Search

This paper considers two pertinent research inquiries: 'Can an AI-based predictive framework be utilised for the optimisation of solar energy management?' and 'What are the ways in which the AI-based predictive framework can be integrated within the Smart Grid infrastructure to improve grid reliability and efficiency?' The study deploys a Deep Learning model based on Long Short-Term Memory techniques, leading to refined accuracy in solar electricity generation forecasts. Such an AI-supported methodology aids power grid operators in comprehensive planning, thereby ensuring a robust electricity supply. The effectiveness of this framework is tested using performance metrics such as MAE, RMSE, nMAE, nRMSE, and $ R^2 $ R 2 . A persistent model is utilised as a reference for comparison. Despite a slight decrease in predictive precision with the expansion of the forecast horizon, the proposed AI-based framework consistently surpasses the persistent model, particularly for horizons beyond two hours. Therefore, this research underscores the potential of AI-based prediction in fostering efficient solar energy management and enhancing Smart Grid reliability and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the biggest causes of worldwide environmental pollution is conventional fossil fuel-based electricity generation. The need for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources to produce power is growing as a result of the quick depletion of fossil fuel supplies and their negative effects on the environment. Solar PV cells employ solar energy, an endless and unrestricted renewable energy source, to generate electricity directly. The optimum output, energy conversion efficiency, productivity, and lifetime of the solar PV cell are all significantly impacted by environmental factors as well as cell operation and maintenance, which have an impact on the cost-effectiveness of power generation. This article presents an analysis of recent research on the impact of operational and environmental factors on the performance of solar PV cells. It has been discovered that temperature and humidity, combined with dust allocation and soiling effect, have a significant impact on the performance of PV modules. In addition, particularly in the lonely places, the wind itself carries a lot of dust and sand particles. The situation gets worse when dust builds up in humid circumstances and produces tenacious, sticky mud on the PV cell, which lowers power output by up to 60–70%. This paper covers cutting-edge methods for reducing these elements' effects, along with their proportional benefits and difficulties. This paper also explains about the parameters which involved in the solar power production and their influence on the efficiency analysis. The efficiency and energy conversion capacity of the semi conducting materials for power production is also discussed. It is also discussed about the general benefits of the solar PV power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy for water pumping is a possible alternative to conventional electricity and diesel-based pumping systems, particularly given the current electricity shortage and the high cost of diesel. The literature survey includes a comparison between previous studies of pumping systems using photovoltaic cells, and the extent of the influence of external factors such as radiation intensity and temperature on the efficiency of the system. Additionally, the use of water storage to generate electrical energy through potential energy by means of hydraulic generators and the effect of the amount of flow and height on the amount of energy generated, as well as the types of hydraulic generators are discussed in this paper. Nowadays, solar power is a major contributor to the world's electrical energy supply, either by generating electrical energy directly from solar cells or through water storage, which will be covered in this review. When compared to electricity or diesel-powered systems, solar water pumping is more cost-effective for irrigation and water supply in rural, urban, and remote areas. This paper also highlights the challenges that must be overcome to develop high-quality, long-lasting solar power technology for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility and potential assessment (PA) of solar PV energy is one of the key factors in identifying the most promising areas for the installation of solar PV stations. It determines the useful energy generated in the given area. This paper assesses the solar energy distribution and PA in the North Shewa administration zone. Based on the data collected and analysis made, it is found that more than 80% of the North Shewa areas are suitable for the solar energy generation for off-grid and on-grid systems. Hence, the solar potential of the North Shewa zone completely fulfills the standards of sunshine, solar radiation, and temperature. That is, most of the areas have solar radiation of 5.2 kWh/m2, and daily sunshine is greater than 7 h. The maximum energy production is found in December in Shewa Robit, Mehal Meda, Eneware, Debre Berhan, Alem Ketema, and Sela Dengay with 175.35 kWh, 188.18 kWh, 180.78 kWh, 189.54 kWh, 175.78 kWh, and 189.63 kWh, respectively. This is a good opportunity for investors to invest in solar PV electricity generation. It will solve the issue of electricity supply to the community, which currently relies on wood and fossil fuels. It also highlights the positive opportunities for the future implementation of solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penetration of renewable energy resources into grid is necessary to meet the elevated demand of electricity. In view of this penetration of solar and wind power increasing immensely across the globe. Solar energy is widely expanding in terms of generation and capacity addition due its better predictability over wind energy. Electricity pricing is one of the important aspects for power system planning and it felicitates information for the electricity bidder for accurate electricity generation and resource allocation. The important task is to forecast the electricity price accurately in grid interactive environment. This task is tedious in renewable integrated market due to intermittency issue. In this paper, investigation has been done on the effect of solar energy generation on electricity price forecasting. Different state of the art Machine learning (ML) models have been applied and compared with LSTM model for electricity price forecasting and the evaluation of the impact of solar energy generation on electricity price has been done. During the investigation it was found from the results that the LSTM model outperform all other models and impact of solar energy generation on electricity price is evaluated using forecasting metrics. The forecasted electricity price considering the factor of solar energy generation was lower as compared with the forecast without solar energy generation. The reliability test of the MAPE values has been performed by calculating confidence interval for proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dependable and cost-effective energy distribution scheme is the need in the current scenario of distributed generation of electricity. In the recent past, different economic dispatch techniques are proposed to address this challenge of cost-effectiveness. The fossil fuels issue of pollutant emission and the limited stock has pushed the research community to focus on the direction of renewable energy generation. The aim of this paper is to present a multi-objective cost-emission-based dynamic economic dispatch (MOCEDED) algorithm, which includes thermal, solar, and wind-based power plants. Moreover, the uncertainty of solar and wind power in terms of curtailment is also included in the formulation of the algorithm. The formulated objective function is quadratic constrained programming, which is implemented in General Algebraic Modeling System software. Two paradigms, i.e. only cost-based DED and MOCEDED algorithm, have been analyzed. The outcome of the proposed MOCEDED algorithm shows more promising results than cost-based DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar power occupies a significant position among global renewable energy sources due to its abundant energy potential. Consequently, its contribution to electricity generation is steadily increasing. However, obtaining peak efficiency from fixed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is a formidable task due to their limited ability to consistently tap into solar energy. To tackle this issue and mitigate energy efficiency losses, the utilization of solar tracking systems has emerged as an exceptionally effective solution. These systems enable continuous adjustment of the panels' position to align with the sun's trajectory, optimizing energy absorption and enhancing overall performance. This paper presents the performance and cost analysis of three distinct solar panel tracking systems, namely, a fixed system, a single-axis system, and a dual-axis system. The systems are operated under identical coordinates and conditions. The production data are collected over a period of 15 days for comparative analysis. The tracking movements of the systems are controlled using Arduino. The mechanical components are specifically designed for the establishment of each system. The findings of this study indicate that both single-axis and dual-axis solar tracking systems outperformed fixed systems in terms of power generation. The single-axis system demonstrated a 24.367% increase in power production, while the dual-axis system showed a 32.247% increase compared to the fixed system. Moreover, a cost analysis was carried out considering the installation expenses and power production data of the three systems. It was determined that the single-axis tracking system achieved payback in 0.39 years less compared to the fixed system, while the dual-axis system achieved payback in 1.48 years less compared to the fixed system. Overall, this study underscores the advantages of implementing solar tracking systems, particularly in the single-axis and dual-axis configurations, as they contribute to higher power generation and cost-effectiveness compared to fixed systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the fact that most renewable energies such as solar and wind energy have become more competitive in the global energy market, thanks to the great development in conversion technologies, it believes that renewable energy can play a crucial role in global environmental issues. However, in Palestine, the situation is different from anywhere else; renewable energy is not only an economic option, but an absolute necessity to get out of the energy crisis that Palestinian cities suffer from long years ago and continue nowadays. The cornerstone of the present research is focusing on the availability of renewable energy resources in Jenin Governorate (JG)—West Bank (WB)—Palestine. Two-year time-series of hourly solar, wind, biomass, and 1-year hourly electrical load data are used in the analysis in this paper. The energy potentials were estimated using System Advisor Model software (SAM), and the optimum combination and sizing of the hybrid renewable energy system were determined using Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER). The proposed Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) consists of an 80 MW PV solar field, 66 MW wind farm, and 50 MW biomass system with an initial investment of $323 M. The proposed HRES generates 389 GWh/yr and is enough to meet 100% of the electrical demand of JG (372 GWh/yr) with excess in electricity generation of about 4.57% and the unmeet electric load is about 109.6 MWh/yr which is equivalent to less than 2 h off in a year. The estimated Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) was found as 0.313 $/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper was aimed at the techno-economic feasibility assessment of a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for electricity generation in Effurun-Warri, Nigeria. The system advisor model (SAM) software was used to design and simulate the solar PV modules for power generation. Furthermore, the standard and validated models inbuilt in the SAM software were employed to analyze the techno-economic performance of the system and the energy losses. Results showed that the extent of energy losses considered in the design of the PV system had significant effects on system performance. For the 25 MW system assessed in this study, the highest monthly energy production was obtained at 3.9 GWh in January and the lowest at 1.9 GWh in July. Also, the total annual energy produced by the PV system was observed to depreciate as the system ages, with about 12% of the initial annual energy production expected to be lost after 25 years of system operation. The obtained capacity factor (12.1 %) and the performance ratio (0.75) revealed that the PV system in its current design would be inadequate to match the energy demand profile of Effurun-Warri, Nigeria. Additionally, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was obtained as 0.65 cents/kWh for the system, which is about 85% higher than the current price of electrical energy in Southern Nigeria. Moreover, a negative net present value (NPV) was obtained for the plant, all indicating that the cost of investment would not be offset during the lifetime of the system, and the project would therefore not be profitable in its current design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energies have many advantages and their importance is rising owing to gravely mounting concerns for environmental issues and lack of fossil fuels in the future. Solar energy, well acknowledged as an inexhaustible source of energy, is developing dramatically for different purposes such as desalination and electricity generation. Appropriate solar power plant is very important factor for power generation due to its cost and other constraints. The applied technology is as important as the solar power plants location. In this paper, a wide variety multi criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, investigated by various researchers, are presented to obtain effective criteria in selecting solar plants sites and solar plants technologies. There is not any comprehensive research providing all required criteria for decision making for site and technology selection. Based on the reviewed researches, weight of each criterion depends on many factors such as region, economy, accessibility, power network, maintenance costs, operating costs, etc. The important criteria for site selection are represented and investigated thoroughly in this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the broad range of applications, efficient retrieval and storing electrical energy methods are still challenging. Besides the load variations, the ever‐increasing intermittent renewable energy penetration into the grid system has witnessed the system complexities. In off‐grid applications, energy storage can balance electricity consumption and electricity generation to avoid voltage and frequency deviations. This research paper focuses on the energy management of an off‐grid climate refuge system used for hot and arid locations with a system comparison for two routes of different storage techniques, namely flywheels and a lithium‐ion battery. The proposed system can generate its power from photovoltaics and provide cooling and other auxiliaries through vapor compression cycle and water misting units with an operation of about 16 hours (ie, from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm) on the weekdays and 12 hours on the weekends. A comparison of levelized costs is conducted for the evaluation using HOMER software. The annual energy production by solar photovoltaics for the proposed system is 20 MWh, and the annual consumption is 16 MWh. The photovoltaic‐battery storage system has shown the lowest cost of electricity, corresponding to 0.761 $/kWh, and net present cost of $66 238 and is optimum in all sensitivity analysis cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy has a vital place as it amounts to being the basic necessity of sustainable life and necessitates itself for the development of human capital leading to the general economic uplift of a nation. Pakistan has remained in the serious shortage of electric power leading to adverse effects on the state. Around 70 % of Pakistanis are living without stable electric supply. Those who are lucky enough to have access to electricity undergo around 12 to 14 hours of load-shedding. Pakistan is always in the lack of sufficient conventional sources of energy. Adding to this it is the fact that Pakistan has not made any significant steps to tap renewable energy resources like wind and solar energy. It seems very natural for Pakistan to employ the natural resources of energy which are yet to be tapped and are coming into the fulfilment of the shortage in the supply of energy. In this paper, the existing potential of renewable energy resources is studied as a viable alternative to the current state in the energy supply and demand. Southern Pakistan is presented to hold key renewable resources such as wind and solar energy in order to address the energy shortfall. Southern Pakistan, mainly coastal regions, possesses wind and solar potentials. The paper chooses selected areas in southern Pakistan containing an adequate level of wind power. The paper attempts to argue that renewable energy resources can meet the energy demand of the southern regions mainly coastal ones. The paper attempts to look at the current and future challenges in the transition to wind and solar power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many campuses have adopted the microgrid concept for decades now with backup systems that consist mostly of diesel generators. To help achieve energy sustainability and mitigate climate change, these microgrids are in the forefront in promoting renewables. This paper investigates the possibilities when integrating solar energy into the existing energy system of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. The Philippines has abundant solar radiation most times of the year. This study looks at the components of an optimal solar-diesel-grid system along with anticipated costs and other details. The study can provide insights into the planning and implementation of similar projects as it not only highlights the most cost-effective system configuration but goes deeper into choosing a system beyond the cost of energy. The software used in the optimization is HOMER, a popular tool used in microgrid design optimization. With the minimum renewable fraction between 5% to 10%, the most cost-effective system is composed of 400 kW solar PV, three diesel generators, 200 kW converter, no batteries, and with a connection to the grid. At a minimum renewable energy fraction of 15%, the most cost-effective system is composed of 500 kW solar PV, three diesel generators, 300 kW converter, no batteries, also with a connection to the grid. Sensitivity analysis has been done to see the effect of diesel prices and the minimum renewable fraction. [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]

In India, uniform price was assigned to renewable energy certificate (REC) irrespective of renewable energy (RE) type, technology, and location. Moreover REC price bands are higher than existing preferential tariff. There are distinct renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) specified for various RE types, whereas there is lack of efficient tools to check RPO compliance. Because of these reasons, REC market stabilisation is getting delayed. This paper proposes a method using plant performance multiplier to convert non-solar and solar REC to single equivalent REC with competitive REC pricing, which can be traded on unified REC market. The method combines solar and non-solar RPOs into a single composite RPO, to make RPO compliance and its checking simple and efficient. A sample illustration of the proposed method is given. The benefits offered by the proposed method in REC pricing, REC trading and RPO compliance are discussed. A comparative economic analysis of present and proposed method is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the present context, energy access to remote rural households through local energy generating systems has been recognized as a cost effective and extent efficient option. With increased emphasis on eco-friendly technologies and high fuel cost associated with conventional energy generation, the use of renewable energy resources (small hydro, biomass, solar, wind energy etc.) are being explored. The present paper is focused on the optimal sizing of a stand-alone Integrated Renewable Energy System (IRES) which comprises the resources of micro hydro power (MHP), biogas, biomass, solar and wind energy. Initially, a demand response (DR) strategy based on energy consumption scheduling of appliances has been suggested and modelled in the paper. This strategy aims to minimize the peak hourly energy consumption of the study area. Further, different combinations of system components without and with DR strategy were considered and optimized for power reliability criteria of 0% and 5% unmet load. It has been found that significant amount of savings in system sizes and costs are obtained with DR strategy compared to system without DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of photovoltaics (PV’s) in electric power generation is continually increasing. Tracking maximum power point in PV systems is an important task and represents a challenging problem. In maximum power point tracking (MPPT), the duty cycle of DC-DC converter is adjusted in a way that maximum achievable power is extracted from PV system. In this paper, the existing MPPT strategies are classified into two main categories and the strategies of each category are reviewed. Based on the conducted review, some directions for future research are recommended. The author strongly believes that this paper will be helpful for researchers and engineers in the field of PV systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential for renewable energy-based electricity generation using existing wave, wind, and solar energies in Türkiye. A significant part of Türkiye's energy needs is still met using fossil fuels. Considering the country's resources, renewable energy sources appear as an alternative source to meet these needs. The objective of this study is to find an effective, efficient, economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable way to produce electricity to reach net-zero targets and transition towards low-carbon and carbon-free energy systems. To be able to make a deep investigation about the relevant issue, six provinces from different regions of Türkiye (Antalya, Çanakkale, İstanbul, İzmir, Kırklareli, and Muğla) are assessed in terms of wave, wind, and solar energy potential, including wave data, wind speeds, sunshine duration, and global radiation values. Wind, wave, and solar energy data of the selected regions were taken from the ERA5 database, which is the weather forecast model of the European Center for Medium-Term Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye and the General Directorate of Meteorology. Calculations were made using monthly data for the last 5 years. Considering the coastal lengths in the determined regions, the annual total electrical power produced from wave, solar, and wind energies was calculated. In these calculations, the coastal length parameter was assumed to be uniform across all cities, and the electrical power potential from these energy sources was analyzed. Within the framework of these analyses, the number of houses in the selected regions whose electricity needs can be met was calculated. As a result, the potential electrical power and the amount of affordable housing units in the selected regions were compared. As an important result of the studies, it was determined that the characteristic features of the selected regions, such as wavelength, wave height, and wind speed, were directly related to the applicable coast length. The power obtained from wave energy was higher than that from other renewable energy sources, considering the determined coast lengths. Wave energy was followed by parabolic solar collector, wind, and photovoltaic solar energy systems. According to the model, the power obtained from renewable energy systems was at the highest level in the Kırklareli/Demirköy province compared to other locations. Kırklareli was followed by İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir, Muğla, and Çanakkale. It was also found that the electricity needs of 763,578 houses were met in the Kırklareli/Demirköy region, and the electricity needs of 470,590 houses were met in the Çanakkale/Ayvacık region. The statistically optimized factors using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for wind, photovoltaic, parabolic solar collector, and wave power were reported as 995.278, 4529.743, 2264.546, and 276,495.09, respectively. The optimal factors aim to achieve a total electricity generation rate of 2.491 × 109 (kWh/year), a total number of houses of 682,590.55 (number/year), and a total cost of USD 813,940,876. In line with the results obtained, the Kırklareli/Demirköy region becomes favorable when considering wave and wave-integrated wind and solar energies. The proposed system has the potential to meet the entire electricity demand of the Kırklareli province based on data from the Republic of Türkiye Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only 40% of Zimbabwe's population has access to electricity. The greater proportion of the power is generated from thermal stations, with some from hydro and solar energy sources. However, there is little investment in the use of wind for electricity generation except for small installations in the Eastern Highlands, as Zimbabwe generally has wind speeds which are too low to be utilised for electricity generation. This paper presents the use of vertical wind profile extrapolation methods to determine the potential of generating electricity from wind at different hub heights in Zimbabwe, using the Hellman and exponential laws to estimate wind speeds. The estimated wind speeds are used to determine the potential of generating electricity from wind. Mangwe district in Matabeleland South province of Zimbabwe was used as a test site. Online weather datasets were used to estimate the wind speeds. The investigation shows that a 2.5kW wind turbine installation in Mangwe can generate more than 3MWh of energy per annum at hub heights above 40m, which is enough to supply power to a typical Zimbabwean rural village. This result will encourage investment in the use of wind to generate electricity in Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) : The concept where the photovoltaic element assumes the function of power generation and the role of the covering component element has the potential to become one of the principal sources of renewable energy for domestic purpose. In this paper, a Building integrated semitransparent photovoltaic thermal system (BISPVT) system having fins at the back sheet of the photovoltaic module has been simulated. It has been observed that this system produces higher thermal and electrical efficiencies. The increase of wind velocity by fan system and heat exchange surface accelerates the convective heat transfer between the finned surface and the fluid flowing in the duct. The system area of 36.45 m² is capable of annually producing an amount of thermal energy of 76.66 kWh at an overall thermal efficiency of 56.07 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the renewable energy capacity of Turkey in order to consider main priorities in the energy policy of Turkey. In this paper, renewable energy potential and regulatory conditions are discussed in Turkey in comparison with European Union. The results of the study implemented within the framework of EnviroGRIDS project indicated a promising yet very susceptible future for the implementation of renewable energy power plants in Turkey. The forecasts have shown that the solar power potential utilization is becoming more significant after 2020. The projections for 2050 indicate that electricity consumption from small and medium renewable energy sources including solar and wind will constitute 15% of the total, whereas the solar thermal will constitute around 16%. Geothermal and other renewables will remain around 3%. According to the high demand scenario, in 2050 the share of hydropower in overall electricity generation will be 12%, followed by solar power at 7% and wind power at 3%. Additionally, renewable energy policy and regulations in Turkey and in EU are overviewed in this study. On the contrary to EU, the constant feed-in tariff amount does not consider capital investments of specific energy sources in Turkey that brings disadvantage to the implementation. However, new regulations published and currently applied should be accepted as milestones in acquisition period of Turkey in EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy contributes a major share in sustainable energy-based electricity generation. The solar power transfer system (SPTS) has emerged to integrate solar energy into the distribution network. Moreover, the adverse effects and exhaustible nature of fossil fuels have made the control and design of the SPTS significant. This paper presents a novel grid integration control, named frequency adaptive generalized integral (FAGI) algorithm for a three-phase four-wire SPTS to compensate the reactive power, harmonics and DC offset demands of the sinks connected at the common point, and also eliminates the grid neutral current along with maximum PV array power injection to the grid. The narrow bandwidth bandpass filter property of the FAGI algorithm with adaptive corner frequency improves the fundamental component quality without compromising the response time at adverse operating conditions. The two-stage SPTS uses a DC–DC boost converter for peak power extraction. An enhanced incremental conductance (EIC) algorithm is utilized for its control, which gives simple and dynamic performance over other conventional maximum power point tracking techniques. The system control is developed to meet the load requirements, even at zero irradiance by importing the active power from the grid. Therefore, the major objectives of this work are extracting maximum power, meeting the load demands, and maintaining the grid power quality at any operating conditions. Comparison of FAGI with other common controls, is carried out and the results are produced. The system performances are analyzed at PV-side, load-side, and grid-side disturbances in the MATLAB/Simulink model, and examined the grid power quality compliance with the IEEE-519 standard. An experimental prototype of the system is developed in the laboratory and tested rigorously for multiple dynamic scenarios for validating the reported claims. • Novel frequency adaptive generalized integral control for grid integration. • Compensates load reactive power, unbalanced currents, harmonics and neutral current. • FAGI enhances dynamic response at fluctuating loads and rejects input DC offset. • System has bi-directional power transfer capability at the grid coupling point. • Performance confirmed from experimental results on developed prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hybrid energy systems are being utilized for supplying electrical energy in urban, rural and remote areas to overcome the intermittence of solar and wind resources. A hybrid renewable energy system incorporates two or more electricity generation options based on renewable energy or fossil fuel unit. The techno-economic analysis of the hybrid system is essential for the efficient utilization of renewable energy resources. Due to multiple generation systems, hybrid system analysis, is quite complex and requires to be analyzed thoroughly. This requires software tools for the design, analysis, optimization, and economic viability of the systems. In this paper, 19 softwares with their main features and current status are presented. The softwares studied are HOMER, Hybrid2, RETScreen, iHOGA, INSEL, TRNSYS, iGRHYSO, HYBRIDS, RAPSIM, SOMES, SOLSTOR, HySim, HybSim, IPSYS, HySys, Dymola/Modelica, ARES, SOLSIM, and HYBRID DESIGNER. The research work related to hybrid systems carried out using these softwares at different locations worldwide is also reviewed. The main objective of the paper is to provide the current status of these softwares to provide basic insight for a researcher to identify and utilize suitable tool for research and development studies of hybrid systems. The capabilities of different softwares are also highlighted. The limitations, availability and areas of further research have also been identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many of the solar panels throughout the world are positioned with the fixed angles. To maximize the use of the solar panel we use a solar tracker which orients itself along the direction of the sunlight. The solar tracker positions the panel in a hemispheroidal rotation to track the movement of the sun and thus increase the total electricity generation. This paper focuses on the development of new approach to control the movement of the solar panel. The purpose of this paper is to simulate and implement the most suitable and efficient control algorithm on the dual-axis solar tracker which can rotate in azimuth and elevation direction. The simulation gives the tracker angles that position the solar panel along the sun''s rays such that maximum solar irradiation is absorbed by the panel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to the vast growth of development in the infrastructure and investment in energy, the electricity consumption in the GCC countries had increased at a fast rate; 12.4% from 2005 to 2009 (3.15%, annually). This rate is much larger than the world average, which is 2.2% for the same period, or USA (0.5%). In 2005, the average Watt per person in the GCC countries was 1149 which is much higher than the world average (297W per person) or the European Union (700W/person) – but less than USA (1460W/person). The GCC countries need to increase its electrical capacity by 60,000MW, which represents 80% of the current installed capacity, to meet demand in 2015. This means that there is a need to build 50 more gas fired power generator plant turbine (each rated 1400MW). The GCC countries have realized that depending on gas will not be the solution due to shortage of resource or environmental impact, particularly the GHG emissions. Therefore, they thought back of using renewable energy resources – after lifting it over in 1990s. They also thought of diversity in electricity production where nuclear energy comes to the picture. The power capacity in GCC countries is at around 75,000MW, a projected 9.5% growth in annual demand will require more electricity and energy projects; expected to invest USD 200 billion to 250 billion in between 14 and 20 energy projects by 2020. The paper lists the major renewable energy projects (mainly solar and wind) in each of the six GCC countries. The total capacity of these projects exceeds 600MW. Among these projects is the establishment of the first zero emission house (Green house) in the middle east (7kW solar, wind and fuel cell) constructed in Bapco residence town (Awali) in Bahrain and therefore, been highlighted more in this paper. Moreover, nearly all GCC countries are planning to construct PV plants with large capacity. Also, several projects in Building Integrated Photovoltaic and Building Integrated Wind Turbines are established in GCC countries. The projects made in the GCC countries allow researchers and investors to size the cost of kWh from thermal, PV and wind energy more precisely. For example, it was found that the cost of kWh from large grid connected solar thermal plant (20MW) – with cost of USD 72.5 million and energy – is US ¢ 12/kWh (assuming a life time of 40 years and a discount rate of 4%) while, the cost issue of kWh from PV Electricity (in the GCC countries) is ranging from US ¢ 27 (for ground mount) to US ¢ 35 (for roof mount) as it was deduced from two actually installed project PV in UAE – a GCC country member. Meanwhile, the cost of 1kWh from wind electricity in the GCC countries may be from US ¢10 (large turbine ≈2MW at 80m height with good wind speed) to US ¢ 15 (for large turbine ≈2MW at 80m height with modest wind speed) while the cost of kWh from grid connected Wind farm plant (20MW) – with a cost of USD 38.6 million and energy – is US ¢ 6.7/kWh to US ¢ 8.8/kWh, depending on the location of wind farm. This makes it very challengeable for investor, government (Feed-in-Tariff) and citizens because each citizen in GCC countries pays only (US cent 1 for each kWh, for consumption less than 3000kWh, or even nothing for citizens-like in Qatar). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents an investigation of a 111 MWe linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) plant integrated direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system. Both the technologies are synergized by using seawater as cooling fluid in the condenser, and then utilizing heated seawater from the condenser into the DCMD unit. The performance analysis of the LFR plant and DCMD unit has been conducted mainly in regard to direct normal irradiance (DNI) and feed water temperature, respectively. For the LFR plant, electricity generation increased with increasing DNI. The highest and the lowest energy production was 38.33 GWh and 14.08 GWh in June and December, respectively. The real levelized cost of energy was found to be 0.34 ¢/kWh. For DCMD unit, the evaporation efficiency increased from 39.13% to 50.01% corresponding to a feed temperature increase from 30 °C to 45 °C. The average freshwater production capacity of the DCMD unit was found to be 31,844.6 L/day with a water production cost $0.425/m 3 . The investigations revealed that the performance of the proposed system is quite satisfactory, and the low unit production cost of electricity and freshwater make it competitive to eradicate energy and freshwater crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fuel cells and solar energy are promising candidates for electricity generation. It is forecast that fuel cells and solar power systems will play an important role in reducing the greenhouse gas footprint and replacing fossil fuels. Therefore, the limitations of fuel cells and solar power systems, such as low efficiency, high cost, and low reliability, must be addressed appropriately to enable their full potentials. Metal foam is a new class of material that has gained immense attention due to its excellent properties suitable for a wide range of applications. Its unique characteristics distinguish it from typical solid metals. The properties of metal foam can be modified during the fabrication stage by manipulating its physical structure. The goal of this paper is to review the application of metal foam in fuel cells and solar power systems. Besides, the performance of metal foam in fuel cells and solar systems is also discussed. Metal foam has been applied to the electrodes, gas diffusion layer and flow field of fuel cells to enhance performance, especially in regard to current density and flow distribution. Furthermore, metal foam is a heat exchanger for the solar energy harvesting system to improve its efficiency. Superior performances in experimental testing allows the possibility of commercialization of metal foam products in the renewable energy field. Highlights • This article reviews the past research on metal foam in fuel cell and solar power systems. • Metal foam applications on bipolar plates, electrodes and the gas diffusion layer in a fuel cell. • Metal foam as a thermal management system in solar power systems. • Barriers and future perspectives of metal foam applications in fuel cells and solar power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Use of solar chimney can reduce the semi-transparent PV temperature by up to 38 °C. • Use of solar chimney results enhances the PV generated power by around 30%. • There is an optimum packing factor that maximizes the power generation. • There is an optimal chimney height at which the best cooling effect is achieved. Abstract Semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) system’s performance strongly depends on its surface temperature. To provide a mechanism that decrease the temperature of STPV can improve the power generation significantly. This cooling mechanism will be more interesting if it needs no additional energy. In this paper a novel solar chimney system is proposed to cool a STPV system. The STPV is employed as a roof for the solar chimney and an air flow generated by the solar chimney cools the STPV. Based on the energy balance for three main components: STPV, air and ground, a theoretical model is developed for the proposed system. Convection heat transfer coefficients are calculated precisely for the heat transfers taking place in the system and the obtained results for the solar chimney are compared with the existing experimental data in literature. Results of proposed model have a good agreement with the previous data. It’s shown that there is an optimum packing factor that maximizes the generated power for each radiation intensity. It is observed that the proposed system effectiveness depends on the radiation intensity as well as on the structural parameters. The proposed system can reduce the average temperature of the STPV up to 15 °C. It is concluded that, by cooling the STPV power plant with the solar chimney for a solar radiation of 500 W/m2, an enhancement of about 29% in power generation is gained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU power sector is under increasing pressure due to rising electricity demand and the need to meet decarbonisation targets. Member states have been active in investing in renewables and building capacity to increase their share of renewables in electricity generation. However, it is important to examine what progress each member state has made in the deployment of renewable energy for electricity generation and what factors influence gross electricity generation from renewable energy. In this study, logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) analysis was used to examine the changes in EU-27 countries' gross electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES), wind, and solar PV from 2012 to 2021. The results show that the RES deployment per capita effect and the RES share effect were the main positive factors for the total gross electricity generation from RES in the EU. In contrast, the RES capacity productivity effect and the energy intensity effect had negative contributions. Population growth had a positive influence but was less significant than the other factors. The deployment of RES per capita effect was the main factor in the overall growth of gross electricity generation from RES in Northern Europe, Central Western Europe, and Central Eastern Europe, according to comparisons between the regional groups. RES share effect was the main driver in Southern Europe. The decrease in RES capacity productivity was the second most important factor influencing the variation in the amount of energy generated by RES in Northern Europe and Central Western Europe. The results could be used to develop more effective and tailored renewable energy policies that take into account the existing main drivers of RES, wind, and solar energy in each of the EU-27 member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic thermal system (PV/T) is one of the promising technologies in renewable energy field. It uses sunlight and simultaneously produces electricity and hot fluid for thermal applications. PV/T system is composed of different elements that can affect both efficiency and cost of the system. A designer can introduce various systems with different combinations of elements. In this paper a multi-attribute decision making (MADM) model is designed to determine influence of each element type on the efficiency and cost. A multilevel network is developed and analytical network process (ANP) is employed. Two main criteria are system efficiency and initial cost of production. The efficiency criterion has 7 sub-criteria and any of them has some sub-sub-criteria. There are also sub-sub-sub-criteria level in some parts of the network. Importance of cost to efficiency depends on the decision maker's demands, so it has been assumed that their importance is equal. All the other network data has been gathered from relevant scientific references. The demonstrated model introduces a screening tool to choose among different PV/T systems. Eleven PV/T systems constructed in Asia are considered as alternatives and the best of them and an ideal alternative are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Considering the current changing climate conditions, the use of electrical energy generated from renewable sources is of great importance. This paper proposes a new method for integrating a solar based energy generation system (composed of photovoltaic panels and power inverters), when used in conjuncture with the national power grid, in such a way as to maximize the use of renewable energy as opposed to energy from the grid and thus increase economical efficiency and lower environmental effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy plays significant role in achieving energy savings and emissions reduction. As a sustainable and environmental friendly renewable energy source, concentrated solar power (CSP) is of interest for research and development. This is because CSP plants can be equipped with thermal storage systems, thereby producing electricity when sunlight is not available. The installation of CSP plants also leads to substantial ‘peak shaving effects’. However, the cost of CSP generation is an obstacle hampering the commercialization of this emerging industry. This paper constructs a mathematical model of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) to calculate the power generation cost of CSP projects on the basis of lifetime cost structure analysis. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to examine the impact of different variables on the LCOE of CSP projects. The variables considered in this study are investment cost over the construction period, annual operation and maintenance cost, annual electricity production and the discount rate. Finally, the influence of incentive policies such as preferential loans, tax support and zero land cost for power stations is analyzed. This research offers a new method for power generation cost calculation of CSP projects and provides support for governments to formulate incentive policies for the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of solar powered systems is gradually getting more attention due to technological advances as well as cost effectiveness. Thus, solar powered systems like photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, concentrator photovoltaics, as well as hydrogen production systems are now commercially available for electricity generation. A major input to these systems is solar radiation data which is either partially available or not available in many remote communities. Predictive models can be used in estimating the amount and pattern of solar radiation in any location. This paper presents the use of evolutionary algorithm in improving the generalization capabilities and efficiency of multilayer feed-forward artificial neural network for the prediction of solar radiation using meteorological parameters as input. Meteorological parameters which included monthly average daily of: sunshine hour, solar radiation, maximum temperature and minimum temperature were used in the evaluation. Results show that the proposed model returned a RMSE of 1.1967, NSE of 0.8137 and R 2 of 0.8254. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the potential of biomass energy resources in Timor-Leste (TL). Although other renewable energy sources are mentioned in this article, such as wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, bioenergy, including bioethanol and biogas, the main goal is to gather the data on biomass in TL and provide such data as useful information for a wide range of end-users. The current evaluation is based on various sources which include previous assessments on biomass and other renewable sources. The energy potential of biomass in TL apart that resulting from vegetation or flora and animals is also derived from agricultural waste, such as waste from rice, corn, and coffee. The analyses also include the contribution of agricultural waste, animal waste, and that from urban waste. The results from this article show that the potential of usable biomass energy in TL from forestry and agriculture is 1.68 × 106 toe/year, animal waste is 4.81 × 103 toe/year, and urban solid waste amounts to 9.55 × 103 toe/year. In addition, it is concluded that biomass alone can fully replace fossil fuels for electricity generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Global exploitation of renewable energy technologies is increasing rapidly due to the concern in global warming and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. Most of the countries in the world are blessed with two or more renewable energy sources (RES) and hence have formulated policies to boost the utilization of RES for their electricity production. An assessment of renewable electricity scenario is essential for research and development related works in the field of renewable energy technologies in order to further develop the renewable energy industry. Recent developments in installation capacities, costs and reductions in electricity costs of major RES based electricity generation methods are discussed in this paper. It also includes the past growth and future expectations of renewable electricity production. The analysis shows that if the current developments in renewable industry continue, then a major share of global electricity production in the future could be supplied by renewable energy technologies. The analysis further shows that a significant amount of fuel cost and pollutants emission can be reduced by the increased use of RES based electrical power production technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Appropriate decision-making is very crucial for policy-makers in energy fields. Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approaches can be considered as useful techniques for various purposes related to the energy systems such as technology or site selection. In the present work, studies on the applications of these techniques for site selection of various power plants are reviewed. In addition to the power plants utilization of single technology, hybrid energy systems for electricity generation are included in this review study. On the basis of the reviewed works, it is concluded that a wide variety of the criteria can be considered for power plant site selection. Some of the criteria, such as economic ones, are applicable in all types of power plants while some other criteria, such as solar irradiance for solar systems, are applicable for specific technology. It is found that economic criteria play a key role in site selection; moreover, depending on the applied technology some other criteria can be influential. Finally, a table is proposed that summarizes the results of the reviewed studies in order to provide a comprehensive work for the future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There are many immediate adverse effects on the environment such as large amount of greenhouse gases and pollutants emissions from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are promising solar energy applications to generate electricity without emitting pollutants and requiring no fuel. In modern urban cities, most buildings are high-rise with limited spaces for PV system installation, the concept of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) would be an appropriate alternative form of the application. This paper studies a medium size grid-connected BIPV system mounted in an institutional building. Technical data including solar radiation and energy output were analyzed. The operational performance and electricity benefits of the BIPV system were examined in terms of cost, energy and environmental aspects. The monetary, embodied energy and greenhouse gas payback periods were estimated and reported. To shorten the payback periods, the BIPV system should incorporate with more passive energy-efficient architecture designs. This on-site measurement contributes the most accurate method of obtaining reliable data for determining the performance of various designs under the actual operating environments for evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The growing demand for electrical power and the limited capital invested to provide this power is forcing countries like Brazil to search for new alternatives for electrical power generation. The purpose of this paper is to present a technical and economic study on a 15kW solar plant installed in an isolated community, highlighting the importance of the need for financial subsidy from the government. It evaluates the importance of parameters such as the annual interest rate, specific investment, the marginal cost of expanding the electrical power supply and the government subsidy on amortization time of capital invested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An experimental system was developed and tested in order to investigate the energetic performance of a solar photovoltaic system (PV) assisted earth-to-air heat exchanger (underground air tunnel) that is used for greenhouse cooling at the Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Average value of temperature differences between inlet and outlet of earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) was observed 8.29 °C at experimental measurements. The average heat discharge rate (cooling load) was realized as 5.02 kW by using 0.7 kW fan. System was operated about 11 h/day. As a result, total electricity energy consumption of the system was measured to be 8.10 kWh and 34.55% of this energy demand was provided from photovoltaic cells. Furthermore, 65.45% of the electricity energy demand was provided from grid connection. Results are discussed and interpreted in the paper for various performance metrics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Jammu and Kashmir the northern most state of India is blessed with immense potential for utilization of renewable energy. The state at present is fairly untapped in terms of energy utilization and thus venturing into this region would definitely prove to be profitable. The natural energy sources like sunshine, wind, vegetation, water flow, biomass and other biological wastes though abundantly available in the state yet are not being potentially harnessed resulting in very low per capita energy availability, deforestation and poor health. Renewable energy acquires a promising option not only for energy availability next view and of environment protection but also the socio-economic conditions of the people residing in these areas can be improved to a great extent. The hydroelectric power has tremendous potential for generation of electricity in the state because the topography of the state provides extensive network of canals and streams. This paper describes the resource potential and opportunity to enter the market and bring more renewable energy projects in the form of solar, biomass derived fuels, biogas and hydroelectric in the state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the growing amount of decentralized power production the design and operation of the grid has to be reconsidered. New problems include the two-way flow of electricity and maintaining the power balance given the increased amount of uncertain and fluctuating renewable energy sources like wind and solar that deliver electricity to the grid. Solution directions are the development of smart grids, demand side management, virtual power plants and storage of electricity. These are directions that, rightly so, are already attracting a lot of attention and R&D funding. In this paper critical issues are identified and specified. However, we will also explore new solution directions based on an integrative approach as proposed by the Dutch Royal Academy of Science foresight committee on renewable energy conversions. These alternative solutions include flexible coproduction and local production of chemicals and fuel that can also fulfill a storage function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With considering the increasing of global temperature, and also the concern of global climate change, many policy makers worldwide have been accepted the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in particular from the power industries. Energy resource use is one of the most important and Contentious issues of our time. The ocean provides a vast source of potential energy resources. Of the total solar radiation, oceans are the largest collectors, accumulating 250 billion barrels of oil equivalent, according to an estimate. This vast amount of solar energy absorbed in the oceans can be converted into electricity by a process known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, popularly known as OTEC. OTEC makes use of the difference in temperatures of warm surface water (22–27°C) and very cold water at a depth of 1km (4–7°C). an open-cycle plant based on creating a rising mixture of water and steam bubbles or “foam”, which is separated at a height above sea-level, such that the water can be used to drive a turbine rotor. In closed-cycle OTEC, warm seawater heats a working fluid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia, and the ammonia vapor turns a turbine, which drives a generator. This paper discusses about the ocean energy, ocean thermal energy potential, ocean thermal energy conversion by the close, open and hybrid cycles, environmental impact and special conditions of these process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ongoing rush of the UE member states to the 2020 overall targets on the national renewable energy share (see Directive 2009/28/EC), is propelling the large exploitation of the solar resource for the electricity production. However, the incentives to the large employment of PV solar modules and the relative perspective profits, are often cause of massive ground-mounted installations. These kind of installations are obviously the preferred solution by the investors for their high economic yields, but their social impact should be also considered. Over the Piedmont Region for instance, the large proliferation of PV farms is jeopardising wide agricultural terrains and turistic areas, therefore the policy of the actual administration is to encourage the use of integrated systems in place of massive installations. For these reasons, an effort to demonstrate that the distributed residential generation can play a primary role in the market is mandatory. In our previous work “Scalable methodology for the photovoltaic solar energy potential assessment based on available roof surface area: application to Piedmont Region (Italy)”, we already proposed a basic methodology for the evaluation of the roof-top PV system potential. However, despite the total roof surface has been computed on a given cartographical dataset, the real roof surface available for PV installations has been evaluated through the assumption of representative roofing typologies and empirical coefficients found via visual inspection of satellite images. In order to overcome this arbitrariness and refine our methodology, in the present paper we present a brand new algorithm to compute the available roof surface, based on the systematical analysis and processing of aerial georeferenced images (ortho-images). The algorithm, fully developed in MATLAB®, accounts for shadow, roof surface available (bright and not), roof features (i.e. chimneys or walls) and azimuthal angle of the eventual installation. Here we apply the algorithm to the whole city of Turin, and process more than 60,000 buildings. The results achieved are finally compared with our previous work and the updated PV potential assessment is consequently discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The potential for a 10 MW photovoltaic power plant in Abu Dhabi is examined in this paper using RETScreen modeling software to predict energy production, financial feasibility and GHG emissions reductions. Initial results show high energy production potential, generating 24 GWh and saving over 10,000 tons of GHG emissions annually, but poor financial prospects yielding a net present value (NPV) of −$51 million. Benefits of reducing GHG and air pollution emissions by replacing natural gas with PV generation are calculated to have a net present value of $47 million, with a large range of possible values. Results show that the high initial costs and low expected price for electricity generated are driving reasons why photovoltaic systems are not being implemented in Abu Dhabi. A feed-in tariff rate of $0.16/kWh is recommended to make large-scale PV systems profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Limited fossil resources and severe environmental problems require new sustainable electricity generation options, which utilize renewable energies and are economical in the meantime. Concentrating solar power (CSP) generation is a proven renewable energy technology and has the potential to become cost-effective in the future, for it produces electricity from the solar radiation. In Turkey, the electricity demand is rapidly increasing, while the solar resources and large wasteland areas are widely available in the western and southeastern part of Turkey. To change the energy-intensive and environment-burdensome economical development way, Turkish government supports the development of this technology strongly. These factors altogether make Turkey a suitable country for utilizing CSP technology. In this paper, the potential of CSP in Turkey was studied and strategies to promote development of this technology were given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aims to present the feed-in tariff (FiT) outlook in Malaysia, which is in the process of being enacted through a Renewable Energy (RE) Policy by the Government of Malaysia (GoM). A brief in policies leading towards the RE policy and the potential of each RE sources under FiT mechanism have been discussed. The successful utilisation of RE source in electricity generation and the FiT implementation globally are positive indicators to implement FiT in Malaysia. Potentials of FiT on biomass, biogas and solid waste energy are currently very promising in Malaysia, but it is solar energy which is predicted to be the main RE of the future, surpassing all other REs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Renewable energy encompasses a broad range of energy resources. Bangladesh is known to have a good potential for renewable energy, but so far no systematic study has been done to quantify this potential for power generation. This paper estimates the potential of renewable energy resources for power generation in Bangladesh from the viewpoint of different promising available technologies. Estimation of the potential of solar energy in Bangladesh is done using a GIS-based GeoSpatial Toolkit (GsT), Hybrid System Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) model and NASA Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) solar radiation data. The potential of wind energy is estimated by developing a Bangladesh wind map using NASA SSE wind data and HOMER model. A review of country''s biomass and hydro potential for electricity generation is presented. The technical potential of gird-connected solar PV is estimated at 50,174MW. Assuming that 1000h per year of full power is the feasible threshold for the exploitation of wind energy, the areas that satisfy this condition in the country would be sufficient for the installation of 4614MW of wind power. The potential of biomass-based and small hydro power plants is estimated at 566 and 125MW, respectively. The renewable energy resources cannot serve as alternative to conventional energy resources, yet they may serve to supplement the long-term energy needs of Bangladesh to a significant level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Solar energy is the most promising source of clean, renewable energy and it has the greatest potential of any power source to solve the world''s energy problems. However, the problem, is how best to harness this vast amount of solar energy. Nevertheless, even if highly efficient Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) could be made cheaply, there would be considerable change in solar power. This technology is expected to be more efficient and to achieve a manufacturing cost of less than $1/W near future. This paper reviews and elaborates the methodology utilized to design and fabricate the solar dish concentrator and outlines the parameters that can be used to increase the efficiency of solar fraction in parabolic dish concentrator under wet climate environment in Malaysia. The study finally provides ideas to the continually increasing ability of these technologies to concentrate and harness solar energy for electricity production and thus eliminate the growing concern over climate change and how it will hurt the region''s environment, human health and economy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sources of renewable energies (for example landfill gas, wind, solar energy) are environmentally friendly and electric power generation in South Korea has concentrated on new and renewable energy technologies. The purpose of this paper is to study the economic and environmental influence of renewable energies on existing electricity generation market of South Korea with energy-economic model called ‘Long-range Energy Alternative Planning system’ and the associated ‘Technology and Environmental Database’. Business as usual scenario was based on energy supply planning with existing power plant. And then, the alternative scenarios were considered, namely the base case with existing electricity facilities, the installation plan of different renewable energy facilities, technological improvement and process dispatch rule according to merit order change. In each alternative scenario analysis, alternation trend of existing electricity generation facilities is analyzed and the cost of installed renewable energy plants and CO2 reduction potential was assessed quantitatively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]