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Energy storage system integration can reduce electricity costs and provide desirable flexibility and reliability for photovoltaic (PV) systems, decreasing renewable energy fluctuations and technical constraints. In this sense, this study aimed to propose energy management strategies through this integration, aiming to improve the demand profile of a university commercial consumer for compensation during peak hours. To achieve the objectives of this research, a pilot project was installed which included a 10 kWp grid-tie PV system (GTPVS), bidirectional inverters, and battery bank, as part of a research and development (R&D) project implemented in the Federal University of Technology–Paraná (UTFPR) Curitiba campus at Neoville headquarters. The methodology consisted of the analysis of variables that interfere with the operation of this system, such as a detailed university profile of demand and consumption, local energy pricing, PV generation profile as well as the interaction between PV generator and the energy storage system, and the variation in power fluctuations throughout the year. Additionally, a technical feasibility study was carried out aimed to determine this consumer’s optimal size through the Homer Grid software. The detailed demand profile allowed us to know in depth the peak values were above 80 kW, for university working days. Furthermore, the daily analysis of the PV generation profile confirmed that although the PV source is quite variable, the scheduled dispatch operation is not interfered by the variability and intermittency of the solar source, as the system was designed and programmed to operate in parallel with the electrical network. Regarding the energy consumed at the university, very significant values were obtained, in which the month of July presented the highest consumption for the base year 2019, with a total monthly value of 48,670 kWh. The established operating strategy for the battery bank with a 10% discharge depth resulted in a life cycle of 2,500 cycles which can extend its useful life by approximately 9.5 years. The results obtained by the simulation show different levels of energy contribution with percentages of 60.0, 33.6, and 2.7%, respectively.

Abstract Photovoltaic (PV) buildings are increasingly present in urban centers and can generate their own energy becoming independent of the grid, depending on their consumption profile. However, most residential and commercial consumers show their peak demand at night, when there is no photovoltaic generation, needing the electricity grid to meet the demand of these facilities. Peak demand lead to increased costs for these consumers and end up disrupting the power quality of the grid. One possible solution for these listed problems is by applying storage systems to these buildings, which is already being done in some countries and can increase the PV generation. Aiming to seek the state of the art of these systems, this article brings a review of the literature, highlighting the possible modes of operation and a real case of application in PV buildings in the world. Also are described the storage technologies most appropriate for applications in these buildings, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. It is expected to gain greater knowledge of these systems, in order to overcome the challenges of intermittence generated by renewable sources, enabling the reduction of energy demand costs in these customers so that it can also be applied in the Brazilian scenario.

Abstract Sustainability, a concept used to exploit natural resources without harming future generations, is being applied to power generation. In Brazil, the main source of electric energy comes from hydroelectric plants, due to abundant water resources. However, the implementation of these plants causes irreversible impacts on the environment and society. On the other hand, the impacts caused by photovoltaic panels are considerably smaller in the construction phase and zero in the operation phase. This article describes the impacts generated by hydroelectric power plants and gives an overview of the power generated by floating photovoltaic panels using 10% of the area of the reservoirs of the largest hydroelectric power plants in Brazil. The results demonstrate a better efficiency of the photovoltaic panels in the water, which cools them, increasing their efficiency. Furthermore, photovoltaic panel power generation amount is higher than compared the annual power generation of three out of four hydroelectric plants analyzed. In addition, adding solar energy to the reservoirs would save infrastructure costs, considering that energy can be made available through substation infrastructure and existing power transmission systems.

ABSTRACT The Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Curitiba, has a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System (GCPVS) of 2.1 kWp in the Green Office (GO), which has been in operation since December 2011, and until September 2017 generated little more than 13.64 MWh and a GCPVS of 10.2 kWp, in operation since February 2016. The photovoltaic panel of the 2.1 kWp system was set up following the inclination of the roof of the building, which does not give its maximum performance. On the other hand, the panel of the 10.2 kWp system in Neoville was installed in optimum conditions, that is, oriented to the north and with slope equal to the latitude of Curitiba and, up tol September 2017 generated more than 20.65 MWh. This paper presents the monitoring of the electric energy generated by the systems and also a history of the merit indexes of the GCPVS, which are: Productivity (Yield); Performance Ratio; and Capacity Factor. These indexes allow to evaluate the performance of the GCPVS and make a comparison between them. Finally, the photovoltaic generation of both GCPVS proved to be a sustainable and effective form of distributed generation of electric energy in the urban environment.

ABSTRACT Photovoltaic solar energy is increasingly present in the urban environment through the distributed generation. This kind of generation is characterized by the installation along the distribution network feeders, in low or medium voltage, and contribute to provide energy near the point of consumption. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the demand and consumption curves of the buildings of the Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR) in the Neoville’s headquarters. The methodology consists in the application of COPEL's CAS Hemera platform, in order to determine the potential for the implementation of the Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems in this place, because they allow the reduction of costs with electric energy from the application of distributed generation. In February 2016, a grid-connected photovoltaic system was installed in one of the university’s blocks, which generated approximately 11 MWh of electric energy this year. This work proposes a scenario for the expansion of this photovotaic system and presents the contribution of photovoltaic generation, using the available coverage showing the shifting or reduction of energy demand peaks and the energy contribution to UTFPR's Neoville headquarters. The results of this study show that the proposed scenario will effectively change the profile of the university demand curve.

ABSTRACT Photovoltaic systems have been consolidated in the global energy scenario as an option of low environmental impact energy generation, high reliability and great applicability in urban centers, acting like energy generators near the point of consumption. The Federal University of Technology of Paraná (UTFPR), with the proposal of testing the performance of grid-connected photovoltaic systems (On Grid PV Systems) and help its entry into the Brazilian energy matrix, implemented this technology in two of its buildings: Green Office (GO) And Neoville. This paper analyzed the effects of dust on the Photovoltaic Systems performance based on daily energy. The analysis was carried out from the solar irradiance data from the places where the panels are installed and the electrical power data collected at the mass memory of the inverter of the two systems, in order to be analyzed and compared before and after the cleaning of the photovoltaic modules. The results at the end of the study indicate that dust directly impacts in the performance of the PV system.

ABSTRACT Distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation is characterized by the application of several small power plants in urban centers. This form of energy deserves special mention due to the possibility of installation in existing areas such as roofs and facades. Thus, the implementation of these systems represents positive modifications of the urban scenario, with the adhesion of PV modules, presenting much smaller social and environmental impacts than that of large conventional plants. In this sense, this study aims at analyzing the demand and consumption curves of the Center headquarters buildings of Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR) in Curitiba, by applying the COPEL’s CAS Hemera platform, in order to determine the potential for implementation of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in this premise, because they allow the cost reductions in electric power. The first UTFPR’s grid-connected photovoltaic system was introduced in December 2011, at the Center’s headquarters, in one of the blocks of the university, which by the end of 2016 generated a total of 11.67 MWh of electricity. This paper proposes an expansion scenario for the existing grid-connected photovoltaic system, using the available coverage showing the shifting or reduction of energy demand peaks and the energy contribution to UTFPR's Center headquarters.