Renewable Energy Sources – Solar, Wind, Hydro & Tidal Energy

Introduction to Renewable Energy Sources

Solar energy

The photovoltaic effect of solar panels give rise to solar energy through the absorption of solar radiation and converting it to electrical energy. In this case, the atoms of sunlight photons are splinted to electrons which results to electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for transmission either in local grid system or direct consumption(Arndt, Arent, Hartley, Merven, and Mondal, 2019, p.149).

 

Advantages of solar energy

• The energy is cheap and reduce on cost of electricity.
• Solar energy complements or supplement other form of energy in case of outages.
• The cost of maintaining is low after its installation.
• The energy generated is clean.

Disadvantages of solar energy

• Solar panels are costly to purchase and install.
• It is expensive to construct substation for solar energy.
• Installation of solar substation consume large space.
• Solar energy depends on weather changes, therefore cannot be harnessed during the night.

Wind Energy

The wind’s kinetic energy is utilized to spin the wind turbines, the turbine’s motion is transmitted to the generator which give rise to electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for transmission either in local grid system or direct consumption(Batel, 2020, p.101544).

 

Advantages of wind energy

• The energy generated is cheap and reduce on cost of electricity.
• Wind energy complements or supplement other form of energy in case of outages.
• The cost to maintain wind turbines is low after its installation.
• The energy generated is renewable and clean.

Disadvantages of wind energy

• It is expensive to purchase and install wind turbines.
• Wind turbines are wind-dependent hence, are effective to areas with windy weather.
• Wind turbines may cause noise pollution.
• Energy transmission is expensive since they are mostly installed in remote places.

The kinetic energy of water current is utilized to turn hydroelectric turbine which is connected to the generator, the turbine’s motion is transmitted to the generator which induce electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for transmission to grid system or direct consumption(Carrington and Stephenson, 2018, p.103).

 

Advantages of hydroelectrical energy

• The energy generated is renewable and clean.
• The energy last for long after its installation.
• The cost to maintain after its installation is low.
• The hydroelectrical energy is reliable and effective.

Disadvantages of hydroelectrical energy

• Hydroelectrical energy depends seasonal changes, therefore cannot be harnessed water levels goes down.
• The generations hydroelectrical is affected by erosion and siltation of reservoir which cause water blockages.
• Energy transmission is expensive since they are mostly installed in remote places.
• It is expensive to construct substation for hydroelectric energy.
• Installation of hydroelectric substation consume large space.

Tidal Energy

The kinetic energy of ocean tides and current is utilized to turn hydroelectric turbine which is connected to the generator, the turbine’s motion is transmitted to the generator which induce electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for transmission to grid system(Chen, 2022, p. 012044).

 

Advantages of tidal energy

• The energy generated is renewable and clean.
• Tidal energy is reliable and effective.
• It has a high energy production density.
• Has slightly low maintenance and operation costs.
• It is an inexhaustible form of energy.

Disadvantages of tidal energy

• The construction of a tidal energy plant requires high capital.
• It has diverse effects on aquatic lives.
• Its location is constrained to specific areas.
• The energy generation is dependent on the variation of tides and water currents.

According to statistics, global solar energy consumption stands at about one per cent. This consumption percentage is projected to rise to around thirty per cent in the next three decades. This is because of the global requirements for people to be connected to green energy and the increasing adaption of people to this form of clean energy. This will make solar energy the most world’s valuable energy resource compared to the power generated from fossil fuels, wind, or hydroelectrical energy, which will help reduce carbon emissions. Currently, the efficiency of solar energy stands at thirty percent. It imply that most energy from solar radiation is not utilized. In future, solar energy developments focus on increasing its efficiency to eighty-five per cent and beyond. Therefore, the solar manufactures are conducting various study and trials to increase the efficiency of solar energy to benefit more consumers. The designs and development focuses on manufacturing more reliable and durable energy storage systems, multi-junction cells and perovskites(Souza Mendonca, Barni, Moro, Bornia, Kupek, and Fernandes, 2020, p.58).

The solar energy storage system

The electrochemical storage facilities (batteries).

The electric and fossil fuels prices are currently raising, resulting in increasing electric bills. The high price of grid power systems, such as hydroelectric power, is costly. Thus, resolving to wind energy is one of the best alternatives to solve the problem of electric cost by providing continuous, reliable, and stable power customers, compared to solar, which is weather dependent. The use of horizontal axis wind turbines(HAWT) technology has ensured the continuity of power generation due to its uniqueness of utilizing less wind to generate more energy (Eitan, Herman, Fischhendler, and Rosen, 2019, p.95).

Solar Energy

The lead batteries.

Connection of renewable energy with local systems.

Solar energy

Solar energy is connected to the local system’s grid by choosing an experienced and competent licensed provider with an electrical company. They are to be familiar with the local utility regulations on interconnection needs. The provider of solar energy interconnection must supply the customers with all the requirements, such as inverters for the local grid connection system, batteries for storage and backup, and special electric meters that run forward and backwards to monitor the customer consumption rate. The electric meters should be two; the one should monitor power generated that goes into the local grid system and the other to monitor the power received(Gil, Chowdhury, Balta-Ozkan, Hu, Varga, and Hart, 2021, p.527).

Wind energy

wind energy is connected to the local system’s grid through the substations. The wind energy generated from different wind turbines stations is transmitted according to their local utility scale and brought together in the transmission system connected to the distribution system through a substation. The electrical energy is connected to a local system, which can be distributed to homes and markets or other energy users within the local area(Hanssen, May, Dijk, and Rød, 2018, p.1840003).

Local area, London 

According to statistics, the London solar energy consumption increases with the increasing number of consumers and the need for advancement in green energy connectivity. Which makes solar energy the most valuable energy resource for many households. The electric and fossil fuels prices are currently raising, resulting in increasing electric bills. The high price of grid power systems. The high price of grid power systems, such as hydroelectric power, makes people in London resolve to solar energy. It is one of the best alternatives to solve the problem of electric cost by providing continuous, reliable, and stable power customers(Lu, Khan, Alvarez-Alvarado, Zhang, Huang, and Imran, 2020, p.5078).

Design of solar energy system for three bedrooms house in London.

The solar energy system for the three-bedroom house will incur the service and the system costs. The 5kW solar panel is essential in this design.

 

The equipment required

Solar panel

16 pieces of 350W monocrystalline solar panel; cell efficiency of 18%; voltage rates 38.39V – 47.13V, size: 1956mm x 992mm x 40mm; operating temperature condition: -40 to 80.

 

Multiple PV strings inputs of maximum open voltage, 500V.

It’s a protector controller from thunderstorms, and power surge protection protects the electrical energy from flowing from one panel to another.

 

DC – AC inverter, 5000W

The output AC range is 110V to 240V, high-efficiency transformer of 90%. Have protection against overcharge, overload and over-discharge.

 

Storage batteries

 Eight pieces of 12V/200AH, deep cycle maintenance-free gel battery; with service life between 6 to 8 years; and size, 522mm x 240mm x 219mm.

 

The installation ground

Slope roof with snow load below 1.5kn/m² and wind load below 55m/s

 

Connect cables

1. Terminal and battery cable.
2. 4mm²PV terminals 100M and MC4.
3. 2P 63A battery switch. 

Consumption of 5kW solar system of three bedrooms house
Load	Watt	Quantity	Total watt
Light	11	8	88
Fan	80	2	160
Printer	250	1	250
Computer	150	2	300
Fax machine	150	1	150
Washing machine	300	1	300
Electric cooker	300	1	300
Microwave	1000	1	1000
Satellite TV receiver/ video decoder	25	1	25
TV	100	2	200
Water pump	200	1	200
Refrigerator	120	1	120
Air conditioner	1500	1	1500
Total			4593

What is calculated in cost-benefit Analysis is;

Net Present Value (NPV) of each energy; and Benefit-cost ratio of each energy.

The net present value

When computing the Net Present Value (NPV) of each energy,

1. Find the future benefitsof each energy.
2. Obtain the cost value of future and present of each energy.
3. Compute the benefit and present value of future cost of each energy.

Computing the present value factor is given by;  

Wind Energy

Where; 

 The rate of discounting is denoted as r; and number of years, n

Calculating the present value

Future Benefits x Present Value Factor = Present Value of Future Benefits

Present Value of Future Costs of each energy = Future Costs of each energy x Present Value Factor of each energy

1. Compute the Net Present Value of individual type of renewable energyas follows.

NPV = ∑ Present Value of Future Benefits – ∑ Present Value of Future Costs

1. WhenNet Present Value (NPV) is positive, the energy needs to be initiated, But when the NPV is negative, do not consider the energy.

The Benefit-Cost Ratio

When computing the cost-benefit ratio;

1. Compute for future benefit
2. Compute for present and future cost
3. Compute the present value of future cost and benefit
4. Compute the benefit-cost ratio as follows;

Benefit-Cost Ratio =

1. When the benefit-cost ratio is more than 1, the energyis viable, but when the benefit-cost ratio is below 1, do not consider the energy.

Therefore, comparing the cost-benefit of wind energy over solar energy, wind energy has more advantages in future befits over solar energy; in the United Kingdom, there is plenty of wind compared to solar. Hence, it is more reliable and effective.

Solar energy is becoming more ubiquitous in various construction sites, such as at the tops of parking structures and along the freeways. In future the installation of solar energy is forecasted to incorporate other designing. The solar companies are designing floating solar systems which are installed above the water bodies. This will relief pressure on rooftops of buildings and the land while maintaining maximum harvesting of solar energy. The solar system in this new design when they are over-heated, they will be cooled down by the ocean breezes, thus increasing their efficiency and durability.

 

The figure shows floating solar design (the future of renewable energy)

https://www.landmarkdividend.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/future-of-solar-power-v2.png

The design will enhance the development of the infrastructure such as both marine and inland ports, transportation network, towns, agricultural land and terrestrial ecosystem. The technique is essential to countries having less land mass in those that are islands and have access to water bodies(Müller, Claar, Neumann, and Elsner, 2020, p.101551).

References 

Arndt, C., Arent, D., Hartley, F., Merven, B. and Mondal, A.H., 2019. Faster than you think: Renewable energy and developing countries. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 11, pp.149-168. Retrieved from: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-resource-100518-093759

Batel, S., 2020. Research on the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies: Past, present and future. Energy Research & Social Science, 68, p.101544. retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620301213

Carrington, G. and Stephenson, J., 2018. The politics of energy scenarios: Are International Energy Agency and other conservative projections hampering the renewable energy transition?. Energy research & social science, 46, pp.103-113. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618307242

Chen, Y., 2022, February. Quantitative Analysis of renewable energy system structure based on the weather condition in Cambridge, London, and Oxford. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 983, No. 1, p. 012044). IOP Publishing. Retrieved from: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012044/meta

de Souza Mendonca, A.K., Barni, GDAC, Moro, M.F., Bornia, A.C., Kupek, E. and Fernandes, L., 2020. Hierarchical modelling of the 50 largest economies to verify the impact of GDP, population and renewable energy generation on CO2 emissions. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 22, pp.58-67. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550919304427

Eitan, A., Herman, L., Fischhendler, I. and Rosen, G., 2019. Community–private sector partnerships in renewable energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 105, pp.95-104. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118308621

Gil, G.O., Chowdhury, J.I., Balta-Ozkan, N., Hu, Y., Varga, L. and Hart, P., 2021. Optimizing renewable energy integration in new housing developments with low carbon technologies. Renewable energy, 169, pp.527-540. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121000665

Hanssen, F., May, R., van Dijk, J. and Rød, J.K., 2018. Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis tool suite for consensus-based siting of renewable energy structures. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 20(03), p.1840003. retrieved from: https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S1464333218400033

Lu, Y., Khan, Z.A., Alvarez-Alvarado, M.S., Zhang, Y., Huang, Z. and Imran, M., 2020. A critical review of sustainable energy policies for promoting renewable energy sources. Sustainability, 12(12), p.5078. retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/749462

Müller, F., Claar, S., Neumann, M. and Elsner, C., 2020. Is green a Pan-African colour? Mapping African renewable energy policies and transitions in 34 countries. Energy Research & Social Science, 68, p.101551. retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620301274