|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wed, 13th May 2020 17:18:00 |
|
Offshore vs land-based solar |
A simulation by Utrecht University researchers indicated North Sea PV projects may perform better than a ground-mounted solar generator in the Netherlands. Offshore installations could generate 12.96% more power per year, according to the findings of the study, with the sea acting as a cooling system.
Scientists from the Copernicus Institute at Utrecht University in the Netherlands have claimed offshore PV plants could be more productive than ground-mounted arrays after running a simulation comparing a North Sea project to a conventional system at the Utrecht Photovoltaic Outdoor Test field.
Simulation measurements accounted for average ambient and water surface temperatures and the effect of waves over a year. The model included seawater functioning as a natural cooling system as well as wind speed and relative humidity and the researchers observed big swings in ambient air temperatures during the year that was simulated contrasted with gradual changes in water temperature.
"[The] minimum air temperature at [the] land-based PV installation is ?1.1 degrees Celsius, which is roughly 4 degrees Celsius higher than the minimum temperature at the floating PV location," stated the Utrecht team. "Similarly, the maximum air temperature is higher at the land-based PV location. The minimum and maximum sea surface temperature are 1.8 degrees Celsius and 16.7 degrees Celsius, respectively."
Temperatures
The temperature at sea was much lower at the floating installation due to higher relative humidity and wind speeds, the researchers observed.
Sea surface temperature, the scientists noted, was close to the PV system equilibrium level.
Both simulated projects comprised 12 solar panels for generation capacities of 3.72 kW. The floating project modeled was placed on a steel pontoon fixed by four wire ropes to four buoys. "The wire ropes limit the degree of freedom for the pontoon, in this way dealing with impact from sea waves," said the Utrecht group.
For the floating system model, the estimate of the total amount of solar irradiation to hit panels with a defined tilt angle – the global tilted irradiance (GTI) figure – was based on a tilt angle affected by sea waves. Both simulated installations were based on use of a SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 solar charge controller manufactured by Victron Energy.
Read original full article
|
| |
|
|
Back to Featured Articles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy News
|
|
| |
| |
