-renewable energy sources. Moreover, 36% of primarily renewable energy corresponds to the use of firewood for cooking used in a non-healthy and non-sustainable way [42]. GTZ is the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (German Technical Cooperation, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development). and the change to sustainable ways of life is still uncertain. It becomes essential to look at developed countries where the transition to sustainability has been rapidly increasing. This paper gives an overview of energy policies and the potential of solar photovoltaic energy in two countries: Germany, a world leader in the generation and development of photovoltaic technology; and Mexico, a country with great solar photovoltaic potential. It also describes the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of photovoltaic technology, including BIPV systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous studies have noted that, unexpectedly, Germany's dramatic expansion of wind and solar energy coincided with a reduction of short-term balancing reserves. This observation has been dubbed the "German Balancing Paradox". This paper provides further and updated evidence: since 2011, wind and solar energy have nearly doubled while both reserve requirements and reserve use have declined by 50%. The paper quantitatively explores one reason for reduced balancing needs: increased and improved short-term wholesale electricity trading on the intraday market. Trading is now commonly done around the clock and based on quarter-hour, rather than full-hour, contracts. The shift to quarter-hourly products alone explains a decrease in balancing energy by 17%. There is also strong evidence that market parties respond efficiently to imbalance charges, suggesting that incentive-based approaches to electricity balancing work. • Since 2011 wind and solar energy nearly doubled; balancing energy decreased by 50%. • One reason for this is the expansion of short-term electricity trading. • It is now common to trade electricity around the clock, and on a 15-min basis. • In general, the paper finds support for efficient short-term electricity markets. • Good market design allows integrating large volumes of renewable energy at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Renewable energy sources derived principally from solar energy have been gaining ground over the last few years and are now beginning to contribute to the global energy mix. Solar energy in the form of direct electricity conversion (photovoltaics) is already very popular in countries such as the United States, Germany and Japan. The enormous potential of photovoltaic (PV) technology is also obvious and favourable in countries with high irradiation such as the Mediterranean region. The objective of this paper is to review the different up and coming PV technologies, to explore the potential of different PV systems in countries with high solar irradiation and to compare their performance through the assessment of thirteen different types of PV systems that have been installed side by side in Nicosia, Cyprus and Stuttgart, Germany. Finally useful insight into the performance of the PV systems as a function of the meteorological conditions and location will be highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The European power system will have to change significantly in next decades to meet the ambitious targets set by the upcoming European Climate Law. In particular, intermittent renewable energy will be increasingly injected in the system creating potential stability problems. Already in the last five years it has become evident that if the grid expansion does not keep pace with increasing demand for transmission capacity, congestion will happen more and more often in the European power network. To handle congestion, Transmission System Operators extensively use redispatching, requiring individual plants to alter their market-based functioning pattern in order to cope with technical limitations of the network. While the cost of redispatching actions is well known, the change in emission patterns of both greenhouse gases and air pollutants caused by these actions is not, mostly because of a lack of detailed publicly available data. This paper covers such a gap taking Germany as a case study, thanks to the quality of the available data. Following the standard methodology for estimating the direct emissions from fossil fuelled and renewable fed power plants, the study estimates the changes in the emissions of four regulated air pollutants (namely NO x , SO 2 , Particulate Matter and CO) together with those of CO 2 related to redispatching, for the years 2015–2019. The case study of Germany shows how the management of congestions through redispatching does not necessarily imply an increase in the emissions associated with power production in a country, although it has not been possible to complete the study with a full picture of the consequences for other countries emissions because of lack of consistent data. • Power redispatching in Germany in 2015–2019 did not increase GHG and air pollutants emissions. • The impact of redispatching on emissions from neighbouring countries has not been assessed because of lack of data. • Curtailment of wind and solar power is increasing: Opportunities for further potential emissions reductions are lost. • Congestion in the power network remains an issue in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]