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• The rooftop PV electricity potential has been evaluated for the city of Ibadan. • Optimum fixed tilt angle for rooftop PV deployment in the city of Ibadan is 11°. • The total roof area of the city was estimated as 49,540,000 m2 (i.e. 49.54 km2). • The available roof area for rooftop PV deployment was evaluated as 7,542,500 m2. • The annual solar energy harvestable on rooftop was estimated to be 6.6714 TW h/year. In this paper, the possibility of meeting the growing electrical energy demands of the city of Ibadan (one of the Nigeria cosmopolitan city) using the rooftop solar PV systems is investigated with the aim of determining the available rooftop for possible PV deployment. First, the optimal tilt angle as well as solar irradiation on tilted surfaces are determined for the city, Thereafter, the available roof area for possible solar PV- rooftops placement are analysed using reduction factor technique with the aid of ArcGIS, Google earth Imagery and population sampling techniques. Some of the key results reveal that the total roof area for the city of Ibadan is about 49.54 sq km while the available roof area for rooftop PV deployment is about 7.54 sq km with a maximum installation capacity of 1734.8 MWp, at an optimum fixed tilt of 11°. This could generate PV electricity of about 6.67 TW h per annum. This paper is important as it could serve as first-hand scientific information for government agencies, NGOs, investors, researchers and policy makers at maximizing the potential of solar PV rooftop potentials in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses an Internet of Things (IoT)-based energy meter for photovoltaic systems (PV) to forecast energy production at industrial locations. Based on an ESP-32 card, the proposed IoT device collects energy consumption data from the sub-meter and delivers it to the cloud. The data is used to monitor the values of a typical PV system installed in Benguerir (Morocco). The method involves conducting an analysis of the solar resource available at the site in Benguerir, as well as conducting an investigation, evaluation, and selection of the components of the solar station using simulation software such as the PVSYST tool. The proposed solution will improve the management of a PV system. Additionally, the method involves the development of a datalogger that is used for monitoring solar panels' energy production, storing data in the cloud, and displaying results on a web interface. Lastly, we apply an artificial neural network for solar energy forecasting to future production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a methodology, specifically for solar power potential areas, to effectively design and develop solar photovoltaic power plants integrated with battery banks connected to the utility grid as an additional backup to maintain power stability and reliability. To prove the effectiveness of this method regarding its use for the design and development of the proposed system, Kinshasa city in Democratic Republic of the Congo with a huge (5425 MWh) energy deficit has been considered as a case study. In fact, the method employed in this study has considered weather data, site selection, hourly load power and energy demand analysis, specifications of PV technologies and other components of the system. Economic analysis has also been carried out for the proposed system viability assessment. With a competitive LCOE, SPP < 10 years, NPV˃0, SIR˃1, and ROI ˃10 %, and a yearly PV energy output greater than the city's energy deficit, the system proposed has been found to be feasible and viable. In a search for better performance, higher efficiency and better economic values, the proposed method is highly recommended and can be regarded as one of the most effective and the easiest for sizing large-scale PV systems. • Grid-connected solar PV plants with storage batteries running as a base unit can much help maintain power supply continuity. • An effective design method is of great interest for the sizing of large-scale grid-connected PV systems. • Using PV systems for utility applications can now be regarded as a cheaper and fast option to address electricity challenges in most African countries, in particular DRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent focus marked on energy efficiency and solar energy development, much research is being dedicated to the development of enhanced maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for photovoltaic applications. However, the main criteria with regard to tracking performances and circuit implementation are still considered as a major challenge under rapid varying weather conditions. In this paper, a T-S Fuzzy–integral backstepping-based hybrid MPPT technique is proposed for rapid, accurate and efficient tracking. The proposed technique enables reliable and stable operation under fast dynamic environmental changes. Besides, it is simple as it does not require extra atmospheric sensors. The theoretical analysis addressed in this study is verified through simulations via Matlab/Simulink and experimental outdoor tests. A comparison with different other MPPT techniques is provided to highlight the performances of the developed MPPT method. • An MPPT controller based on TS Fuzzy and integral backstepping control is proposed. • A detailed mathematical analysis has been presented. • The suggested MPPT technique has been compared to P&O, MIC, PSO and P&O-FOPI. • The proposed controller is validated through simulations and experimental tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and implementation of a model-based predictive controller (MPC) with the aim of reducing electrical energy consumption during the development of solar trajectory tracking tasks for a two-axis Solar Tracker. For the design of the MPC, it is necessary to know the specific parameters of each actuator of the Solar Tracker. Therefore, the design and implementation of an experimental methodology based on an algebraic approach to offline parameter identification is also presented. On the other hand, to validate the MPC proposal, an experimental methodology was carried out that allows evaluating and comparing its performance with that of two classical controllers. The above, in terms of tracking error and energy consumption. The results show that the MPC reduces on average 90% of the energy consumption, but it has a higher tracking error of approximately 0.5°. Therefore, based on this, analysis and discussion are provided. [Display omitted] • Integral MPC strategy that involves the system identification. • Energy consumption improvement with respect to classic controllers. • Numerical and experimental validations for the sake of reproducibility. • Comprehensive description of the theoretical and experimental developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming caused by the emission of fossil fuel consumption has become critical, leading to the inevitable trend of clean energy development. Of the power generation systems using solar energy, the floating photovoltaic (FPV) system is a new type, attracting wide attention because of its many merits. The latest progress in the research and applications of FPVs from multiple aspects is summarized in this paper. First, the development of FPVs is briefly described with a summary of typical installed FPV systems. Innovative photovoltaic design concepts and hybrid usage with other renewable energies are emphasized for offshore applications. Furthermore, critical structural design considerations are discussed, particularly emphasizing critical aspects such as load estimations, wave-structure interaction analysis, floating structure types, and mooring system design. Finally, several significant future challenges to the development and applications of marine FPV systems are identified, including survivability in the open sea, long-term reliability, and environmental impact. It aims to provide a broad overview of the development status, offering limited insights into the trends and challenges for marine FPV systems. • Landmarks of floating photovoltaic (FPV) development are presented. • Innovative PV design concepts for marine FPV systems are reviewed. • Potential synergies of marine FPV systems are introduced. • Critical structural design considerations of marine FPV systems are discussed. • The main obstacles to developing FPV systems on the ocean are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using real-time load data and HOMER Pro's 'multi-year' optimization tool, this paper investigates the long-term cost optimal capacity expansion planning (CEP) for an overloaded photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid (MG) with storage batteries in off-grid rural Ethiopia over a 20-year planning horizon. Three distinct annual energy demand growth scenarios were considered: 0 % (fulfils the minimum load requirement), 5 %, and a 15 % from productive users only. In all scenarios, the generation mix consists of only solar energy and the maximum allowable capacity shortage (MACS) is limited to 10 %. The findings reveal that, in all scenarios, the largest capacity expansion is performed on the battery and PV systems, covering up to 73 % and 35 % of the total expansion costs, respectively. The annual unmet load fraction of the expanded MG system ranges from 5.9 % in scenario-3 to 9.4 % in scenario-1, and the cost of electricity (LCOE) ranges from $0.404/kWh in scenario-3 to $0.887/kWh in scenario-1. The results indicate that the scenario-3 expansion path is comparatively cost-effective and has the highest reliability; but it still falls short of fully satisfying the required load demand and is not financially viable. Surprisingly, increasing the reliability of the scenario-3 capacity expansion from 94 % to 100 % raises the MG's Net Present Cost by 37 %. The sensitivity analysis shows that the MACS, ambient temperature, and battery's depth of discharge significantly affect the cost and performance of the capacity expansion. The study demonstrates (a) there are significant trade-offs between minimizing MG expansion costs and maximizing reliability levels; (b) capacity expansion based solely on cost-minimization without considering key constraints and uncertainties (demand, cost, PV, and battery degradations) may not provide a practical and robust solution to severe reliability issues, (c) capacity expansion that supports demand from productive users increases the cost-effectiveness and bankability of isolated MGs. • Long-term capacity expansion planning for an off-grid PV-battery mini-grid performed • 100% renewable source and 10% maximum allowable capacity shortage imposed • Battery expansion cost accounted for 52-73% of total capacity expansion costs • Trade-off between minimizing expansion costs and maximizing reliability is high • Increased demand from productive use increases bankability of off-grid MGs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating photovoltaic systems (FPV) can be a more sustainable alternative for the energy transition than ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, as they avoid occupying useable land and the power generation is more distributed. This paper presents the first study that calculates the FPV technical potential at the province/municipality level, focusing on water irrigation ponds, which it is a novelty in the literature that usually focuses on large water infrastructures in a national approach. In the province of Jaén (Spain), more than 3000 ponds dedicated to agricultural irrigation have been identified and their surface area and location was obtained. The results, calculated for each pond, reveal that, in a conservative scenario, in which only 25% of their surface area is covered, a minimum of 490 MWp can be installed, which can provide 251% of the province agricultural electricity consumption and 27% of the total electricity needs. This analysis has also been performed at the municipal level, where all possible FPV plants have been aggregated and compared with consumption that would be covered at this scale. Furthermore, this technology brings additional benefits, as it avoids the occupation of 12 km2 of useable land, 8.8·106 m3/year of water evaporated, while creating more than 7000 jobs. • A Technical floating PV potential assessment on water irrigation ponds is done • A Technical floating PV potential assessment at a municipal level is done • A calculation of Multi-benefits of floating PV installation is done • An energy consumption coverage assessment at municipal level with floating PV is done [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is expected to be a significant contributor to meet the increasing global energy demand. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems account for a substantial portion of the global solar energy potential. However, optimizing the size and layout of these systems remains challenging. Existing approaches either focus on maximizing energy generation, heavily restrict the space of potential layouts, ignore inverter-type implications, or neglect practical aspects, such as minimizing self-shading. This paper presents a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model to address these limitations for PV systems installed on flat rooftops. The proposed model optimizes the net present value (NPV) and can produce multi-azimuth layouts while accounting for practical considerations, including mitigating self-shading, and ensuring rooftop walkability. The proposed model is adapted for systems that utilize micro-inverters or string-inverters. Two case studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed model. In one case study, the model is applied to a residential area. It is numerically shown that in some instances of capital costs and billing policies, the use of multi-azimuth layouts could significantly improve the NPV compared to the use of single-azimuth layouts with parallel rows of panels. The proposed model solutions are compared to an existing optimized installation in the second case study. The proposed model multi-azimuth layout solution improves the NPV by 10.17%. When restricted to single-azimuth layouts, the proposed model produces the same design as that of the existing installation in only a few seconds. • A novel model for optimizing the size and layout of rooftop PV systems is presented. • Sizing is obtained by optimizing the NPV of the PV system. • A graph representation allows the model to produce solutions with multi-azimuth layouts. • The produced solutions mitigate self-shading, ensure rooftop walkability, and consider inverter type. • Two case studies demonstrated the advantages of systems with multi-azimuth layouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy loss of the large-scale PV power plant (LPVPP) caused by partial shading can be mitigated by unit-level DC optimizers (DCO). This paper presents a novel DCO-based decentralized control (DBDC) scheme for an LPVPP to provide active frequency support without equipping energy storage. The proposed DBDC scheme consists of two levels: the plant-level modified DC-link voltage control for the PV inverter and the unit-level improved virtual inertia control and lookup table-based droop control deployed in the DCO controller for each PV generation unit. The stored energy of the DC-link capacitor can be adjusted for inertia emulation based on grid frequency fluctuation with plant-level voltage control. Meanwhile, the frequency deviation is converted into the changes of DCO output voltages. Then, according to the voltage deviations of DCOs, the adaptive power adjustment for PV units is realized through unit-level virtual inertia and droop control scheme. Finally, the maximum use of the PV reserve power and the proposed DBDC scheme without using any communication network can be achieved for LPVPPs, even under frequent partial shading conditions. Case studies are undertaken on a PV-integrated two-area system. Comparison simulation results verify the effectiveness and universality of the proposed DBDC scheme under different scenarios. [Display omitted] • DCO-based frequency support scheme is proposed for large-scale PV systems. • Communication-free decentralized inertia and droop controls are employed in DCOs. • High solar energy utilization for PV arrays even under partial shading conditions. • Superior frequency regulation effect compared with conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a form of solar energy utilization, photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) modules generate heat and electricity at the same time. Compared with individual photovoltaic or photothermal, it has a higher efficiency. In this paper, a simulation process coupling optical, electrical and thermal models for a water based low-concentration photovoltaic/thermal module is established. The optical characteristics of the module are simulated by Monte Carlo method. The electrical and thermal characteristics are numerically simulated using the finite volume method. The simulated values of outlet water temperature, output current and output power are fit well with experimental values, which verifies the reliability of the simulation process. The effects of water inlet velocity, solar irradiation, water inlet temperature, ambient temperature and wind speed on the energy and exergy performances of the module are analyzed. Results show that the direct contact of the HTF with the backside of the solar panel and the use of bifacial solar cells endowed the module with good electrical efficiency, and the overall efficiency exceeds 65% in all simulations. By connecting modules in series, the outlet water temperature can be increased and the application scenario can be extended. • Establish a detailed optical, electrical and thermal coupled model of a LCPV/T. • Effects of internal and external variables were analyzed using the proposed model. • Evaluate module performance through the first and second law of thermodynamics. • The calculation method of electrical performance is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A preparation method of composite nanostructures in full spectrum utilization. • Solar energy utilization is improved by disordered structures and film coatings. • Composite nanostructure exhibits an excellent polarization isotropy. Photovoltaic thermoelectric (PV-TE) coupling is an effective way to improve and expand solar energy utilization. The full spectral utilization of sunlight by a solar cell can be realized if the photonic active material absorbs light with the energy below its bandgap while the thermoelectric component absorbs the rest. This paper demonstrates the preparation of an ultra-broadband photon management structure for crystalline silicon cells for incorporation into PV-TE systems. This structure consisting of different nanostructures combined with thin-film layers is capable of reducing the device reflectivity and, thus, improving solar energy utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel spectrum allocation method for the spectral splitting photovoltaic-thermochemical hybrid system. In this new spectrum allocation method, the spectral beam splitter of the hybrid system has varying cutoff wavelengths along the reaction tube to adjust the wavelengths range of the spectrums allocated to the different segments of the thermochemical reactor. The solar thermal energy distribution on the thermochemical reactor is optimized to be matched with the energy demands of the thermochemical reaction. We have carried out the theoretical and experimental investigations of this new spectrum allocation method in our proposed photovoltaic-thermochemical hybrid system. Analysis shows that the solar energy allocated to the outlet segment of the reaction tube is reduced and the solar thermal energy distribution along the thermochemical reactor is optimized effectively. As a result, not only the heat loss of the thermochemical reactor is reduced, but the power output of the photovoltaic cells is improved. The experimental results show that the solar-to-electric efficiency of the hybrid system with the new spectrum allocation method reaches 23.3%, which is 4% higher than the conventional system with uniform cutoff wavelength. • A spectrum allocation method with varying cutoff wavelengths is proposed. • A methanol decomposition reaction is combined with PV cells by spectral splitting. • The solar energy distribution is optimized to match energy demand of the reaction. • The system performance is improved to 23.3% with new spectrum allocation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]