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The aim of this experimental and modeling work is to compare the thermal efficiency of two identical parabolic trough solar collector systems under weather conditions in Amman, Jordan, using a hybrid nanofluid of MWCNTs and Y2O3 with gum Arabic surfactant, and distilled water as the heat transfer fluid (HTF). One parabolic trough collector (PTC) uses a hybrid nanofluid at four different volumetric concentrations (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1%), while the other uses water as a HTF. To prepare the nanofluids and check their stability, the thermal efficiency of the PTC was examined for different hybrid nanofluid concentrations compared to distilled water. The results showed that the 0.1% MWCNTs and Y2O3 hybrid nanofluid had the highest thermal efficiency of 44.24%, while water had a thermal efficiency of 19.32%. In addition, increasing the concentrations resulted in an improvement in the maximum optical efficiency. The maximum efficiency of 45% was obtained using 0.1% Vol. The Solidworks model was created according to experimental setup parameters and dimensions. The simulation was conducted under steady-state operating conditions, incorporating dimensional governing equations (continuity, momentum, and energy). A uniform heat flux was applied with two primary boundary conditions: the first one was at the receiver inlet where the fluid inlet temperature and mass flow rate were specified, whereas the second one was at the receiver outlet, where the outlet pressure was equivalent to the atmospheric pressure. The obtained experimental results have been compared using the Solidwork simulation model, which was created to determine the PTC's outlet temperature and thermal efficiency. The comparative results demonstrated remarkable precision with an average outlet temperature of 0.03% and thermal efficiency of 0.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jordan imports 94% of its oil and gas (fossil fuel) to meet its energy needs, making the country vulnerable to fluctuations in fuel prices. Jordan's energy demand is growing by 3% annually mainly because of the growth of the residential sector, the government has set a target of meeting 10% of energy demand from renewable energy sources. We proposed a design solution of four floors of housing consisting 2 flats each, using the facades of a building as a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV), and evaluate the energy that a Photovoltaic(PV) system could yield by new facades design, we take an example of a real house designed here in Amman, Jordan using Cells as integrated elements on facades and roofs, We will use simulation to determine energy yielded for each intended elevation, by taking the most traditional sample of apartment housing in Jordan, then using Revit Architecture for 3d modeling the two-dimensional design by AutoCAD program, to get plans for the house in one of the 3D modeling programs, in an exact copy of the building with the same spaces, heights, and technical factors. Then assuring the location of newly designed PV Panels by skelion application that approve distances between PV panels on the roof, then using Solar GIS to calculate the radiation for all orientating to facades according to selected location, and lastly using equations to get the results. The results of the simulations indicate that the efficiency of using PV panels in an integrated way is more efficient in winter than in summer, covering the need for an apartment which has an area of 170,175 m2 as an energy source through solar panels, and part of the roof was also used. The result was that we can generate about 18,648 kWh per year, which is 42% of the total energy, if the integrated PV panels in the railing elements on the south facade are used, and about 9,720 kWh, which is 22% of the total energy, if the integrated PV panels on the west or east facades are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries are planning their transition to renewable-energy-powered transportation sectors. Among those are developing countries, like Jordan, which face financial burdens in the actual implementation due to their economic status. As the penetration of electric vehicles increases, more green-charging stations will be required. Therefore, to encourage investors to initiate the deployment phase, this work presents a better mapping and comparison method for Photovoltaic (PV) battery charging stations across Jordan. It provides a better visual of the stations' techno-economic performance, so financiers can use it as a guide to building their future stations, given the economic returns presented, particularly since the designed algorithm considered profit-maximization of the highest priority. All the tested PV-battery configurations; namely, PV-Li-Ion, PV-Zn-Br, PV-Lead-acid, PV-Redox flow, and PV-Li-Ion second life, were feasible, with the southern parts of Jordan being more favorable for installation in terms of the techno-economic parameters. However, a PV-Zn-Br station was found to have the highest annual profit of $7,535 with 2.63 years return of investment and a renewable fraction of 96.7%. Finally, although the obtained results discussed the specifics of Jordan, this work can be extended to any other country planning its transition to a green transportation sector; to improve deployment by attracting investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to developed countries, developing countries' building codes are less enforceable for energy efficiency and minimum acceptable thermal insulation levels for building envelopes particularly. What leads to stronger compliance with such requirements is advancing not just policies, regulations, and enabling markets but also supportive non-governmental advocacy campaigns. The aim of such advocacies is raising awareness of overlooked energy-saving options in buildings and highlighting to policy-makers potential energy-efficiency and thermal-insulation codes' violations. This study presents a model research-based, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)-led advocacy supported by human rights defense-oriented tactics. It advocated for the overlooked right of the residents of Jordan in thermally-insulated housing and mitigating longtime walls' moisture, mold, thermal discomfort, and high energy bills. It is structured on a thoughtful, occupants-centered survey of 500 apartment buildings in the capital city, Amman. Aided by a ground-truthing Infrared thermography, we estimated the true percentage of the thermally-insulated units, which surprisingly amounted only 5.8 %, and documented evidence of high level of thermal-insulation code violation. Consequently, an investigative survey of roles and responsibilities of involved building sector's stakeholders, to identify root causes of code-enforcement failures, was systematically conducted. Based on findings of the two surveys, the social advocacy was launched to raise awareness and campaign for this violated "technical right", targeting regulatory entities to enact the legal and procedural rectifications needed. Consequently, this science-based, SCOs-led advocacy induced legal changes in the building-codes' enforcement framework, which promotes involvement of SCOs in the national energy efficiency and sustainable development agenda. • A 500-developing country's flats survey showed only 5.8 % thermally insulated. • Absence of thermal insulation causes walls' moisture, mold, and thermal discomfort. • A research-based, society-led advocacy supports thermal insulation codes compliance. • An integrated framework of methodologies proved to be effective to attain sought outputs. • This work promotes civil society involvement in national energy efficiency plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grid operators face challenges due to the fluctuations in the energy production from Photovoltaic (PV) power plants. Therefore, reliable prediction models are critical as they aid grid operators in optimizing operational planning and lowering operating costs. One of the most challenging components of production prediction accuracy is determining a proper set of features that affect the models' prediction accuracy. In this work, an accurate data-driven prediction model has been developed based on new timestamps and weather condition features that affect the PV system. Specifically, standard PV physics-based models have been employed for feature transformation and extraction from the traditional available historical features. The new features are then utilized to build an Artificial Neural Network (ANN), whose production predictions are compared to those obtained using the old features and other features extracted using the principal component analysis (PCA). The suggested approach's efficacy is demonstrated using a 264 kWp PV system in Jordan. The proposed approach has shown superior with performance gain in accuracy reaches up to 21% and 64% compared to the models that employ old and PCA features, respectively. Additionally, the proposed approach reduces the computational cost by 20% and 7% compared to old and PCA models, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the application of treated wastewater in irrigation is a common practice in Jordan, there are no studies on its use in fish culture. In this study, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of an artificial lake containing mixture of treated wastewater and rainwater were assessed to examine whether the nutrient loading is sufficient for fish culture. The study also evaluated the suitability of the lake's water quality for irrigation after fish farming. The study was conducted in outdoor tanks fed with water from the artificial lake and stocked with three types of fish (Tilapia, Carp and Koi). The diversity of phytoplankton communities in the lake's produces natural food for Carp and Koi and promotes their growth with maximum per cent survival of 89% and 56% respectively. In addition, remarkable improvement in all water quality parameters after fish culture was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study produces a technical and economic analysis of a farm- fed biogas plant that utilizes cow manure to produce electricity and heat via combined heat and power unit. The electricity generated is directly injected into the grid while heat is used within the biogas plant. The biogas system design was done depending on number of cows in the farm, which denotes the amount of manure available as feedstock. The economic performance of the proposed biogas plant was evaluated using various economic indicators. The levelized cost of electricity and the avoided greenhouse gas emissions were calculated too. The preliminary design and economic feasibility results proved the profitability of the manure-based biogas systems on wide range of farm sizes. The net present values of a 100-cow, 500-cow, 1,000-cow, 1,500-cow and 2,000-cow farms were all positive. The internal rate of return values were 11%, 12%, 13%, 16% and 17%, respectively, and the levelized cost of electricity values were 0.071, 0.069, 0.064, 0.055 and 0.055 JOD/kWh, respectively. The study also produced a design for a centralized anaerobic digestion plant depending on Jordan resources. The government role in promoting biogas-based electricity was discussed too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LFG varies in species content and concertation based on the original waste material. • Optimizing the LFG combustion is required to maximize the landfill power output. • Real data from Al Ghabawi landfill was used as a model input. • A combustion model and ANN was used to optimize the landfill's operating parameters. • The intake pressure and the ignition timing were significant in the optimization. • Landfill's power output can be increased by around 1 MW for each genset. Landfills have high potency as renewable energy sources by producing biogas from organic waste degradation. Landfills biogas (LFG) can be used for power plant purposes instead of allowing it to flare to the atmosphere which contributes to the global warming. The aim of this work was to introduce and examine an optimization model for maximizing the power generation of Al Ghabawi landfill in Amman city, Jordan. The optimization process focused on studying the effect of several operating parameters within the landfill power plant. To achieve this goal, a combustion model had been built and validated against a set of historical real data obtained from the landfill operator. In addition to that, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model had been built to perform a multi-objective optimization to obtain the optimal power generation conditions for Al Ghabawi landfill. The combustion model along with the ANN model aim to estimate the best engine operating conditions based on the actual daily data of the landfill. The engine operating parameters includes the intake pressure and temperature, the ignition time and the equivalence ratio. The results of the study indicate that the current operating parameters can be optimized to maximize the gensets power generation. Based on the daily data of the produced LFG, the optimal operating conditions for the landfill are 2.32 bar for the intake pressure, 303 K for the intake temperature, 0.9–1.0 for the equiveillance ratio and for the ignition time it is 13 degrees before the top dead center (BTDC). These optimized operating parameters can maximize the landfill power generation by at least 1 MW for each genset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cooling photovoltaic panels using forced water circulation. • Ground source heat pump system for building cooling and heating. • Coupling ground source heat pump system with photovoltaic thermal system. • Enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic panels system. • Enhance the coefficient of performance for ground source heat pump system. • Simulate system performance using TRNSYS software. A new system consisting of photovoltaic thermal-ground source heat pump (PV/T-GSHP) was proposed as a solution for electricity shortage and high electricity consumption in heating buildings in Jordan. The performances of the photovoltaic system and the ground source heat pump system were studied without coupling as in real life and with coupling in a hybrid system using TRNSYS software. The results show that this PV/T-GSHP hybrid system can reduce the photovoltaic panels' temperature by more than 20 °C, and improve the efficiency of electricity production by 9.5 %, simultaneously. And in heating season the average coefficient of performance of the heat pumps increased from 4.6 to 6.2 with a decreament in electricity consumption by 25.7 %. The life cycle cost of the hybrid system decreased by 3.9 % and the net present value inceased by 13.2 % compared to the two systems separated. The model of the PV/T-GSHP system was established using TRNSYS software, an optimmization was made to select the photovoltaic modules' temperature at which cooling starts, followed by technical and economical studies on both systems separated and coupled in a hybrid system. This hybrid system can provide guidance for future related project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]