Performance Estimation of Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems in Different Regions in Paraná

Abstract The obtaining of electric energy from solar energy through photovoltaic systems shows great growth due to the solar potential present in the Brazilian territory. In the State of Paraná, studies are recurrent in public and private sectors on the development and performance of this technology. The installation and commissioning processes of photovoltaic plants are linked to the expectation of energy generation and the performance of the system through the figures of merit. The feasibility of the project can be confirmed when the results of these parameters are satisfactory and correspond to averages obtained from already consolidated surveys. The six photovoltaic systems implemented at the Federal Technological University of Paraná have expectations of generation and performance consistent with those of previous studies and will contribute to scientific advancement on the behavior of systems with different technologies located in different regions in the state.

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.

Analysis of Artificial Neural Networks for Forecasting Photovoltaic Energy Generation with Solar Irradiance

Abstract The growth in the use of solar energy has encouraged the development of techniques for short-term prediction of solar photovoltaic energy generation (PSPEG). Machine learning with Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) is the most widely used technique to solve this problem. However, comparative studies of these networks with distinct structural configurations, input parameters and prediction horizon, have not been observed in the literature. In this context, the aim of this study is to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), which is often used in the PSPEG, generated by ANN models with different construction structures, sets of input meteorological variables and in three short-term prediction horizons, considering a unique database. The analyses were performed with controlled environment and experimental configuration. The results suggest that ANNs using the input GHI variable provide better accuracy (approximately 10%), and their absence increases error variability. No significant difference (p>0.05) was identified in the prediction error models trained with distinct meteorological input data sets. The prediction errors were similar for the same ANN model in the different prediction horizons, and ANNs with 30 and 60 neurons with one hidden layer demonstrated similar or higher accuracy than those with two hidden layers.

Analysis of solar photovoltaic energy potential in Brazilian hydroelectric reservoirs through floating panels

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.

Development of a Standard of Solarimetric Stations SONDA

Abstract With the increasing of energy demand in Brazil and the unprecedent popular support for the use of energy sources with low environmental impact, the market for photovoltaic energy has become progressively relevant. Thus, it is of strategic importance to gather information of the solar resources either for a particular location or a specific region. This paper presents all the steps taken in order to design a solarimetric station intended to be used as part of the National Institute for Space Research's(INPE)Environmental Database System (SONDA)network, from the specification of the devices and sensors that will take part in it to the structural dimensioning necessary in order to accommodate them. This high-quality network mainly collects and stores surface solar radiation data, indispensable for the solar energy study and prospecting, therefore of great importance for the generation of energy of the State of Paraná- Brazil.

Evaluation of Global Heating Reduction Potential with the Replacement of Electricity Supplied by the Local Concessionaire Via Solar Renewable Source

Abstract The objective of this paper is to evaluate, through the 100-year Life Cycle Analysis, Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Global Temperature Increasing Potential (GTP) impact categories. It is proposed scenario of replacement of the energy matrix for the supply of electricity by Solar Photovoltaic, adopting as consumption base the facilities of Supermarkets, as they contribute to environmental impacts for greenhouse gas emissions such as: intensive use of electricity, occupation large areas such as the main building or parking lot sealing the ground, the movement of customers' vehicles with air and noise pollution and the use of plastic bags. Modifying the energy matrix using electricity from renewable sources enables the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to proposed scenarios for the composition of the energy matrix, based on the emission values of the Concessionaire's matrix, the result of the analysis confirms the premise that the use of renewable sources contributes to the reduction of environmental impacts, and that the substitution of Concessionaire's energy matrix for Photovoltaic Solar Energy represents a reduction in terms of kgCO2-eq, over the 100-year horizon, of 85% for GTP and 86% for GWP.

Converting a Conventional Vehicle into an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Abstract The electric vehicle (EV) is not a recent invention. Between the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century, most motor vehicles were electric, due to their superior reliability and cleanliness, compared to that of vehicles driven by internal combustion engines (ICE). However, with the development of ICEs and the reduction of their price, electric cars were forgotten. Only almost a century later, they returned in the market due to a significant increase in fossil fuels prices, as well as to a growing environmental concern. EVs present a number of advantages over ICE vehicles: they are simpler and require less use and replacement of parts, resulting in lower maintenance costs; moreover, they do not release pollutants into the environment. However, their production cost is still much higher than that of ICE vehicles. In order to verify the possibility of converting a conventional vehicle into an electric one at a reasonable cost, achieving a good performance and a good kWh/km ratio, an ICE-powered Mercedes-Benz Class A 190 was converted into an EV. The results of several tests indicate that the conversion is feasible, as the car reached an average travelling cost of 0.16 R$/km, assuming a price for the energy of 0.63 R$/kWh. Moreover, this cost could be as low as zero if solar radiation is utilized to generate electricity through photovoltaic panels, which is an even more environmentally sustainable solution..

Study of the Potential of Photovoltaic Microgeneration and Minigeneration from the Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems Installed at UTFPR Curitiba Campus

Abstract: Humanity is increasingly dependent on energy, which demand grows every year. Renewable energy sources are consolidated alternatives in the market, previously installed on a small scale but now thought as large plants. The correct operation, taking full advantage of the generation potential, depends on studies of the place of implantation, such as radiation levels, temperature, latitude, etc. Two photovoltaic systems installed in the city of Curitiba were studied in order to monitor their respective performances through figures of merit.

A Computational Framework for Daily Power Flow Analysis Considering Photovoltaic Distributed Generation

Abstract In Brazil, the demand for the acquisition and installation of photovoltaic systems has grown exponentially and, with that, the importance of studies considering their effects on the distribution grids power flow also grows. Due to the intermittent nature of photovoltaic generation, it is important to approach the analysis in a discrete way, taking into account the changes in the power injections during the studied period. Thus, this article presents the daily analysis of the effects of photovoltaic generation on the distribution system through the computational implementation of a discretized power flow routine. The implemented routine can also analyze the effects of other distributed generations on distribution grids, whether those grids are radial or not. The study results show positive impacts on the voltage quality obtained by the photovoltaic systems insertion, for a well-known distribution test system.

Performance Analysis of Small Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract The acceptance and deployment of electric power from sustainable sources, which are less polluting than fossils, have been a consensus throughout society. Specially, the growth of the installed capacity in photovoltaic energy has been considerable in distributed generation. In order to properly take advantage of this growing demand, it is necessary to adopt appropriate measures and procedures to improve the operation and performance of photovoltaic systems. The purpose of this work is to present such measures and procedures, under quantitative and qualitative analysis, using scientific methodologies and tools. In the end, a set of procedures was obtained that analyzes functional and structural aspects of small grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Its validation was carried out in a case study of photovoltaic system of the Department of Electrical Engineering (DELT) of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR, Brazil).

Photovoltaic Cell Temperature Estimation for a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic Systems in Curitiba

Abstract The photovoltaic solar energy has been growing in installed capacity worldwide year by year, and Brazil has also been investing in this renewable source of energy generation. The conversion of light into electrical energy occurs in the photovoltaic cells, which are sensitive to the increase of the temperature. A considerable amount of the energy incident on the module is transformed into heat, rising its temperature and decreasing its efficiency. This study aims to estimate the temperature in photovoltaic cells (Tc) for polycrystalline silicon modules from a grid-connected photovoltaic systems through several equations proposed over the last decades by researchers. This estimation will occur in the municipality of Curitiba, using data from INMET's automatic station, located in the same city. The estimation was calculated hourly, throughout the day for one year. The validation of the estimated results was performed by measuring the cell temperature of a photovoltaic system installed in Curitiba, where it was observed that the equation proposed by Duffie and Beckman (2013) was the one that most approached to the measured value.

Current Panorama and 2025 Scenario of Photovoltaic Solar Energy in Brazil

Abstract The photovoltaic solar energy in Brazil was boosted by Normative Resolution No. 482/2012 of ANEEL, which regulated the micro and mini generation in the compensation system, and by the specific auctions for photovoltaic plants carried out by the federal government. However, the country still has little representation of the solar energy in its electrical matrix, about 0.13%, with approximately 1% of the installed capacity of electric power generators considering all the sources, both values ​​refer to the year 2017. In the initial moments of a technology, its growth occurs irregularly and because there is little installed capacity, any added value can cause abrupt variations in the percentage from one year to another, that is, its growth still does not follow a sustainable standard, which should be regularized around the year 2025, following the worldwide trend of growth of approximately 30% each year. As a scenario for 2025, the total power of the PVSGC in Brazil will be approximately 75.6 GWp which will represent 98.3 TWh of electric energy produced by this source, considering the estimated electric energy demand for 2025 of 800 TWh, will result in the contribution of 12.3% of the energy by solar photovoltaic source.

State of the Art of the Application of Energy Storage Systems in Photovoltaic Buildings

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.

Analysis of the Insertion of Particular Photovoltaic Generation in the Low Voltage Installations, Under the Approach to Performance, Safety, Maintenance and Operation of the PVS

ABSTRACT The growing use of Photovoltaic Solar Energy in Brazil, both in power plants and in distributed generation systems, brings with it a series of practical and technical questions that are not limited to the design and project of the systems. Environmental factors and resources related to the use, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and final disposal of the equipment and components that constitute them, should be taken into consideration, so that these systems maintain an adequate performance during their lifespan granting the safety for users, properties and avoid negative environmental impacts. Within the concept of Risk Analysis within the Life Cycle of these systems, the present study addresses a perspective of the growth of the use of Solar Photovoltaic Energy in Brazil and the risks and impacts resulting from the lack of information on how good practices for a maintenance of its facilities, its performance, safety and sustainability of Photovoltaic Solar Power Generation Systems.

Analysis of Production and Consumption of Electric Energy in the Green Office of UTFPR in Curitiba

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for electricity and the scarcity of resources, require renewable energy sources and efficient equipment that reduce the consumption of electricity. The Green Office (GO) of the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR) is a sustainable building that uses strategies to reduce impacts to the environment, one of them being the use of the grid connected photovoltaic system (on-grid). The on-grid was installed in 2011 and since then has been feeding the GO and another building (block V) belonging to UTFPR. This article presents a comparison between an estimate of energy consumption and the generation of energy through the on-grid. By means of the estimated consumption, a survey in loco of the scenario of expenditures of the electrical equipment used in the GO was made, estimating hours of use and power, so the consumption scenario was 145 kWh/month. The power generation of the EV is lower in the months May - July, period in which the solar irradiation is smaller, but according to the measurements the on-grid produces more energy than it consumes.

Implementation of a Photovoltaic Panel to Supply Electric Cars Energy Demands

ABSTRACT The gradual shifting of the energy matrix to renewable sources is one of the main global strategies for sustainable development. According to studies, the use of electric energy by automobiles would lead to a reduction in gasoline consumption of 40.7% in 2031, accompanied by an increase in electricity consumption of 42.1% in relation to official projections. However, the gradual and constant dissemination and use of electric vehicles, a new paradigm emerges, which is the need to supply the energy demand of this new charge in the electric system The use of solar radiation to generate electricity to meet this new demand presents a sustainable alternative. From these questions, a structure was designed with the installation of a photovoltaic solar panel linked to the use of electric vehicles, analyzing estimated values of energy production and avoided emissions of CO2, compared to the average consumption of several models to cover 21,900km per year. The results show that the Renault Twizy was the only model whose consumption was below the energy production of the projected photovoltaic system. In contrast, all models had a positive balance in the estimates of avoided CO2, forming an environmentally sustainable solution.

Determination of the Ideal Time for Cleaning of Photovoltaic Panels Aiming at Better Productivity - Case Study of the Implanted Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System at the Federal University of Technology of Paraná

ABSTRACT Considering the development of new technologies in the electricity generation sector, such as solar photovoltaic energy, some studies are made necessary to obtain the best performance of these systems. This generation model consists of modules, which are exposed to adverse climatic conditions, they receive direct influence of the dirt, according to the environment from which they were installed, which directly influences the performance of the system since, due to the disposal of waste on the module, a smaller portion of the solar radiation can reach the photovoltaic cell effectively. The objective of this work is to determine the ideal time for cleaning photovoltaic panels, aiming at high system productivity, having as object of study the photovoltaic panels of the Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR) Campus Curitiba, installed in the Green Office (GO) and at Neoville´s headquarters. Within this objective, it was necessary to verify its merit indexes, parameters used to compare grid-connected photovoltaic systems. The study shows the importance of frequent cleaning of panels, especially when they are installed in urban areas and close to high traffic access roads.

Characterization of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Curitiba, Brazil

ABSTRACT In the search for new options for the establishment of the energy matrix of Brazil, the Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems (GCPVS) are configured as an alternative to urban centers, because they allow the power generation at distributed mode, that is, generate energy at the place where it will be consumed and inject the surplus energy into the network. Faced with the prospect of installing Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System, the objective of this research is to characterize this type of photovoltaic system installed in Curitiba, State of Paraná, Brazil. This paper highlights that up to July 2017 the State of Paraná has 1031 GCPVS in operation, which corresponds to 6,6MW, while Curitiba has 204 GCPVS that represents 997.4 kW in operation, 82% of which are installed in residences. In addition, the study of a sample of 41 GCPVSs installed in Curitiba shows that 98% of these systems use multicrystalline modules, 75% use single phase inverters and 95% of these use inverters transformerless. This shows that the losses in the conversion process are reduced and the equipment is more compact using better technology than the inverters with transformer. Therefore, the main trend of photovoltaic energy market is to use transformerless inverters.

Feasibility Study through Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems in Curitiba

ABSTRACT The increase in energy demand in Brazil encourages the country to increasingly invest in generation of electric energy, where the demand for other renewable sources increases gradually because they have a lower impact on the environment. The use of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems (GCPVS) is a viable solution for the country, since it presents favorable natural conditions for the use of solar energy. This study approaches the current scenario of three photovoltaic systems installed in Curitiba in 2016 and part of 2017: Green Office (GO) located in Curitiba Campus Downtown, Curitiba Campus Neoville, both of the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), as well as a residence. By means of performance parameters, performance analysis of these systems were carried out and, in order to measure the length of time of the return of the initial investment in its installation, a study of the economic viability of these systems according to the current rate model in Brazil through economic engineering tools was carried out: Simple Payback and Discounted Payback, Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return. Finally, the application of the saved value of electric energy bills was simulated in a bank account during the system´s lifespan.

Analysis of shifting and reduction of the demand peak with the inserting of photovoltaic systems in the Neoville's Headquarters of Federal University of Technology - Paraná Curitiba Campus

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.