Analysis of PV Systems Installed in Paraná

HIGHLIGHTS Comparative study of the operation of eight real cases of systems installed in Paraná. There is a convergence between the values estimated by the Atlas and the ones calculated. It was possible to identify the cities that presented the greatest figures of merit.

Abstract With the development of renewable energies in the world, there is also an increase in solar photovoltaic systems globally. In Brazil, and in the state of Paraná, there is an exponential growth of this form of energy generation, which causes the necessity to study the performance of the installed systems. Therefore, this article analyzed eight photovoltaic systems installed in the state of Paraná, under the aspect of figures of merit parameters, through calculations of final yield, performance ratio and capacity factor. In addition, the calculated values were compared to the values estimated by the Solar Energy Atlas of the State of Paraná. As a result, the largest average differences in final yield, between the calculations and the Atlas, were found in the cities of Cascavel, while the smallest were observed in Goioerê.

Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection

Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with a large heterogeneity of climates and massive mixing of the population. Almost the entire national territory is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Earth axial tilt to the south certainly makes Brazil one of the countries of the world with greater extent of land in proximity to the sun. The Brazilian coastline, where most of its population lives, is more than 8,500 km long. Due to geographic characteristics and cultural trends, Brazilians are among the peoples with the highest annual exposure to the sun. Epidemiological data show a continuing increase in the incidence of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Photoprotection can be understood as a set of measures aimed at reducing sun exposure and at preventing the development of acute and chronic actinic damage. Due to the peculiarities of Brazilian territory and culture, it would not be advisable to replicate the concepts of photoprotection from other developed countries, places with completely different climates and populations. Thus the Brazilian Society of Dermatology has developed the Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection, the first official document on photoprotection developed in Brazil for Brazilians, with recommendations on matters involving photoprotection.

Selection of groundwater sites in Egypt, using geographic information systems, for desalination by solar energy in order to reduce greenhouse gases

Although Egypt has already reached the water poverty limit, it possesses a high potential brackish groundwater available from different aquifers. All Arab countries lie in the best sun-belt region in the world and Egypt has the highest number of sun hours all year round. Solar energy for groundwater; desalination is an independent infinite energy resource; it has low running costs and reduces the contribution of greenhouse gases [GHG] to global warming. Perfect meteorological conditions and land space are available in remote areas, where solar desalination could supply freshwater for drinking, industry, and for greenhouse agriculture. The present study uses Geographic Information System[s] [GIS] as a spatial decision support tool to select appropriate sites in Egypt for groundwater solar desalination. Solar radiation, aquifer depth, aquifer salinity, distance from the Delta and the Nile Valley, incidence of flash floods, sand dunes, rock faults, and sea-water intrusion in the North Delta, are the criteria that have been taken into consideration in the process of analysis. A specific weight is given to each criterion according to its relative influence on the process of decision making. The results from the application of the presented methodology determine the relative suitability of sites for groundwater solar desalination. These sites are ranked in descending order to help decision-makers in Egypt. The results show that groundwater solar desalination is suitable in remote regions on the North Western Coast, on the North Sinai Coast, and at the Southern Oasis, for reducing greenhouse gases and that it is particularly useful for poor communities suffering from polluted water