1,721,073 research outputs found
The impact of the GB Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive to the economics of various microgeneration technologies at the street level
Full text linkEngland, Scotland and Wales planning regulations require zero carbon homes by 2016. This can be expected to accelerate the uptake of microgeneration technologies. To incentivise small low-carbon generators the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) proposed two new systems: the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This paper investigates the impact of these two systems on the carbon performance and the economics of various microgeneration technologies under two scenarios: (a) at the single dwelling level and (b) a local microgrid at the street level. The economic implications of combining a number of houses to form a local microgrid are assessed and expressed in terms of percentage of capital investment outstanding. The paper concludes that the current structure of the FIT and RHI does not incentivise microgeneration technologies according to their carbon performance and does not favour street-level schemes such as the one investigated in this paper. However it is sufficient to drive the market forward
Photovoltaic atrium on a new administration and student services building - University of Southampton
No full textModelled and measured performance of inverters operating at various power ratings: Impact on energy yield
No full textRole of distributed storage in a 100% renewable UK network
Full text linkThis study considers generation and demand challenges in a 100% renewable UK electricity grid and poses the question whether this can be addressed through the use of distributed energy storage. To explore this issue, hourly demand and electricity generation profiles for a year have been constructed for a variety of renewable sources and demand scenarios. Alongside baseline projections, further scenarios have been produced that include extensive uptake of electric heat pumps for domestic heating and hot water, as well as moderate uptake of electric vehicles. It is proposed that these technologies are used on a local scale to help integrate the additional renewable electricity generated within a pre?determined zone of the electricity network. Analysishas been carried out to determine the pinch points in the UK network where renewable electricity generation is greater than local electricity demand. From this, consideration has been made to understand the real impact distributed energy storage in the form of heat pumps and electric vehicles can have in helping balance a 100% renewable UK electricity grid. Initial results have foundthat depending on the demand scenario and location on the network, there is the potential to accommodate up to 50% of the excess electricity generated
EU wide field results of holographic optical elements used for solar control in buildings
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Smart glazing solutions to glare and solar gain: a 'sick building' case study
No full textHolographic optical elements (HOE) can provide solar control by reflecting / redirecting the beam (direct) radiation incident on a window. This paper considers HOE applied for solar control in an office development at Southampton University, UK. In 2000, a new University campus was constructed through the renovation of existing Victorian school buildings coupled to modern, highly glazed office extensions. However, the combination of the low thermal mass of the extensions and the high level of glazing led to excessive office temperatures and occupant discomfort. Office users are requesting the installation of individual air conditioning units which would represent an unacceptable indicator of the building’s design failings. Simulation of the office structure has been undertaken using transient thermal analysis to model possible solutions. Forced air convection, louver systems and façade changes such as electrochromic glazing are considered in addition to solar control holograms. The simulations highlight the need for the elimination of solar glare within offices and for some form of control of artificial lighting within the building. It is predicted that HOE can produce a comfortable working environment whilst maintaining daylighting and external views from the office: a combination of benefits which competing technologies such as blinds cannot provide
Multiple string inverters for PV systems <5kwp: When is this justified?
No full textA 24 string, 7.2 kWp vertical façade at Southampton University has been used as a test bed to study the effects of mismatch resulting from shading and module variation during manufacture. A range of schemes may be applied to reduce the effect, which, at its most extreme would be the use of a single inverter for each of the 24 strings of the array. This paper presents an analysis of the array operating under schemes of 2, 6 and 12 inverters.It is shown that the increase in energy output of the multiple inverter systems cannot justify the large disparity in capital cost ($/Wp) compared to a single central inverter. An analysis is presented of the level of mismatch within the system that would have to be present to allow the multiple inverter solution to be selected on economic grounds. Such levels of mismatch are unlikely to be found in the majority of correctly selected PV installation sites
Holographic optical elements: various principles for solar control of conservatories and sunrooms
No full textHolographic optical elements (HOE) can be used to reflect the direct (beam) sunlight incident on a window whilst allowing the diffuse light to pass through. This is achieved with a semi-transparent hologram, which enables solar control of a building without reducing the benefit of a window or facade to the occupants. Domestic conservatories represent an interesting potential market for such a product. Conservatories and sunrooms by their very nature have large expanses of glass and so are prone to periods of unacceptably high solar gain during the summer months. Currently, blinds or other opaque shading devices are used to reduce the solar gain but this is at the expense of daylighting. This paper describes the potential application of solar control HOE applied as either a fixed plate or tracked solution. The performance of such systems for the UK climate is predicted using transient thermal analysis simulation of commonly used UK conservatories. The benefit of selective HOE glazing of specific elevations within a conservatory is considered to achieve 'peak clipping' of daytime temperatures to an acceptable level. The simulations predict that reductions of up to 17 degrees are possible with fully tracked HOE applied to all the elevations of a typical conservatory design. Selective use of fixed plate HOE glazing, can achieve a temperature reduction of 6.1 degrees when only 62% of the glazing within a conservatory is replaced
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