IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v34y2009i9p1187-1198.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimum autonomous stand-alone photovoltaic system design on the basis of energy pay-back analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Kaldellis, J.K.
  • Zafirakis, D.
  • Kondili, E.

Abstract

Stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems comprise one of the most promising electrification solutions for covering the demand of remote consumers. However, such systems are strongly questioned due to extreme life-cycle (LC) energy requirements. For similar installations to be considered as environmentally sustainable, their LC energy content must be compensated by the respective useful energy production, i.e. their energy pay-back period (EPBP) should be found less than their service period. In this context, an optimum sizing methodology is currently developed, based on the criterion of minimum embodied energy. Various energy autonomous stand-alone PV-lead-acid battery systems are examined and two different cases are investigated; a high solar potential area and a medium solar potential area. By considering that the PV-battery (PV-Bat) system's useful energy production is equal to the remote consumer's electricity consumption, optimum cadmium telluride (CdTe) based systems yield the minimum EPBP (15 years). If achieving to exploit the net PV energy production however, the EPBP is found less than 20 years for all PV types. Finally, the most interesting finding concerns the fact that in all cases examined the contribution of the battery component exceeds 27% of the system LC energy requirements, reflecting the difference between grid-connected and stand-alone configurations.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Kondili, E., 2009. "Optimum autonomous stand-alone photovoltaic system design on the basis of energy pay-back analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1187-1198.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:34:y:2009:i:9:p:1187-1198
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2009.05.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544209001765
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2009.05.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Perlack, Robert D. & Jones, H.G.(Mike) & Waddle, Daniel B., 1990. "A survey of renewable energy technologies for rural applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 15(12), pages 1119-1127.
    2. Durisch, W. & Leutenegger, S. & Tille, D., 1998. "Comparison of small inverters for grid-independent photovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 585-589.
    3. Chaurey, A. & Deambi, S., 1992. "Battery storage for PV power systems: An overview," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 227-235.
    4. Richards, B.S. & Watt, M.E., 2007. "Permanently dispelling a myth of photovoltaics via the adoption of a new net energy indicator," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 162-172, January.
    5. Notton, G. & Muselli, M. & Poggi, P. & Louche, A., 1998. "Sizing reduction induced by the choice of electrical applicances options in a stand-alone photovolatic production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 581-584.
    6. Albrecht, Johan, 2007. "The future role of photovoltaics: A learning curve versus portfolio perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 2296-2304, April.
    7. Waddle, D.B. & Perlack, R.D., 1992. "Financing and disseminating small energy systems in rural areas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 17(12), pages 1255-1262.
    8. Manolakos, D & Papadakis, G & Papantonis, D & Kyritsis, S, 2004. "A stand-alone photovoltaic power system for remote villages using pumped water energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 57-69.
    9. Kaldellis, J.K. & Koronakis, P. & Kavadias, K., 2004. "Energy balance analysis of a stand-alone photovoltaic system, including variable system reliability impact," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1161-1180.
    10. Nguyen, Khanh Q., 2007. "Alternatives to grid extension for rural electrification: Decentralized renewable energy technologies in Vietnam," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 2579-2589, April.
    11. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Kavadias, K., 2009. "Techno-economic comparison of energy storage systems for island autonomous electrical networks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 378-392, February.
    12. Alsema, E. A. & Nieuwlaar, E., 2000. "Energy viability of photovoltaic systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(14), pages 999-1010, November.
    13. Stoppato, A., 2008. "Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 224-232.
    14. Kaldellis, J.K. & Kavadias, K.A. & Koronakis, P.S., 2007. "Comparing wind and photovoltaic stand-alone power systems used for the electrification of remote consumers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 57-77, January.
    15. Battisti, Riccardo & Corrado, Annalisa, 2005. "Evaluation of technical improvements of photovoltaic systems through life cycle assessment methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 952-967.
    16. Raugei, Marco & Bargigli, Silvia & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2007. "Life cycle assessment and energy pay-back time of advanced photovoltaic modules: CdTe and CIS compared to poly-Si," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1310-1318.
    17. Raugei, Marco & Frankl, Paolo, 2009. "Life cycle impacts and costs of photovoltaic systems: Current state of the art and future outlooks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 392-399.
    18. Nawaz, I. & Tiwari, G.N., 2006. "Embodied energy analysis of photovoltaic (PV) system based on macro- and micro-level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 3144-3152, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ravikumar, Dwarakanath & Wender, Ben & Seager, Thomas P. & Fraser, Matthew P. & Tao, Meng, 2017. "A climate rationale for research and development on photovoltaics manufacture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 245-256.
    2. Maleki, Akbar & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Rosen, Marc A., 2016. "A novel framework for optimal design of hybrid renewable energy-based autonomous energy systems: A case study for Namin, Iran," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 168-180.
    3. Haghighat Mamaghani, Alireza & Avella Escandon, Sebastian Alberto & Najafi, Behzad & Shirazi, Ali & Rinaldi, Fabio, 2016. "Techno-economic feasibility of photovoltaic, wind, diesel and hybrid electrification systems for off-grid rural electrification in Colombia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 293-305.
    4. Lam, K.H. & Lai, T.M. & Lo, W.C. & To, W.M., 2012. "The application of dynamic modelling techniques to the grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 264-274.
    5. Chen, Cheng-Chuan & Chang, Hong-Chan & Kuo, Cheng-Chien & Lin, Chien-Chin, 2013. "Programmable energy source emulator for photovoltaic panels considering partial shadow effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 174-183.
    6. Clastres, C. & Ha Pham, T.T. & Wurtz, F. & Bacha, S., 2010. "Ancillary services and optimal household energy management with photovoltaic production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 55-64.
    7. Hu, Cong & Fu, Tong & Liang, Tao & Chen, Xiaohang & Su, Shanhe & Chen, Jincan, 2021. "Efficiency enhancement of an updated solar-driven intermediate band thermoradiative device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    8. Anoune, Kamal & Bouya, Mohsine & Astito, Abdelali & Abdellah, Abdellatif Ben, 2018. "Sizing methods and optimization techniques for PV-wind based hybrid renewable energy system: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 652-673.
    9. Erdinc, O. & Uzunoglu, M., 2012. "Optimum design of hybrid renewable energy systems: Overview of different approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1412-1425.
    10. Zhou, P. & Jin, R.Y. & Fan, L.W., 2016. "Reliability and economic evaluation of power system with renewables: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 537-547.
    11. Díaz, P. & Peña, R. & Muñoz, J. & Arias, C.A. & Sandoval, D., 2011. "Field analysis of solar PV-based collective systems for rural electrification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2509-2516.
    12. Avril, S. & Arnaud, G. & Florentin, A. & Vinard, M., 2010. "Multi-objective optimization of batteries and hydrogen storage technologies for remote photovoltaic systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 5300-5308.
    13. Kaldellis, John & Zafirakis, Dimitrios, 2012. "Experimental investigation of the optimum photovoltaic panels’ tilt angle during the summer period," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 305-314.
    14. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Stavropoulou, V. & Kaldelli, El., 2012. "Optimum wind- and photovoltaic-based stand-alone systems on the basis of life cycle energy analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 345-357.
    15. Chauhan, Anurag & Saini, R.P., 2014. "A review on Integrated Renewable Energy System based power generation for stand-alone applications: Configurations, storage options, sizing methodologies and control," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 99-120.
    16. Zhang, Xiongwen & Tan, Siew-Chong & Li, Guojun & Li, Jun & Feng, Zhenping, 2013. "Components sizing of hybrid energy systems via the optimization of power dispatch simulations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 165-172.
    17. Akikur, R.K. & Saidur, R. & Ping, H.W. & Ullah, K.R., 2013. "Comparative study of stand-alone and hybrid solar energy systems suitable for off-grid rural electrification: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 738-752.
    18. Meza, Carlos Germán & Zuluaga Rodríguez, Catalina & D'Aquino, Camila Agner & Amado, Nilton Bispo & Rodrigues, Alcantaro & Sauer, Ildo Luis, 2019. "Toward a 100% renewable island: A case study of Ometepe's energy mix," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 628-648.
    19. Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Hiendro, Ayong & Twaha, Ssennoga, 2015. "Economic analysis of PV/diesel hybrid system with flywheel energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 398-405.
    20. Rostirolla, G. & Grange, L. & Minh-Thuyen, T. & Stolf, P. & Pierson, J.M. & Da Costa, G. & Baudic, G. & Haddad, M. & Kassab, A. & Nicod, J.M. & Philippe, L. & Rehn-Sonigo, V. & Roche, R. & Celik, B. &, 2022. "A survey of challenges and solutions for the integration of renewable energy in datacenters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    21. Mohammadali Kiehbadroudinezhad & Adel Merabet & Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, 2022. "Review of Latest Advances and Prospects of Energy Storage Systems: Considering Economic, Reliability, Sizing, and Environmental Impacts Approach," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-25, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Kondili, E., 2010. "Energy pay-back period analysis of stand-alone photovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1444-1454.
    2. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Stavropoulou, V. & Kaldelli, El., 2012. "Optimum wind- and photovoltaic-based stand-alone systems on the basis of life cycle energy analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 345-357.
    3. Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Mustafa, Nur Ifthitah & Hanafiah, Marlia M. & Ibrahim, Mohd Adib & Asri Mat Teridi, Mohd & Sepeai, Suhaila & Zaharim, Azami & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2018. "Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-28.
    4. Ravikumar, Dwarakanath & Wender, Ben & Seager, Thomas P. & Fraser, Matthew P. & Tao, Meng, 2017. "A climate rationale for research and development on photovoltaics manufacture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 245-256.
    5. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Kavadias, K., 2012. "Minimum cost solution of wind–photovoltaic based stand-alone power systems for remote consumers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 105-117.
    6. Peng, Jinqing & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing, 2013. "Review on life cycle assessment of energy payback and greenhouse gas emission of solar photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 255-274.
    7. Chel, Arvind & Tiwari, G.N., 2011. "A case study of a typical 2.32Â kWP stand-alone photovoltaic (SAPV) in composite climate of New Delhi (India)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1415-1426, April.
    8. Carnevale, E. & Lombardi, L. & Zanchi, L., 2014. "Life Cycle Assessment of solar energy systems: Comparison of photovoltaic and water thermal heater at domestic scale," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 434-446.
    9. Lloyd, Bob & Forest, Andrew S., 2010. "The transition to renewables: Can PV provide an answer to the peak oil and climate change challenges?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7378-7394, November.
    10. Laleman, Ruben & Albrecht, Johan & Dewulf, Jo, 2011. "Life Cycle Analysis to estimate the environmental impact of residential photovoltaic systems in regions with a low solar irradiation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 267-281, January.
    11. Cucchiella, Federica & D'Adamo, Idiano, 2012. "Estimation of the energetic and environmental impacts of a roof-mounted building-integrated photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5245-5259.
    12. Wong, J.H. & Royapoor, M. & Chan, C.W., 2016. "Review of life cycle analyses and embodied energy requirements of single-crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 608-618.
    13. Chaurey, Akanksha & Kandpal, Tara Chandra, 2010. "Assessment and evaluation of PV based decentralized rural electrification: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(8), pages 2266-2278, October.
    14. Sumper, Andreas & Robledo-García, Mercedes & Villafáfila-Robles, Roberto & Bergas-Jané, Joan & Andrés-Peiró, Juan, 2011. "Life-cycle assessment of a photovoltaic system in Catalonia (Spain)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3888-3896.
    15. Bravi, Mirko & Parisi, Maria Laura & Tiezzi, Enzo & Basosi, Riccardo, 2011. "Life cycle assessment of a micromorph photovoltaic system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4297-4306.
    16. Zhang, Da & Tang, Songlin & Lin, Bao & Liu, Zhen & Zhang, Xiliang & Zhang, Danwei, 2012. "Co-benefit of polycrystalline large-scale photovoltaic power in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 436-442.
    17. Gabriel Constantino & Marcos Freitas & Neilton Fidelis & Marcio Giannini Pereira, 2018. "Adoption of Photovoltaic Systems Along a Sure Path: A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Study Applied to the Analysis of GHG Emission Impacts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-28, October.
    18. Colombo, Emanuela & Rocco, Matteo V. & Toro, Claudia & Sciubba, Enrico, 2015. "An exergy-based approach to the joint economic and environmental impact assessment of possible photovoltaic scenarios: A case study at a regional level in Italy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 64-74.
    19. Hernandez, Patxi & Kenny, Paul, 2011. "Development of a methodology for life cycle building energy ratings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3779-3788, June.
    20. Parisi, Maria Laura & Maranghi, Simone & Basosi, Riccardo, 2014. "The evolution of the dye sensitized solar cells from Grätzel prototype to up-scaled solar applications: A life cycle assessment approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 124-138.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:34:y:2009:i:9:p:1187-1198. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.