Presentations
The solar session included the below presentations.
You can download a PDF of the combined solar presentations.
This session was also recorded and can be found embedded below or on our youtube channel.
Projects
Solar chimney - improving power output with the inclusion of semitransparent organic photovoltaic films in a power plant canopy
Student: Pedro de Araujo Falcao Pessoa
Supervisor(s): Dr Ned Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics)
Poster: #46 Download PDF COMING SOON
Solar chimney power plants (SCPP) work by utilising solar heat to heat air under a transparent canopy to generate an updraft through a chimney of hundreds of metres in height. Turbines placed in the chimney can then generate electricity from this updraft. This research aims to accurately model the radiation exchanges that occur inside the collector region of a SCPP. This model is used to simulate the effect of covering a portion of the canopy with semi-transparent organic photovoltaic films with the goal of increasing the power output of a SCPP.
Emissivity control in photovoltaic devices
Student: Liav Harel
Supervisor(s): Dr N. J. (Ned) Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics) and Dr. Alexander Mellor (Department of Physics)
Poster: #47 Download PDF COMING SOON
It is well known that an increase in the temperatures of solar cells has a detrimental effect on their efficiency. This thesis explores the radiative properties of photovoltaic devices in the infrared wavelength range, and particularly the atmospheric “transparency window” range, where heat is radiated directly to the cold outer space in a process known as radiative cooling. This could prove an attractive mechanism in solar cell design for passively reducing operating temperatures.
Optimising connections of PV farms in constrained feeders
Student: Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos
Supervisor(s): Professor Tim Green (Director of the Energy Futures Lab), Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #48 Download PDF COMING SOON
The expected continued growth of solar PV in the UK poses threats to the operation of the distribution grid. One of the main threats is over-voltage occurrence to the local electricity network in regions where the network is weak or where significant PV deployment has already happened. Since network reinforcement is highly capital intensive other solutions must be sought. This research focuses on identifying the most effective and financially viable methods and technologies that allow increased solar PV capacity to be connected to the grid without network reinforcement.
Live solar minigrid storage analysis and implementation of demand response
Student: Andreas Livera
Supervisor(s): Professor Jenny Nelson (Department of Physics), Mr Lukas Lukoschek (MeshPower), Mr Phillip Sandwell (Department of Physics)
Poster: #49 Download PDF COMING SOON
MeshPower provides electricity through solar powered mini grids in rural areas. This energy service provider would like to minimise service outages to connected customers and provide a more reliable energy service by integrating demand side management (DSM) and energy storage analysis. The aim of this project is to develop a three-staged programme that can achieve the following: (a) accurately estimate the state of charge (SOC) of the batteries, (b) predict energy shortfalls within the next few days and (c) implement demand-response strategies when needed to cope with generation shortfalls without blackout periods.
Modelling PV and Storage Systems in UK commercial buildings
Student: Arthur Mariaud
Supervisor(s): Dr Salvador Acha Izquierdo (Department of Chemical Engineering), Dr Ned Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics), Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #50 Download PDF COMING SOON
Growing concerns about climate change have led industries such as food retailers to rethink their energy consumption. This research aims to evaluate production systems that have been identified as potential solutions for decreasing energy consumption, such as PV coupled with battery storage. This project focuses on the development of an optimisation model, assessing potential benefits of such systems and helping to provide critical information to achieve decarbonisation and economic viability by taking into account technical aspects, project finance and policies. This model is an analytical and practical tool, developed as a guidance for decision-making.
Agent-based modelling of adoption of solar photovoltaics in the UK
Student: Phoebe Pearce
Supervisor(s): Dr Raphael Slade (Centre for Environmental Policy)
Poster: #51 Download PDF COMING SOON
Much of the work relating to innovation diffusion and energy transitions has focused on modelling such processes. Recently, agent-based models have become more popular for such applications because they allow simultaneous consideration of, for instance, learning by doing, spatially explicit environments, population heterogeneity, different kinds of agent (e.g. governments and households), social networks, and decision-making strategies which go beyond simple optimization. The aim of this project is to construct an agent-based model and thus predict the uptake of solar panels in the residential sector in the UK and the effect of policy and supporting technologies on people’s likelihood to adopt.
