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Considering the negative consequences of the excessive use of non-renewable energy and the development of technologies related to photovoltaic energy, the present paper aims to analyze if the photovoltaic systems are economically viable for university hospitals. A photovoltaic system was designed in the parking lot of the University Hospital of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and analyzed the financial viability of its installation. As a result, the photovoltaic system is financially viable, with an expected generation of 194.2 MWh in the first year and a payback of 7 years. Thus, this paper contributes to the feasibility of photovoltaic projects in university hospitals, reducing electric energy consumption, reducing its operational costs, reducing the emission of pollution, and diversification of the Brazilian energy matrix. Furthermore, the results can be used as a scientific basis for other fields, such as public and private hospitals and clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Water resources have fundamental importance both for living beings life and for human activities. The lack of water can be a limiting factor for occupation and development of a certain region. Photovoltaic pumping systems are an alternative solution for remote locations, with electric generation from photovoltaic panels being a locally pollutant-free option and less maintenance when compared to combustion-generation engines. This work aims the analysis of a photovoltaic pumping system with two cell technologies, amorphous and polycrystalline silicon. The research shown an average volume pumped of 2,255.44 and 2,397.01 litres per day in the amorphous and polycrystalline systems, respectively. The best efficiency results in both systems were at 0.8 kWhm−2, 4.69% for amorphous and 7.75% polycrystalline. However, the first one presented lower voltage drop with panel's temperature increasing. It obtained higher flow and overall efficiency in the polycrystalline system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

• Economic feasibility of a PV-BESS system for big consumers in Brazil. • Stochastic optimization model was used to compute the parameters of the energy and power demand contract, number of PV panels and BESS as well as the BESS operation. • The proposed approach can be applied for both schemes: Net-metering and zero export. • The proposed approach can be used for a support decision of big electricity consumer. Today in Brazil, due to the government incentives, the Net-metering scheme can be seen as a Photovoltaic system that uses the power grid as a virtual battery. This analogy is possible due to the energy credits accumulated in the metering when the prosumer injects power to the network. When the government incentives run out, it can trigger an opportunity market to stimulate the consumers to have their own batteries. Associated with this, the Lithium-ion battery storage systems market has been promising due to a significant drop in battery prices in the last few years. This work proposes a stochastic mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model to design a photovoltaic system integrated with battery energy storage, using generation and consumption scenarios under a Time-of-Use tariff model applied in Brazil. The decision variables are the number of panels, inverters, batteries, its daily operation and the power demand contracted. The objective function aims to minimize the annual cost of investment in photovoltaic system and battery as well as in electricity bill in the context of the Brazilian rules. The proposed model was adapted for a scheme with free export to the network and other with zero export in order to assess the importance of a storage system to keep the economic attraction of the photovoltaic system. Results indicated that the synergic effect of the photovoltaic system and battery, potentialize the arbitrage, which is related to the difference between peak and off-peak energy tariff, mainly with Zero Export scheme because the consumer is free to choose the capacity of the photovoltaic system, which is limited for Net-metering scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We make a brief analysis of the evolution of photovoltaic systems, highlighting the present situation worldwide and in Brazil. We compare costs of energy generation associated to photovoltaic and to coal-fired power plants. Coal-fired generation represents the eligible choice for the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul, where thermal plants may use locally extracted coal. The production cost of the energy generated with coal is evaluated taking in account the effect of the invisible cost represented by externalities that affect human health. The price evolution of Photovoltaic modules is presented, as well as trends on decreasing costs for new installations. We also calculate the production cost of the AC energy generated by three photovoltaic plants, with different power, derived from a model. The model is used to make sensitive analysis based on the adjustment of some factors that directly affect Brazilian costs such as: insolation, module''s custom and transportation taxes, effect of economy of scale, cost of money. A cost comparison is made between the two technologies and some government incentives are proposed to narrow the existing financial gap. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In much of the world, there is increasing demand for electricity to serve rural communities, isolated from the existing grids and typified by low-density electrical consumption. Because these non-urban consumer markets require rather high implementation investments (as well as high operation and maintenance costs), new technological and policy options are required to meet the needs of these markets. These consumers typically use energy in daytime peak hours of electricity, typically for lighting, television, and communication—as well as for a variety of cultural habits such as hot water that impose high demands on the utility''s power distribution and generation system. This has been the case in Brazil, making it necessary to identify decentralized generation technologies to meet the potential markets, typically serving rural and poorer areas. The government itself provided the impetus with the passage of the Brazilian “Universalization Law” that mandated supplying electricity access for the entire population by the year 2010. This law allows the use of both the distribution grid and renewable energy off-grid technologies. In response, Brazil''s largest state utility, Energetic Company of Minas Gerais (CEMIG) has aggressively implemented the use of decentralized photovoltaic systems to supplement the conventional power grid to satisfy the “universalization” targets. This paper provides a summary of the status and the future prospects of solar photovoltaic Energy in Brasil, within the context of the “universal electricity supply” policy. The focus here is to highlight the successes and the issues experienced to date in the State of Minas Gerais. This includes examining the methods implemented to ensure system reliability for the consumers, as well as the standards established under the Agéncia Nacional de Energy Elétrica (ANEEL), the national regulator electrical agency that ensures compliance with the federal regulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, an energy and economic analysis of a novel hybrid system based on a biomass/solar system equipped with a multi-effect desalination unit is carried out. Part of the steam was directed into a heat exchanger to supply the required energy for the multi-effect desalination unit. The capacity of the system was 100 M W e. The proposed system is compared with a photovoltaic power plant, a solar dish/Stirling power plant, a biomass power plant, and a linear Fresnel Reflector solar power plant. The results demonstrate that a solar thermal collector can be considered a promising solution to prevail the problem of the increasing boiler temperature. It reduces the amount of fuel consumption throughout the year, resulting in reducing the levelized cost of energy. Increasing the solar irradiance augments the energy efficiency gains of a hybrid system. The comparison of the power plants showed that the proposed hybrid system had the minimum levelized cost of energy by 7.865 cents of dollar/kWh but has only slightly higher capital investment cost. Additionally, of the solar power plants studied, a photovoltaic system is more efficient for the study region, Natal-RN Brazil, by a levelized cost of energy of 10.45 cents of dollar/kWh. • Energy and economic analysis of a novel hybrid system is carried out. • The hybrid system was designed based on biomass/solar system equipped with multi effect desalination unit. • The proposed system was compared with solar power plants. • The hybrid system possesses the minimum levelized cost of energy by 7.865 cents of dollar/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] There are two approaches to the issue of energy demand in buildings: generating more energy in a clean and renewable way or reducing the energy consumption of buildings through energy efficiency strategies. The question addressed by the article is how far to go with energy conservation and cost-effective measures. In this context, the general objective is to compare energy consumption and photovoltaic generation distributed in single-family homes of interest, through the cost-benefit ratio. 576 models were evaluated and the economic evaluation made for the model with the highest efficiency and the model with the lowest cost. The assessment was carried out using the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and the payback. NPV has not proved to be profitable to efficiency strategies in three scenarios. The only scenario with positive NPV was the scenario in which the interest rate is low and the increase in energy is high. In the case of the photovoltaic system, only one scenario did not demonstrate viability, the scenario with high-interest rates, and a low increase in the price of energy. The same applies to the IRR. With this research it is concluded that, when treated as competitors from the financial point of view, the photovoltaic system presents a better performance in the indicators, being the most convenient for isolated application. Answering the question raised and showing the possibility of cost benefit for a massive implementation of renewable, financially viable clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the technical and economic benefits that a typical residential prosumer may experience when investing in a solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a battery energy storage system (BESS). To this end, a home energy management system has been designed to simulate the prosumer's daily operation, considering a novel method for calculating battery degradation while minimizing its operating costs. In order to contribute to the regulatory review process of the distributed generation underway in Brazil, a set of PV+BESS configurations has been assessed under the current and future regulatory scenarios proposed for discussion by the Brazilian regulatory agency. Although the results demonstrate that the prosumer's self-consumption rate may increase up to 14% with the BESS coupling in the PV system, the investment proved to be economically unattractive in the current regulatory scenario and practically unfeasible in any of the proposed future scenarios. To make PV+BESS systems economically feasible, some business models are proposed and discussed, and for example, provide subsidies for policymakers, financial agents, and battery manufacturers. A sensitivity analysis for each business model showing its economic feasibility spectrum is provided to assist the different sector players, especially the consumers, in their decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]