Technical and economic viability of the installation of a hybrid solar-wind generation system in a Brazilian industry

Abstract The demand for electricity is growing worldwide. At the same time, the non-renewable natural resources that account for a large proportion of the global energy matrix are rapidly depleting, which will pose a major challenge in the near future. Therefore, micro-grid models that use renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, are rapidly developing and are becoming economically viable alternatives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic viability of installing solar and wind power generation systems in the NOVVALIGHT electrical components factory located in Campo Largo, Paraná, Brazil. The most viable model was the combination of solar and wind energy, which would generate approximately 260 MWh of energy per year. Using financing provided by the Brazilian Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), this proposal has an eight-year payback period, net present value of BRL 149,097.42, and internal rate of return of 18%, demonstrating its economic viability.

Assessment of the Potential Implementation of Solar Energy Generation in State Schools in Curitiba/PR

ABSTRACT Solar energy as a form of electric power generation is gaining ground in Brazil, being the subject of worldwide discussions on sustainability. The electric energy, a right of all citizens, represents a consumption of natural resources on a large scale. State schools in Paraná invested more than R$ 46 million to guarantee electricity and thus provide essential running conditions to the system in 2016. Through open data, 15 schools from "Regional Administrativa do Cajuru", in Curitiba/PR, were evaluated in consumption and expenses of electric energy from January to May of 2017 and a solar photovoltaic system was dimensioned to supply the demand of each school. From that, it was estimated the total saving from the electricity that would no longer be spent on electricity which could be directed to other educational programs and projects of interest to the community towards sustainability within the school. The savings estimated totalized more than R$ 435 thousand annually.

Solar Energy for Residential Use and Its Contribution to the Energy Matrix of the State of Paraná

ABSTRACT The present study evaluates the economic viability of the application of solar energy for electric power generation via the use of photovoltaic systems in a residential consumption unit in the city of Curitiba. Since the energy from the sun is abundant, clean, renewable and has the potential to compete in productivity and profitability, the evaluation of the applicability of these systems in homes, not only in industrial parks, is of great interest. A household with the determined consumption profile was chosen for this case study through simulations with the HomerPro software. After analyzing the data, the photovoltaic potential of the State of Paraná was estimated to investigate the possibility of photovoltaic generation growth in the state energy matrix and its consequences.

Utilization and flow of energy in tropical ecosystem: a test case for two ox-box lakes

To estimate the rate of organic production, two solar powered tropical natural aquatic systems [Ox-bow lakes] have been studied for 24 months. The study of utilization of energy in those two tropical lakes has revealed that herbivores were more efficient in energy utilization than autotrophs. Silver carp and grass carp were found to be most efficient in conversion of energy in the grazing and detritus food chain of these lakes. The efficiency of the system to fish production was found to be 0.05% of the total available solar radiation. Various forms of life are all accompanied by energy changes, even though no energy is created or destroyed in the studied system

Utilizaçäo da energia solar na secagem de frutas: viabilidade técnico-econômica / Utilization of solar energy for drying fruits: technical and economical feasibility

O sistema de secagem desenvolvido (secador solar, tipo túnel, estático), além de utilizar a energia solar, também pode utilizar energia elétrica, objetivando a secagem das frutas mesmo em épocas em que haja pouca ou nenhuma incidência de energia solar. O sistema mostrou-se técnica e economicamente viável, apresentando-se como uma alternativa, principalmente para as pequenas e médias empresas, no processo de secagem de frutas. Com um investimento fixo da ordem de US$17 mil e um custo total de US$44 mil e uma receita total anual de US$54 mil, o empreendimento apresenta o ponto de equilíbrio em 28,5 por cento da capacidade nominal instalada e uma taxa interna de retorno (TIR) da ordem de 61,7 por cento ao ano. A atratividade econômica fica evidente quando se compara a TIR com os juros reais vigentes para crédito junto ao BNDES (10 a 12 por cento). Uma análise de sensibilidade indica a matéria-prima como o principal componente de custo, sendo recomendável o estabelecimento de contratos de compra junto aos fruticultores, para evitar uma possível ociosidade do empreendimento e a consequente reduçäo de sua atratividade