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Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy and Storage Sector - 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 February 2024) | Viewed by 12022

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jifeng Song

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Interests: concentrated solar thermal power; forecast of solar plant; daylighting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second volume of the Special Issue “Climate Change and Sustainability: Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy Sector” (link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/Solar_Energy_Sector_2022)

Solar energy, as one of the most promising renewable energy forms, could play a leading role in avoiding global climate catastrophe. As with any other form of renewable energy, it has its advantages and disadvantages. The success of solar energy applications depends on collaboration across multiple areas, including politics, science, economics, and law. As scientists, we are in this together; it is our mission to lead the advancement of solar energy technologies, to contribute to the replacement of fossil fuels and, finally, to help reduce GHG emissions.

Combating climate change is a race against time. The world’s temperature is still climbing, and more frequent and fierce extreme weather is becoming a reality. Science is to be shared and promoted, and we are establishing this Special Issue to connect scholars working on all fields related to solar energy so that we can provide comprehensive and advanced wisdom for the vast number of readers across the globe. Specifically, this Special Issue welcomes studies that focus on electricity generation (e.g., PV-based systems and concentrated solar power), battery and energy storage, solar thermal applications, daylighting systems, hydrogen production with solar energy, energy policy, energy economy, to name a select few topics. Other closely related innovative or interdisciplinary research is also warmly welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Jifeng Song
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • concentrated solar power
  • photovoltaics/solar cells
  • solar thermal energy
  • battery
  • energy storage
  • daylighting
  • power system modeling
  • integrated energy systems
  • photo-chemical systems
  • hybrid power, including solar energy
  • hydrogen production with solar energy
  • energy policy
  • energy economy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

34 pages, 19907 KiB  
Article
Solar Energy Utilization Potential in Urban Residential Blocks: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
by Shiyu Jin, Hui Zhang, Xiaoxi Huang, Junle Yan, Haibo Yu, Ningcheng Gao, Xueying Jia and Zhengwei Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215988 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2224
Abstract
In dense, energy-demanding urban areas, the effective utilization of solar energy resources, encompassing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems and solar water heating (SWH) systems inside buildings, holds paramount importance for addressing concerns related to carbon emission reduction and the balance of energy supply and [...] Read more.
In dense, energy-demanding urban areas, the effective utilization of solar energy resources, encompassing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems and solar water heating (SWH) systems inside buildings, holds paramount importance for addressing concerns related to carbon emission reduction and the balance of energy supply and demand. This study aimed to examine the interplay between urban residential blocks and their solar energy potential, with the objective of promoting environmentally sustainable development within urban residential areas. The primary focus of this study was the hot summer and cold winter zone of China, which serves as a representative case study. Methodologically, we employed Rhinoceros and Grasshopper (GH) software version GH6.0 tools to simulate the solar radiation potential within residential blocks and translated this information into the potential utilization of BIPV and SWH systems. Subsequently, our focus was directed towards identifying optimal locations for mounting BIPV modules and water heaters on roofs and building façades. The study results revealed the following: (1) The floor area ratio (FAR), building density (BD), average building height (ABH), and space layout (SL) exerted substantial influences on the solar potential of a residential block, with correlations of up to 75%, 71%, 78%, and 50%, respectively, concerning the overall solar potential of the entire plot. (2) It is essential to emphasize that, with regard to the BIPV installation potential, façades account for 80% of the overall residential block potential, whereas rooftops contribute only 20%. Both south- and west-facing façades exhibited a BIPV installation ratio of approximately 34%. (3) In the realm of solar water heating, the potential for installations on building façades accounted for 77% of the total living area of the residential blocks, 23% on the rooftops, and 35% on the south-facing façades. This study furnishes practical guidelines for harnessing the potential of BIPV and SWH systems within residential blocks, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable urban development practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy and Storage Sector - 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 9757 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Performance of Polycrystalline and Monocrystalline PV Technologies in a Hot and Arid Region: An Experimental Analysis
by Mohamed Benghanem, Sofiane Haddad, Ahmed Alzahrani, Adel Mellit, Hamad Almohamadi, Muna Khushaim and Mohamed Salah Aida
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14831; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014831 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
In arid regions, the behavior of solar panels changes significantly compared to the datasheets provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the performance of both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar modules in an arid region characterized by a [...] Read more.
In arid regions, the behavior of solar panels changes significantly compared to the datasheets provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the performance of both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar modules in an arid region characterized by a large potential for solar irradiation and high temperatures. The influence of environmental parameters, such as temperature and dust, on the output power of solar modules with different technologies (monocrystalline and polycrystalline) has been investigated. The Artificial Hummingbirds Algorithm (AHA) has been used to extract parameters for PV modules. As a result, it has been demonstrated that for high solar irradiation, the polycrystalline PV module experiences a smaller decrease in output power than the monocrystalline PV module as the module temperature increases. The percentage drop in output power is approximately 14% for the polycrystalline PV module and nearly 16% for the monocrystalline PV module. However, for low solar irradiation, it is advisable to use monocrystalline modules, as a 21% decrease in power was observed for polycrystalline modules compared to a 9% decrease for monocrystalline modules. Additionally, the monocrystalline PV module was more affected by dust than the polycrystalline PV module under high solar irradiation conditions, while under low incident solar radiation, the polycrystalline PV module was more affected by dust than the monocrystalline PV module. The power drop of the monocrystalline PV module was greater than that of the polycrystalline PV module for high solar radiation (>500 W/m2). Therefore, the advantage of this proposed work is to recommend the use of polycrystalline solar panels in regions characterized by high solar irradiation and high temperatures instead of monocrystalline solar panels, which are more efficient in regions worldwide characterized by low solar irradiation and low temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy and Storage Sector - 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 5792 KiB  
Article
Optimal Configuration of Wind-PV and Energy Storage in Large Clean Energy Bases
by Mingyi Liu, Bin Zhang, Jiaqi Wang, Han Liu, Jianxing Wang, Chenghao Liu, Jiahui Zhao, Yue Sun, Rongrong Zhai and Yong Zhu
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12895; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712895 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1186
Abstract
The installed capacity of energy storage in China has increased dramatically due to the national power system reform and the integration of large scale renewable energy with other sources. To support the construction of large-scale energy bases and optimizes the performance of thermal [...] Read more.
The installed capacity of energy storage in China has increased dramatically due to the national power system reform and the integration of large scale renewable energy with other sources. To support the construction of large-scale energy bases and optimizes the performance of thermal power plants, the research on the corporation mode between energy storage and thermal energy, including the optimization of energy-storage capacity and its operation in large-scale clean energy bases. In this paper, a large-scale clean energy base system is modeled with EBSILON and a capacity calculation method is established by minimizing the investment cost and energy storage capacity of the power system and constraints such as power balance, SOC, and power fluctuations. The research proposed a method of using coupled system of thermal energy storage systems primarily based on molten salt thermal storage and thermal power generation for rough modulation and using battery energy storage system for fine modulation tasks. Example of fine modulation includes frequency modulation and heating demand of the district, which significantly reduces the energy storage investment by more than 95%. A case study of a 10 MW clean energy base is conducted. The result shows that the overall pre-tax internal rate of return of the base project is 8%, which has good economic benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy and Storage Sector - 2nd Edition)
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30 pages, 10469 KiB  
Article
Analysis and Comparison of Daylighting Technologies: Light Pipe, Optical Fiber, and Heliostat
by Jifeng Song, Bizuayehu Bogale Dessie and Longyu Gao
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11044; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411044 - 14 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5171
Abstract
This article analyzes and compares three daylighting technologies: light pipes, optical fibers, and heliostats. This work aims to evaluate their efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness in providing natural light to indoor spaces. The analysis includes a review of the principles behind each technology, the [...] Read more.
This article analyzes and compares three daylighting technologies: light pipes, optical fibers, and heliostats. This work aims to evaluate their efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness in providing natural light to indoor spaces. The analysis includes a review of the principles behind each technology, the design and development of the prototypes and experiments carried out by our research team, their advantages and disadvantages, and their applications in different settings. The comparison is based on several criteria, such as installation, cost, efficiency, output spectrum, and hybrid system. The results indicate that each technology has its unique features and is suited to specific applications. Light pipes are effective for short distances, and they can be easily integrated into existing buildings. Optical fibers are suitable for long distances and offer flexibility in design, but they require more maintenance. Heliostats are ideal for large spaces, but they are expensive to install and operate. Overall, this study provides valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of three daylighting technologies and helps designers and architects make informed decisions when selecting the most appropriate solution for future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Wisdom in the Solar Energy and Storage Sector - 2nd Edition)
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