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This research introduces a novel hybrid system integrating solar drying, solar distillation, and photovoltaic thermal panels, aimed at drying agricultural products, producing clean drinking water, and conserving energy. The system enhances the drying air temperature using thermal energy storage materials and a solar dish concentrator connected to a hot water storage tank, ensuring continuous operation even after sunset. The solar distiller, equipped with energy storage materials and an air injection system, is integrated with an external condenser to condense water vapor before expulsion, thereby increasing freshwater productivity. The results revealed that the developed system achieved an accumulative freshwater productivity of 87.1 L per day. The rates of water removal from dried potato slices ranged from 0.18 to 0.91 kg/h between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm. Additionally, the system achieved a gain output ratio of 1.38, indicating a significant improvement in energy efficiency. This innovative system offers practical solutions to address energy and freshwater scarcity, especially in remote regions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which are characterized by high solar irradiance. The implementation of such hybrid systems could contribute to sustainable development by reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and mitigating environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany is undergoing an energy transition. By 2045, fossil fuels will be gradually replaced by clean energy. An alternative option is to use geothermal, solar and wind energy to generate heat or electricity. Currently, an economic model that considers these three energy sources and incorporates the design and installation of the energy system as well as operational costing focusing on the local market is lacking. In this study, we present a concept for a hybrid energy system combining solar, wind and geothermal energy for small, detached houses. We also develop a simplified economic model for the German market and local energy subsidy policies. The model was applied to two different cities in northern Germany, calculating the installation and long-term operating costs of different energy systems and combinations over a period of 100 years, including the consideration of the lifespan of variable equipment. The calculations show that for this small hybrid energy system the initial installation costs can vary from EUR 20,344 to EUR 70,186 depending on different portfolios. Long-term operating costs come mainly from electricity purchased from the grid to compensate for periods of low solar or wind production. In addition, the study included a calculation of the payback period for retrofitting a natural gas heating system. Results show that combining a photovoltaic system with a ground source heat pump, especially in the form of a near-surface heat exchanger, yields a shorter payback period (5 to 10 years). However, the incorporation of on-roof wind turbines into the hybrid energy system may significantly prolong the payback period and is therefore not recommended for use in low wind speed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the sizing problem of hybrid diesel–photovoltaic–battery systems was determined using a particle swarm optimization approach. The goal was to optimize the number of solar panels and batteries that could be installed to reduce the overall cost of an isolated grid system, originally powered by diesel generators, located on Isabela Island in the Galapagos, Ecuador. In this study, real solar radiation and temperature profiles were used, as well as the load demand and electrical distribution system relative to this island. The results reveal that the total cost for the proposed approach is lower as it reaches the global optimal solution. It also highlights the advantage of a hybrid diesel–photovoltaic–battery (DG-PV-BAT) system compared to conventional systems operated exclusively by diesel generators (DGs) and systems made up of DGs and PV panels; compared to them, a reduction in diesel consumption and total cost (71% and 56%, respectively) is achieved. The DG-PV-BAT system also considerably improves environmental factors and the quality of the power line. This study demonstrates the advantages of hybridizing systems isolated from the network through the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the pressing issue of quality electricity access in remote regions, with a specific focus on Tumbatu Island in Tanzania. Most studies on quality improvement concentrate on low‐voltage distribution lines and leave high‐voltage (HV) transmission lines behind. It is essential to address quality issues in HV lines due to their critical role in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. The objective of the study is to improve the voltage profile on the island's HV transmission line by identifying the optimal hybrid energy system comprising solar PV, wind turbine, and battery technologies. The study begins by presenting the total power demand and consumption on Tumbatu Island, which are important factors in designing an efficient energy system. The findings reveal a power demand of 7173 kW and a consumption of 28540 kWh/day, with an average scaled value of 1507.9 and 6000 kWh/day. To achieve the desired voltage profile improvement, the research incorporates HOMER Pro software for simulating and analyzing various hybrid system configurations. Essential input parameters, such as costs, resources, technology components, and load, are considered in the simulation process. The software generates a ranked list of options based on the system's net present cost (NPC). The simulation results demonstrate that the integration of solar PV, wind turbine, and HV lines provides a substantial improvement in the voltage profile, increasing it from 29.6 to 31.23 kV during peak demand periods. This solution proves to be the most economically viable, with the lowest NPC of $4,003,851 and a relatively short payback period of 3.79 years. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the most influential parameter in the system's performance. Wind speed is found to have the greatest impact, emphasizing its significance in the design and operation of the hybrid energy system. The implementation of this optimal hybrid renewable energy system on Tumbatu Island will not only improve the voltage profile and meet the island's energy needs but also shall contribute to global efforts in reducing pollution and the cost of electricity to the Tumbatu Island population. Moreover, it addresses the current and future demands for clean energy, underlining its importance in achieving sustainable and accessible electricity in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The journal Applied Sciences has recently updated its sections and subject areas to ensure ongoing relevance and currency. The changes include updates to the "Nanotechnology and Applied Nanosciences" section, the addition of new subject areas in various sections such as "Earth Sciences" and "Energy Science and Technology," and the renaming of the "Applied Physics" section to "Applied Physics General." Other sections, such as "Civil Engineering" and "Transportation and Future Mobility," have also been modified to reflect current research trends. The journal encourages researchers to consider submitting their work to the newly updated sections and subject areas. [Extracted from the article]

Hybrid renewable energy system-based reverse osmosis desalination has been identified as a reliable and sustainable solution for supplying potable water to the off-grid communities. In this respect, this study proposes a stand-alone hybrid energy system comprising solar PV, wind turbine, diesel generator, and a battery bank to power a reverse osmosis desalination plant. The proposed hybrid system is optimised using a novel metaheuristic optimisation technique named salp swarm algorithm (SSA) to minimise the three objective functions: levelised cost of energy (LCOE, $/kWh), life cycle emissions (LCE, CO2 kg-eq/yr.), and the excess energy (EE, kWh/yr.). Moreover, the performance of the novel algorithm is scrutinised using the benchmark solutions achieved from the widely utilised non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and particle swarm optimisation (PSO) techniques. In addition, the study also investigates the effects of water demand and the loss of power supply probability on the techno-economic performance. The results reveal that SSA outperforms NSGA-II and PSO algorithms towards achieving Pareto optimality hence provides financially rewarding solutions. The LCOE for the optimal HES is 0.179 $/kWh, and the LCE is 5921 CO2 kg-eq/yr. with an EE of 402 kWh/yr., whereas the cost of water for this system is 1.37 $/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power quality improvement is inevitable due to the presence of power converters and non-linear loads in grid connected renewable based hybrid energy system (HES). The harmonics introduced by the distributed energy systems may lead to output voltage distortion and equipment failure which may lead to system losses. It may also cause for direct and indirect economic impacts. Development of active filter, passive filter and hybrid filter for harmonics mitigation would be an expensive solutions. Therefore, various DC/AC converter switching schemes are proposed for power quality improvements in grid connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and fuel cell based HES. Initially, Solar PV and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cell (PEMFC) are modeled using MATLAB/Simulink. Further the harmonic behavior with Proportional plus Integral (PI), Proportional plus Integral plus Derivative (PID) and Fuzzy gain scheduled PID controllers are demonstrated using Pulse Width Modulator (PWM). Converter output voltage waveform, frequency spectrum and total harmonics distortion (THD) values at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) have witnessed that the fuzzy gain scheduled PID controller suppresses the voltage distortions completely. It also yields 4 percentage THD value which satisfies the harmonic level recommended by IEEE 519 standard. Comparative analysis shows that the fuzzy gain scheduled PID control scheme exhibits superior performance than the traditional PI and PID controllers. Therefore, it is identified as an effective control scheme for power quality improvement in hybrid renewable energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid renewable hydrogen energy systems could play a key role in delivering sustainable solutions for enabling the Net Zero ambition; however, the lack of exact computational modelling tools for sizing the integrated system components and simulating their real-world dynamic behaviour remains a key technical challenge against their widespread adoption. This paper addresses this challenge by developing a precise dynamic model that allows sizing the rated capacity of the hybrid system components and accurately simulating their real-world dynamic behaviour while considering effective energy management between the grid-integrated system components to ensure that the maximum possible proportion of energy demand is supplied from clean sources rather than the grid. The proposed hybrid system components involve a solar PV system, electrolyser, pressurised hydrogen storage tank and fuel cell. The developed hybrid system model incorporates a set of mathematical models for the individual system components. The developed precise dynamic model allows identifying the electrolyser's real-world hydrogen production levels in response to the input intermittent solar energy production while also simulating the electrochemical behaviour of the fuel cell and precisely quantifying its real-world output power and hydrogen consumption in response to load demand variations. Using a university campus case study building in Scotland, the effectiveness of the developed model has been assessed by benchmarking comparison between its results versus those obtained from a generic model in which the electrochemical characteristics of the electrolyser and fuel cell systems were not taken into consideration. Results from this comparison have demonstrated the potential of the developed model in simulating the real-world dynamic operation of hybrid solar hydrogen energy systems for grid-connected buildings while sizing the exact capacity of system components, avoiding oversizing associated with underutilisation costs and inaccurate simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of fuzzy hybrid methods has significantly increased in recent years across various sectors. However, the application of fuzzy hybrid methods for modeling systems or processes, such as fuzzy machine learning, fuzzy simulation, and fuzzy decision-making, has been relatively limited in the energy sector. Moreover, compared to standard methods, the benefits of fuzzy-hybrid methods for capturing complex problems are not adequately explored for the solar energy sector, which is one of the most important renewable energy sources in electric grids. This paper investigates the application of fuzzy hybrid systems in the solar energy sector compared to other sectors through a systematic review of journal articles published from 2012 to 2022. Selection criteria for choosing an appropriate method in each investigated fuzzy hybrid method are also presented and discussed. This study contributes to the existing literature in the solar energy domain by providing a state-of-the-art review of existing fuzzy hybrid techniques to (1) demonstrate their capability for capturing complex problems while overcoming limitations inherent in standard modeling methods, (2) recommend criteria for selecting an appropriate fuzzy hybrid technique for applications in solar energy research, and (3) assess the applicability of fuzzy hybrid techniques for solving practical problems in the solar energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gradually becoming an integral part of the drive to accomplish sustainable energy standards. Due to their limited onboard battery capacity, EVs' expanding popularity creates a need for widespread charging stations. However, fast charging stations, particularly Extreme Fast Charging (EFC), may impose a hassle on the electrical system due to overload during peak hours, frequent power gaps, and voltage sag. To flatten the power supply, the photovoltaic (PV) Hybrid Energy Storage Systems (HESS) and the uncertain and variable nature of PV systems always include solar and hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) such as batteries and supercapacitors. This research suggests a multi-port DC-DC converter (MPC) with a bidirectional DC-DC converter for battery ESS-integrated PV systems. The MPC can regulate the majority of active power through PV to a battery, PV to an EV charging station, HESS to an EV charging station, and PV to AC grid. Additionally, a PI controller is used for the MPC, taking both the PV and battery voltage variations into account. Therefore, the presented configuration can achieve the key benefits of greater integration, more efficiency, and reduced cost. Simulation results show the advantages of this multiport EV charging circuit with PV-HESS and design in different modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an environment with unstable power supply, incessant load shedding and inconsistent energy availability remains a major challenge. Hence, there is a need for an urgent alternative source of energy to mitigate this challenge. Over the years, fossil fuel-based energy sources have been considered as an effective solution, however the greenhouse gases emissions from these sources contribute largely to the rise in the depletion of the ozone layer which eventually leads to pollution and global warming. This work contributes to efforts in curbing this menace by reducing the use of diesel generators and focus more on a hybrid renewable energy system. This study, used selected residential buildings as a case study. A photovoltaic system and a diesel generator were incorporated as hybrid energy system, and the data gathered was processed using the HOMER software. The output of the simulation provided two optimal systems (PVDiesel Generator, Battery coupled with the complete Hybrid system) and (PV-Diesel generator). The optimal and costeffective system from the analysis is the PV-diesel hybrid system. This consists of a 10kW solar PV, 45kW Diesel generator, a 10kW converter and six 6FM200D batteries. This study provides a synergy of individual subsystems as analyzed in the result to enhanced the reliability of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10.3390/en13143519 15 Yang R., Yuan Y., Ying R., Shen B., Long T. A novel energy management strategy for a ship's hybrid solar energy generation system using a particle swarm optimization algorithm. Unfortunately, the paper does not take into account the fragility of the European Energy System with respect to the Energy suppliers. Moreover, the Energy Plant is strongly constrained by the primary energy providers and the energy distribution system must provide the difficult tasks related to implement dispatching and energy saving systems. 10.3390/en13040894 10 Nikolaou T., Stavrakakis G.S., Tsamoudalis K. Modeling and optimal dimensioning of a pumped hydro energy storage system for the exploitation of the rejected wind energy in the non-interconnected electrical power system of the Crete island, Greece. [Extracted from the article]

Deep borehole heat exchanger (DBHE) is a closed loop system without the problem of fluid losses, scale formation and corrosion; however, low rock thermal conductivity limits its performance. Enlightened by drilling mud loss in oil and gas industry, here an enhanced DBHE (EDBHE) is proposed by filling materials with much higher thermal conductivity into leakage formation or depleted gas and oil reservoir to enhance the thermal conductivity performance of rock. Solar thermal energy is stored into EDBHE during the non-heating season to replenish the loss of heat energy extracted during the heating season. The results show that average heat mining rate for 20 years operations is, respectively, 3686.5 and 26,384.4 kW for EDBHE filled by ordinary drilling mud and by composite materials with high thermal conductivity. The percentage reduction of heat mining rate for 20 years operations for EDBHE and the hybrid system of geothermal and solar energy are, respectively, 16.1 and 5.8%, indicating that the hybrid system can make the heat mining rate more stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a nonlinear decentralized double‐integral sliding mode controller (DI‐SMC) is designed along with an energy management system (EMS) for the DC microgrid (DCMG). This DCMG includes having a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) that incorporates a battery energy storage system (BESS) and supercapacitor energy storage system (SCESS) while the load demand is met through the power generated from solar photovoltaic (SPV) units. First, dynamical models of each subsystem of DCMGs such as the SPV system, BESS, and SCESS are developed to capture highly nonlinear behaviors of DCMGs under various operating conditions. The proposed nonlinear DI‐SMC is then designed for each power unit in DCMGs to ensure the desired voltage level at the common DC‐bus and appropriate power dispatch of different components to fulfill the load requirement of the DCMG. On the other hand, an energy management system (EMS) is designed to determine the set point for the controller with an aim of ensuring the power balance within DCMGs under various operating conditions where the overall stability is assessed using the Lyapunov theory. Simulation studies along with the processor‐in‐loop validation, including a comparative study with a proportional‐integral (PI) controller, verify the applicability and effectiveness of the EMS‐based DI‐SMC under different operating conditions of the DCMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid depletion of fossil fuels, their negative environmental impacts due to harmful carbon emissions, and the drawbacks of the sole use of intermittent renewable energy resources on system reliability necessitate the use of more advanced energy system technologies. As a result, hybrid electricity generation systems offer an innovative alternative to conventional energy systems. However, the technical complexity and variability of these systems require the application of multi-objective optimization techniques to determine the optimal sizing and system design. Therefore, in this study, we suggest a multi-objective decision-making (MODM) model that involves five conflicting objectives to find the optimal resource configuration and auxiliary source capacity allocation within the framework of the multi-source electricity production method in Türkiye. The MODM model aims to maximize the utilization of resource potentials and the jobs created, while simultaneously minimizing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), construction duration, and carbon emissions. The MODM model was solved using fmincon and fgoalattain multi-objective optimization algorithms using the Goal Attainment Method in MATLAB and the model results were subsequently compared to the real-world data. According to the model results, the optimal capacity to be allocated for the auxiliary source units is 13,749.58 MWm, while the capacity allocated according to the real-world data as of March 2024 is 2495.49 MWm. In contrast to the model's prediction of 90.8 % solar-based auxiliary unit installations, 99.8 % of auxiliary units are based on solar PV in the actual case. Furthermore, hydro or geothermal-based auxiliary sources are not allocated any capacity, which is consistent with the actual situation. The capacity allocated for the wind (primary source) + solar (auxiliary source) configuration is 76.2 %, whereas in reality, it accounts for 65.6 % of the total installations. Consequently, the model findings suggest that the maximum capacity allocation is for the wind (primary source) + solar (auxiliary source) type hybrid electricity generation system. • A multi-objective decision model for hybrid energy system optimization in Türkiye. • Solution of the MODM model via fmincon and fgoalattain algorithms in MATLAB. • Optimal total capacity for auxiliary sources is determined to be 13.75 GW. • Both model findings and real data promote wind + solar hybrid energy systems. • Building of hydro or geothermal-based auxiliary units is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functioning of a solar hybrid power system is investigated in this research using a unique fuzzy control method. Turbines, solar photovoltaics, diesel engines, fuel cells, aqua-electrolyzes, and other autonomous generation products are used in the hybrid renewable energy system. Further energy storage components of the system include the batteries, turbine, and ultracapacitor. This research incorporates a supercapacitor hybrid energy storage system (HESS) into a solar hybrid power generating system, allowing the consumption and energy storage space and power output to be significantly increased. This study's approach incorporates a decentralized power generation system with a HESS while increasing electrical output in phases utilizing a dynamic reactive power compensation scheme and a conductance-fuzzy dual-mode control strategy. Due to a nonlinear behavior of photovoltaic (PV) devices' power output, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods must be used to create the greatest power. Infrequently developing atmospheric circumstances, traditional MPPT algorithms do not work adequately. Modeling is used to determine the microgrid's power output to the photovoltaic hybrid power generating organization, as well as the optimization method for each device in the network. The dynamic power factor correction scheme and also the conductance-fuzzy dual-mode control approach are primarily used in this study to optimize the solar hybrid renewable energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Hybrid Wind-Solar Energy Systems (HWSES) comprised of Photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbines have been utilized to reduce the intermittent issue of renewable energy generation units. The proposed research work provides optimized modeling and control strategies for a grid-connected HWSES. To enhance the efficiency of the maximum power tracking of a grid-connected wind-driven Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) integrated with solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, connected to the DC link of the back-to-back converters of the Hybrid Wind-Solar Energy System (HWSES). Stator Flux-Oriented control is utilized to regulate the Grid Side Converter and Rotor Side Converter. The main objective of this paper is to apply the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy to wind and solar PV systems to maximize the power extraction and to provide better integration of the hybrid systems into the electrical grids. Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (IC) MPPT algorithms are implemented to the solar PV system with varying solar insolation and their performances and efficiencies are compared. For varying wind speeds, Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) and Optimal Torque (OT) MPPT algorithms are implemented and their performances and efficiencies are compared for the hybrid system considering and integrating solar PV system. The optimal torque MPPT algorithm shows better responses when compared to the TSR method. A 2MW simulation model of the HWSES is developed and its performance is analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink environment. The implemented schemes have the advantage of tracking the optimal power output of the HWSES rapidly and precisely. Additionally, the provided schemes effectively control the power flowing through the HWSES and the utility grid, resulting in a quick transient response and enhanced stability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage systems in recent days are witnessing an increased trajectory of hybridization to decrease the burden on the single energy storage systems in renewable energy sources. The hybridization of energy storage imposes the need for an efficient power-sharing strategy. This article proposes the interval type2 fuzzy logic controller-based power-sharing strategy to utilize hybrid energy storages in the solar-powered charging station effectively. Under this study, the hybrid energy storage system consists of a battery and supercapacitor with solar power generation as a primary source. The battery supports the slow varying power and the supercapacitor supports the fast-varying power. Electric vehicles are connected as load and a multi-step constant current charging technique is proposed to charge its battery. In order to inject/absorb the power, the hybrid energy storage utilizes bidirectional DC-DC converters. The perturb and observe algorithm is used to track the maximum power from the solar panel. The proposed system is designed in MATLAB/Simulink platform and the real-time validation has been carried out through the dSPACE (DS1202) real-time processor. An obtained result demonstrates the performance of the interval type2 fuzzy logic controller-based power-sharing strategy under variable generation and load scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries, including South Africa, have introduced policies and incentives to increase their renewable energy capacities in order to address environmental concerns and reduce pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, consumers in South Africa have faced the ever-increasing price of electricity and unreliability of the grid since 2007 due to the lack of sufficient electricity production. As a result, employing hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) have gained popularity. This research focuses on grid-connected HRESs based on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines as a potential way of reducing the dependency of residential sector consumers on the grid. It aims to identify the optimal sizing of renewable energy sources to be cost-effective for consumers over a certain period of time, using Durban as a case study. Two artificial intelligence methods have been used to obtain the optimal sizing for the available PV panels, wind turbines and inverters. The results shown that the combination of PV panels and battery storage can be a profitable option. A system using higher rated power PV panels can start to become profitable in a shorter lifetime, but employing batteries can only be cost-effective if a long enough lifetime is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stand-alone hybrid energy systems based on solar and energy storage are an effective option for rural areas to meet the load demand. The objective of the current work is to the optimal configuration of a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic/battery energy storage system with the help of an efficient metaheuristic algorithm, improved harmony search, to supply electrical of a residential load in Iran. The objective function is a minimization of total life cycle cost (TLCC) subject to the reliability index (loss of load probability). The optimal configurations of hybrid systems are compared in respect of different losses of load probability (0 to 20%). Sensitivity analysis and effects of economic parameters based on photovoltaic and battery prices are carried out to study the possibility of the suggested scheme. The results show that, by increasing the reliability index from 0 to 20%, the optimal number of panels and batteries decreases by 52 and 1202. Also, it is found that the TLCC of the system and cost of system components are increased by decreasing of the reliability index value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy systems are the major components of the strategy to reduce global warming. Hybrid systems using a combination of solar and wind energy are commonly used in remote areas; they have the advantage of reliability and stability. A hybrid energy system includes more than one energy source to cover an electrical load. Energy sources can be renewable as well as conventional. It can either be standalone or grid-connected. When a hybrid energy system includes solar or wind energy, it is important to add an auxiliary source of energy (coming from battery banks, diesel generator, or utility grid) so as to reduce energy cost and ensure system’s reliability. Optimization sizing is one of the most important issues in this type of systems. In this regards much research has been done. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of different criteria and methods utilized in current literature to find the optimal sizing of grid-connected hybrid PV-wind energy systems. This work concludes with promising techniques for future use in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the energy transfer in phycobilisomes extracted from cyanobacteria can be used for building biomimetic hybrid systems for optimized solar energy collection and photocurrent amplification. In this paper, we applied time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the ultrafast dynamics in a hemidiscoidal phycobilisome obtained from Arthrospiraplatensis. We obtained the steady-state and time-resolved optical properties and identified the possible pathways of the excitation energy transfer in the phycobilisome and its components, phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. The transient absorption data were studied using global analysis and revealed the existence of ultrafast kinetics down to 850 fs in the phycobilisome. The fluorescence lifetimes in the nanosecond time-scale assigned to the final emitters in each sample were obtained from the time-correlated single photon counting fluorescence experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, hybrid energy utilization was studied for the base station in a 5G network. To minimize AC power usage from the hybrid energy system and minimize solar energy waste, a Markov decision process (MDP) model was proposed for packet transmission in two practical scenarios. In this model, one buffer is transmitted with a given number of data packets over finite transmission time intervals. In the two scenarios of packet transmission, solar energy harvesting (SEH) is stored in the first scene, while the other scene uses the energy immediately. The MDP model determines the best actions and decisions for both scenarios. When considering a finite battery size and finite packet buffer, the MDP model defines the actions, states, state transition probabilities, and cost value for each action. In the first scenario, the received solar energy harvester will not be used if it is not enough to transmit the packets in the buffer. In the second scenario, the received solar energy harvester will be used immediately. In both scenarios, the cost value is the weighted sum of AC power and SEH wastage. The simulation results showed the optimum buffer sizes could be determined for the balance between AC power consumption and SEH wastage based on the cost value of the proposed model. Finally, the numerical results indicated that the proposed MDP model could reduce AC power usage by up to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an integrated, four-port, dc–dc converter for power management of a hybrid wind and solar energy system when it works in the standalone mode. Compared with existing four-port dc–dc converters, the proposed converter has the advantage of using a simple topology to interface sources of different voltage/current characteristics. The proposed converter is constructed for power management of a hybrid energy system, which consists of a photovoltaic panel, a wind turbine generator, a rechargeable battery bank, and a load. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed converter is capable of not only controlling the charge and discharge of the battery according to the state of the charge, but also maintaining the dc-link voltage to be constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a comprehensive overview of advanced water desalination systems powered by renewable energy sources, specifically focusing on developments in the past decade. Solar energy is particularly emphasized as a pivotal resource for powering diverse desalination methods, including membrane distillation, reverse osmosis, humidification-dehumidification, forward osmosis, and hybrid systems. The primary objectives of this study encompass evaluating current advancements in renewable energy systems, especially solar energy, for driving water desalination processes. Furthermore, the study aims to identify gaps in research, challenges, and recommendations within these processes, and to assess the performance and refinement potential of hybrid desalination systems. Through a comprehensive analysis of various investigations, integrated effectiveness and cost-efficiency are examined, focusing on practical energy utilization. Notably, the analysis reveals the potential of hybrid desalination systems to reduce energy consumption. For instance, the hybridization of forward osmosis with membrane distillation showcases a significant energy ratio decrease from 0.89 to 0.64. Moreover, the combination of humidification-dehumidification with reverse osmosis is shown to reduce energy usage while enhancing freshwater output by up to 38% compared to standalone reverse osmosis. However, challenges persist, such as the need for improved integration of hybrid systems with concentrated solar collectors like photovoltaic thermal and concentrated photovoltaic thermal technologies. • A comprehensive review of water desalination systems powered by renewable energy. • The importance of combination of solar energy with hybrid desalination systems. • Renewable energy integration with different desalination techniques. • A comparative analysis of integration of renewable energy with hybrid desalination. • Challenges and future recommendations for successful integration of renewable energy with desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar water pasteurization system with slow sand filtration works by integration of filtration unit and pasteurization unit. The system can be utilized in rural as well as the urban areas of the country to produce reliable drinking water source. The filtration unit has layers of gravels and sand, and the pasteurization unit works by use of solar collector utilizing solar energy. The final output water is drinkable by treatment of water pathogens through the integrated units. The use of two systems: Pasteurization unit and Filtration unit independently checks and corrects the flaw of the other to produce clean and pure drinking water. The output water from the integrated system is tested and found to have reduced TDS from 159 mg/l to 137 mg/l, E. coli count from 6 CFU/100ml to 0 CFU/100ml and Total coliform count from 52 CFU/100ml to 0 CFU/100ml. This hybrid system uses solar energy for water pasteurization so it can be utilized effectively for drinking water purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo analiza la implementación de un sistema híbrido de energía solar-diesel-batería en La Guajira y las islas del Pacífico de Colombia, que aún se encuentra rezagado en la provisión del servicio eléctrico, ya que se encuentran alejadas del sistema interconectado nacional. El artículo también analiza la viabilidad de la energía solar como alternativa a la generación de energía tradicional.

This research investigates the techno-economic assessment of a hybrid grid system of solar and wind power for a residual urban area in Khvaf town located in the eastern part of Iran. The temperature profiles of a 10-year period are gathered based on the existing solar and wind condition data. Simulation, economical and technical evaluations of this hybrid system are studied with the aid of HOMER software. To reach a proper independent structure from the total net present cost and energy cost viewpoints, thousands of cases were studied. Change of the factor investing on PV panels together with the amount of the sun radiance as well as change of the investment factor of wind turbines with the consideration of wind velocity and sun radiance on the system layout are studied and discussed. The initial investment is 440 thousand dollars and the contribution portion of the renewable energies is 84% for the case containing four wind turbines and a power grid system (optimal system). This optimal system returns the investment over a 4-year period which is very economically attractive. The optimal system for the case with a low mean wind speed of 3 m/s is preferred to involve 13-kW photovoltaic (PV) panels, one-wind turbine and a 10-kW converter with a power grid network. Results shown that when the cost of the PV panel is 0.6 times higher than the current cost, a system consisting 4-wind turbines connected to the grid network is still the optimal system. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is made on the load demand of the hybrid system and the renewable energy resource. As a result, the most influential variables on the performance of the system are identified in this research. Based on the economic and technical evaluation, establishing a hybrid grid system for a residential urban area is perfectly reasonable with the investment return during the fourth year of a 25-year project lifetime. Also, among the systems studied, a system with four wind turbines and a power grid system is chosen as an optimal system due to the fact that the region has favorable potential for wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This proposed design is a hybrid power system for electric boats using solar power from PV array combined with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system and energy from a diesel generator. The main objective is obtaining continuous operation and stable speed for the electric boat regardless the time of the day and weather conditions changes that affect solar irradiance which is directly related to solar PV panel that charge the battery bank. The hybrid power system output is used to drive a three-phase asynchronous machine for the propulsion system of the electric boat. Switching between diesel and solar power depends on battery operation and measurements. The simulation results of the hybrid power system are presented using SIMULINK. The results will demonstrate the stable operational speed of the electric boat due to the continuous operation. The novelty of the proposed design over other hybrid solar/diesel electric boat system designs from the previous work is maintaining continuous operation and stable speed despite the variations in battery state of charge and solar irradiance level. Another advantage is maintaining stable operation without resulting in problems associated with power stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Mathematic model of hybrid solar heating system is built and verified by a rural building in Qinghai province. • Factors such as collector area and insulation layer of wall are discussed to find out the heating characteristic of the system • Operation of the system can keep indoor air temperature about 6°C when ambient temperature is just −7.8°C. • Thermal load of sleeping people can be hold in acceptable level when the beddings insulation value is kept at the value of 4.0clo during night time. Abstract A hybrid solar heating system combining a solar kang subsystem and a solar air heating subsystem for keeping indoor space within thermal comfort level is investigated in this article for the climatic conditions of Qinghai Province (35 °N 96 °E)- China. The main aim of the current research is to study the hybrid heating system's thermal characteristic and the sleeping comfort of occupants in rural buildings. A mathematical model to study the hybrid heating system has been developed and the results have been validated by conducting an experimental study at a building located in Qinghai province. The influence of the different solar thermal collector areas, insulation levels of wall, thermal sensation of the system and different operation strategies have been investigated. It has been observed that the indoor temperature can be improved by up to 6°C when the ambient temperature is −7.8°C (average). By changing the solar collector area from 4 m2 to 8 m2, the kang surface average temperature can be improved from 22°C to 31°C. Thermal load of sleeping can also remain within acceptable levels when the beddings insulation value is maintained at 4.0clo during night time. It has been observed that without auxiliary power, making the kang system work only at night would be more suitable in the experimental condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar cell thermal recovery has recently attracted more and more attention as a viable solution to increase photovoltaic efficiency. However, the convenience of the implementation of such a strategy is bound to the precise evaluation of the recoverable thermal power and to a proper definition of the losses occurring within the solar device. In this work, we establish a framework in which all solar cell losses are defined and described. The aim is to determine the components of the thermal fraction. We therefore describe an experimental method to precisely compute these components from the measurement of the external quantum efficiency, the current-voltage characteristics, and the reflectivity of the solar cell. Applying this method to three different types of devices (bulk, thin film, and multi-junction), we could exploit the relationships among losses for the main three generations of PV cells available nowadays. In addition, since the model is explicitly wavelength dependent, we could show how thermal losses in all cells occur over the whole solar spectrum, and not only in the infrared region. This demonstrates that profitable thermal harvesting technologies should enable heat recovery over the whole solar spectral range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is the redesign of the reflector geometry in hybrid concentrating collectors that are currently manufactured by SOLARUS Sunpower AB** to improve the energy efficiency of their solar collectors. The analysis is first accomplished using a numerical model that uses geometrical optics to study the interaction between the sunlight and a concentrating collector along the year. More complex physical models based on open-source and advanced object-oriented Monte Carlo ray tracing programs (SolTrace, Tonatiuh) have been used to study the relation between the collector annual performance and its geometry. On an annual performance basis, a comparative analysis between several solar collector geometries was effectuated to search for higher efficiencies but with controlled costs. Results show that efficiency is deeply influenced by reflector geometry details, collector tilt and location (latitude, longitude) of the solar panel installation and, mostly, by costumer demands. Undoubtedly, the methodology presented in this paper for the design of the solar collector represents an important tool to optimize the binomial cost/effectiveness photovoltaic performance in the energy conversion process. The results also indicate that some modified concentrating solar collectors are promising when evaluating the yearly averaged energy produced per unit area, leading to evident improvements in the performance when compared to the current standard solar concentrating SOLARUS systems. Increases of about 50% (from 0.123 kW/m² to 0.1832 kW/m²) were obtained for the yearly average collected power per reflector area when decreasing the collector height in 3.5% (from 143 mm to 138 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hybrid solar photocatalytic, photovoltaic and thermal recovery system that meets the domestic demands for air purification, electricity generation, space heating and hot water supply in one integrated is proposed (PC-PV/TAW). The photocatalytic module uses ultraviolet part to drive photocatalytic degradation of indoor pollutants, and the photovoltaic/thermal module absorbs visible and infrared parts to generate electricity, warm air and hot water. In this article, three photocatalytic-glass modules with different TiO 2 coating density are prepared and the effect of TiO 2 coating density on the performance of electrical, thermal and formaldehyde degradation for PC-PV/TAW system is investigated. In addition, comparisons of PC-PV/TAW system with two conventional systems of photovoltaic/thermal water system (PV/TW) and photovoltaic/thermal air and water system (PV/TAW) are conducted. Finally, the associated losses of PC-PV/TAW system and two conventional PV/T systems are analyzed. Results are as follows: (1) PC-PV/TAW system with TiO 2 coating density of 1.86 g/m 2 behaves the best thermal and electrical performance while a little reduction of formaldehyde degradation performance among three PC-PV/TAW systems; (2) The electrical efficiency of PC-PV/TAW system approaches 0.174 both considering generated electricity by PV modules and saving electricity by purifying air; (3) The overall thermal and electrical efficiency of PC-PV/TAW, PV/TAW and PV/TW system is 0.644, 0.696 and 0.677, respectively, while PC-PV/TAW system can generate total volume of fresh air of 248.040 m 3 /(m 2 ·day); (4) The loss analyses show the solar spectral characteristics of TiO 2 coating is the key to system performance of PC-PV/TAW system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process heat applications make up a large potential market for renewable energy. Concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems are capable of reaching temperatures necessary for a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications but are often overlooked due to the difficulty of competing with natural gas. Novel hybrid photovoltaic/thermal systems (PV/T) are capable of simultaneously generating electricity and heat. The electricity produced is of higher value and offsets the lifetime cost of the system by producing a cost savings to the facility, ultimately making solar heat competitive with natural gas, propane, coal, and other fuels. An economic model that utilizes the electricity savings as part of the cash flow within the levelized cost of energy equation is presented here. We further determine the sensitivity of PV/T system costs to technical, financial, and geographical parameters. A dish concentrator PV/T (CPV/T) system with a transmissive CPV array is used as a reference system for sensitivity analysis. Through design choices informed by this new modeling approach, the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) is shown to be competitive with natural gas in up to 6 states within the United States and can be reduced to a minimum of −1.4 ¢/kWh th in Hawaii by factoring in the electricity savings from additional energy generated by the transmissive CPV module. Competitiveness in select global regions is also considered. Further examination of several other geometries of PV/T systems with this model, for an installation in California, shows that flat plate collectors with waste heat recovery result in the lowest LCOH of 1.23 ¢/kWh th . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy for building heating, it is an environmentally friendly technology which can effectively reduce building energy consumption. However, so-lar energy has the characteristics of low distribution density, discontinuity and instability due to the changeable weather condition, moreover, there is a contradiction in time between the building heating demand in night and the solar energy collection in day. Therefore, a cascade utilization of solar energy with solar heat collection process, phase change heat storage process and capillary radiation heating process is presented in this study. Firstly, a low temperature phase change material is tested and used as an energy storage pool, secondly, the capillary radiation heating is adopted as the terminal heating mode due to its features of low temperature operation mode, large heat transfer area and higher thermal comfort, finally, the performance of the system is calculated and analyzed. The results show that the cascade utilization of solar energy system can store and transfer solar energy from day to night, and it has higher efficiency compared with traditional heat sink mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the requirements of electrical energy for an isolated island of Masirah in Oman. The paper studied the possibility of using sources of renewable energy in combination with current diesel power plant on the island to meet the electrical load demand. There are two renewable energy sources used in this study, solar and wind energy. This study aimed to design and evaluate hybrid solar/wind/diesel/battery system in terms of cost and pollution. By using HOMER software, many simulation analyses have been proposed to find and optimize different technologies that contain wind turbine, solar photovoltaic, and diesel in combination with storage batteries for electrical generation. Four different hybrid power systems were proposed, diesel generators only, wind/diesel/battery, PV/diesel/battery, and PV/wind/diesel/battery. The analysis of the results shows that around 75 % could reduce the cost of energy by using PV/wind/diesel hybrid power system. Also, the greenhouse emission could be reduced by around 25 % compared with these by using diesel generators system that currently utilize in the Masirah Island. The solar/wind/diesel hybrid system is techno-economically viable for Masirah Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different drying methods for plum fruits were compared in this case study. Samples were dried at a temperature of 70°C using the method of hot air drying as well using hybrid solar drying at three levels of air velocity (0.5, 1, and 2 m/s) and open sun drying. The dried samples were then compared on the basis of changes in colour, shrinkage and rehydration. The effect of air velocity on colour change was significant (P < 0.05) at the three different levels (0.5, 1, and 2 m/s), whereas effects on shrinkage and rehydration ratio were not significant (P < 0.05). The best conditions for plum drying with respect to values of colour change, shrinkage, rehydration ratio and the drying costs were obtained for the plums dried using a hybrid solar dryer at an air velocity of 1 m/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the fast development of solar energy harvesting technology, various portable harvesters with excellent energy capture properties are highly desired, especially those devices used for facades and roofs of buildings. This study proposed a new energy absorption model by integrating wave-guiding polymer materials and fluorescent substance coated textiles, which aimed to address the issues of current energy shortage and excessive pollutant emissions in the ambient environment. Besides, this textile-based production was multifunctional in that it possessed the compelling features of solar radiation collection, thermal insulation and surface decoration. Compared with the conventional solar energy harvester, the as-fabricated device exhibited the merits of light weight, better mechanical flexibility and wider extended applicability. This study has achieved some progress in the area of solar energy harvesting and could have a possible informative effect on the future related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid solar energy conversion system described in this study is designed to exceed the efficiency of each type of technology alone by combining advantages of concentrated solar power (CSP) technology and high performance concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells. This hybrid system can be tilted at different inclination angles to track the solar power at different latitudes and different time zones. Thermal management is important to CPV cells, as 1000× concentrated solar radiation onto CPV not only leads to higher performance but also generates more waste heat flux. In this work, the effects of natural convection with and without the interaction of surface radiation in the system consisting of PV cells, optical funnels and a heatsink were numerically investigated with an experimentally validated model. The influence of inclination on the overall flow structure and heat transfer was examined. Under the effect of these funnels, the heat transfer was enhanced when the heat was transferred through PV cells to funnels. At the same time, the separation flow between the spaces of funnels would take the heat to the ambient. The minimum average temperature of surrogate PV cells occurred at the inclination angle of 60°. When the inclination angle varied from 0° to 90°, the stagnation point moved from the downward surface of the heat sink towards the edge of heat sink. From 0° to 60°, the stagnation point was at the downward surface of heat sink and there was a dramatic decrease in the average temperature of the surrogate PV cells. When inclination angles were less than 60°, except that there was a separation region above substrate, the side flow could flow in and out freely between adjacent funnels and then formed a pair of separation bubble, or spiral node, on top of the funnels. At these inclination angles, flow velocity was found to be the dominant factor influencing heat transfer because the flow pattern (separation bubble) was the same on top of the funnels. However, at inclination angles of 60° to 90° the stagnation point occurred at the edge of the heat sink, and the surrogate PV temperature increased. When the inclination angle reached 90°, the flow was trapped and recirculated among funnels, and the vortical wake on top of the funnel disappeared. It can be concluded that from 60° to 90°, the dominant factor influencing heat transfer is funnel effect because the flow velocity stayed almost constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a parametric study of a recently proposed concentrating photovoltaic/concentrating solar power (CPV/CSP) hybrid system based on the energy and exergy analyses. A steady-state physical model is established for the hybrid system to carry out the energy and exergy analyses, in which a more general trapezoidal-shaped distribution of concentrated solar energy flux density is employed. Effects of various parameters are investigated including the average optical concentration ratio, the outlet temperature of R134a from the solar thermal receiver, and the coolant saturation vapor temperature. The results show that the generating efficiency and the power output of the hybrid system can increase by about 20% compared with the CPV-alone system, which indicates that the proposed hybrid system has a great potential to increase the utilization ratio of solar energy. Increasing the average optical concentration ratio or decreasing the outlet temperature of R134a from the solar thermal receiver can result in evident increases of both the energy efficiency and the exergy efficiency of the hybrid system. It is also shown that the energy and exergy efficiencies of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) subsystem are nearly independent of the Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), and the hybrid system can be always operated with a high efficiency despite of the DNI change at different moments or days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three alternative layouts (scenarios) of an innovative solar-assisted hybrid desiccant-based air handling unit (AHU) are investigated through dynamic simulations. Performance is evaluated with respect to a reference system and compared to those of the innovative plant without modifications. For each scenario, different collector types, surfaces and tilt angles are considered. The effect of the solar thermal energy surplus exploitation for other low-temperature uses is also investigated. The first alternative scenario consists of the recovery of the heat rejected by the condenser of the chiller to pre-heat the regeneration air. The second scenario considers the pre-heating of regeneration air with the warmer regeneration air exiting the desiccant wheel (DW). The last scenario provides pre-cooling of the process air before entering the DW. Results reveal that the plants with evacuated solar collectors (SC) can ensure primary energy savings (15%-24%) and avoid equivalent CO2 emissions (14%-22%), about 10 percentage points more than those with flat-plate collectors, when the solar thermal energy is used only for air conditioning and the collectors have the best tilt angle. If all of the solar thermal energy is considered, the best results with evacuated tube collectors are approximately 73% in terms of primary energy saving, 71% in terms of avoided equivalent CO2 emissions and a payback period of six years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid solar-assisted trigeneration system is analyzed in this paper. The system is composed of a 20 m² solar field of evacuated tube collectors, a natural gas fired micro combined heat and power system delivering 12.5 kW of thermal power, an absorption heat pump (AHP) with a nominal cooling power of 17.6 kW, two storage tanks (hot and cold) and an electric auxiliary heater (AH). The plant satisfies the energy demand of an office building located in Naples (Southern Italy). The electric energy of the cogenerator is used to meet the load and auxiliaries electric demand; the interactions with the grid are considered in cases of excess or over requests. This hybrid solution is interesting for buildings located in cities or historical centers with limited usable roof surface to install a conventional solar heating and cooling (SHC) system able to achieve high solar fraction (SF). The results of dynamic simulation show that a tilt angle of 30° maximizes the SF of the system on annual basis achieving about 53.5%. The influence on the performance of proposed system of the hot water storage tank (HST) characteristics (volume, insulation) is also studied. It is highlighted that the SF improves when better insulated and bigger HSTs are considered. A maximum SF of about 58.2% is obtained with a 2000 L storage, whereas the lower thermal losses take place with a better insulated 1000 L tank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid solar water disinfection and energy generation system for meeting the needs of safe drinking water and electricity was designed and tested in Alcalá de Henares (Spain) under summer climatic conditions to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept. Natural water sources with wild strains of Escherichia coli , total coliforms, Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium perfringens (including spores) were studied. Results showed that SOLWAT disinfection efficiency was higher than conventional PET bottles and that the water disinfection reactor located above the PV module did not affect the total energy output produced by the hybrid system in comparison to the single PV module, achieving the same power losses over the 6 h of sun exposure in relation to their power at standard test conditions (STC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the possibilities of sustainable biogas use for hybridisation of Concentrated Solar Power (HCSP) in Europe. The optimal system for the use of biogas from agricultural residues (manure and crop residues) in HCSP involves anaerobic digestion with upgrading of biogas to biomethane and injection into the gas grid for transport and storage. Using biogas from agricultural residues results in efficient reduction of non-renewable energy use and especially GHG emission, due to the avoidance of methane emission from manure storage. The net biomethane production from agricultural residues in EU-27 can potentially reach approximately 29,000 Mm 3 , sufficient to supply 320 CSP plants with a capacity of 100 MWe with HYSOL technology, producing 55% of the electricity from gas. The uncertainties concerning the production potential are large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to assess the performance of several designs of hybrid systems composed of solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels and natural gas internal combustion engines. The software TRNSYS 17 has been used to perform all the calculations and data processing, as well as an optimisation of the tank volumes through an add-in coupled with the GENOPT® software. The study is carried out by analysing the behaviour of the designed systems and the conventional case in five different locations of Spain with diverse climatic characteristics, evaluating the same building in all cases. Regulators, manufacturers and energy service engineers are the most interested in these results. Two major contributions in this paper are the calculations of primary energy consumption and emissions and the inclusion of a Life Cycle Cost analysis. A table which shows the order of preference regarding those criteria for each considered case study is also included. This was fulfilled in the interest of comparing between the different configurations and climatic zones so as to obtain conclusions on each of them. The study also illustrates a sensibility analysis regarding energy prices. Finally, the exhaustive literature review, the novel electricity consumption profile of the building and the illustration of the influence of the cogeneration engine working hours are also valuable outputs of this paper, developed in order to address the knowledge gap and the ongoing challenges in the field of distributed generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a full-scale experimental performance evaluation of a new design of a solar water heating system installed in the football pitches of the University of Tunis El Manar. Thermoelectric generators were incorporated into the heating system to utilize the wasted heat and use the temperature differences in water to generate electricity. To optimize system parameters, evaluate thermal efficiency, and predict long-term system performance for winter and summer operating weather conditions, a numerical model using the finite volume method and TRNSYS software was developed. For model validation, the simulation results are compared to the experimental data. The economic study was also presented, as well as the system's energy gain and lifetime energy savings. The thermal efficiency of the system was found to be 50 and 95 percent in January and July, respectively. Furthermore, the hybrid model reduced electrical consumption by 80%, and in areas with higher environmental temperatures, the reduction in the electrical bill could be up to 90%. The new hybrid solar system's energy savings over its lifetime are estimated to be $14400. • The thermal performance of a novel solar heating system is carried out. • Thermal heat transfer was enhanced by using the thermoelectric generators. • The new design showed reduced heat losses during all operating states. • The water temperature was improved in value for the new design. • A payback period of 11.2 years was estimated for the new design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall energetic performance of a gas turbine combined cycle powered by a hybrid cycle between a solar thermal and a chemical looping combustion (CLC) system firing methane is reported for two configurations. In one case, the outlet from the air reactor is fed directly to a gas turbine, while in the other an after-burner, also firing methane, is added to increase the gas turbine inlet temperature. The cycle is simulated using Aspen Plus software for the average diurnal profile of normal irradiance for Port Augusta, South Australia. The first law efficiency, total solar absorption efficiency, average and peak fractional power boosts, total solar share, net solar to electrical efficiency, fraction of pressurised CO 2 , incremental CO 2 avoidance and the exergy efficiency for both cycles are reported. The calculations predict a first law efficiency of 50.0% for the cycle employing an after-burner, compared with 44.0% for that without the after-burner. However, this is achieved at the cost of decreasing the solar share from 60.0%, without the after-burner, to 41.4% with it. Also reported is the sensitivity analysis of performance to variations in key operating parameters. The sensitivity analysis shows that further improvements to the performance of the cycle are possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]