Tag Archives: energias renovables

Solar Energy

Solar Energy Wherever You Are

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Many times the purpose of incorporating solar energy to our professional skills, scope of business or personal life has hovered in our head.

We have almost always run into the same barrier: time.

We are working or studying and we find it very difficult to have even a few hours a week.

It is rare to find training offerings that are not too short (few hours workshops) or too long (one or more years) and which in turn have an affordable price.

If we add the difficulty of having to move, because most are taught in presence way, finally we ended up postponing again and again this purpose.

In 2014 Sopelia gave, in collaboration with the Technology National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina), the Technical – Commercial Solar Energy Course in tele-learning (distance + presence) methodology.

In 2016 Sopelia updated and divided that training action in 2 specific courses:

* Technical – Commercial Solar Thermal Energy

* Technical – Commercial Photovoltaic Solar Energy

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Sopelia rode them on a Moodle 3.1 platform and the result is 2 courses in e-learning methodology.

This means you can receive Solar Energy training with the best market value wherever you are.

You only need a computer, smartphone or mobile device and Internet.

Being the 1st edition there is a 50% off list price.

These two courses provide technical and commercial training in solar energy domestic applications with the aim of spreading the technology and develop human resources for incorporation into work and business world.

You will identify the most relevant aspects of solar energy within the current energy landscape.

You will define, describe and analyze the most important features of solar energy.

You will know the composition, understand the operation, design and maintenance of facilities to implement thermal and photovoltaic solar energy projects.

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It is a training aimed at students and technical careers graduates, technical schools graduates, engineers, architects, professionals and installers of related sectors (air conditioning, electricity, rural), people with experience in renewable energies, environmental professionals and individuals interested in incorporating solar energy into their lives.

The 2016 edition starts on September 19th and ends on November 25th.

You can register until 16 September inclusive in www.energiasrenovables.lat

If you are under 30 years old and live in Latin America, with the course completed, you can apply to be Sopelia Country Manager in your country of residence.

And if you are under 25 and live in Latin America, you can get a 50% scholarship and finished the course, apply to become Sopelia Trainee.

If you speak Spanish you have no excuses, Solar Energy wherever you are with Sopelia.

Solar Thermal Energy

Passive Solar Energy

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One of the most important issues in energy conservation areas and solar energy use is undoubtedly homes and workplaces air conditioning application.

This sector accounts about 40% of the total energy consumed. The savings can be achieved by using solar energy for heating is of the order of 60% to 80% depending on house design.

The principles of bioclimatic architecture should be applied in all new urban plans.

When speaking of passive solar architecture, we talk about modeling, selection and use of passive solar technology, which is capable of maintaining a comfortable and pleasant temperature home environment through the sun. This type of architecture is only a small part of the energy efficient buildings design and is considered as part of sustainable design.

Resultado de imagen de energía solar pasiva

There are three types of solar gain:

1) Direct solar gain: refers to the use of windows, skylights and blinds to control the amount of solar radiation reaching the inside of a housing, in combination with mass floors.

2) Indirect solar gain: is achieved through the skin of the building, designed with certain thermal mass. An example of this gain is also the garden roof.

3) Isolated solar gain: is the process in which the main thing is the sun heat passive capture, and then transport it inside or outside the home.

There are considerations to take into account in this type of architecture implementation, to give his best result:

* Building orientation

* Construction features

* Environment use

Resultado de imagen de energía solar pasiva

In existing buildings we can always intervene to improve thermal insulation, sun blinds open in winter or adding a glass gallery on the north side of the house if we are located in the southern hemisphere.

To heat the house with the sun, a clear winter north facade without many neighbors who clog the midday sun is needed.

Main glazings must be on the north facade. For example, if we are located in the southern half of Argentina we need 1.4 to 2 m2 of north glass for every 10 m2 stay we want to heat.

Windows should be closed with curtains or blinds at night to heat captured not escape. It is good to improve thermal insulation as far as possible and have thermal mass (building material in walls, floors) which accumulate the heat of the day to the night. For summer it is necessary to place eaves, awnings, vines, etc. that shade windows in.

You can acces more Spanish language content like this in Manual Técnico – Comercial de Energía Solar Térmica by Sopelia.

Solar Photovoltaic Energy

PV Profitability

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The profitability of a photovoltaic system must be analyzed with certain nuances.

The weightiest factor when deciding whether it is feasible or not, is the potential energy savings during their years of life.

In the case of an isolated photovoltaic system, economic factor is not the main determining factor in deciding whether or not installation (electrification of rural areas, marine signaling, energy demand in remote locations, etc.).

Isolated (Off-grid) Systems

Installation can be evaluated for 2 reasons:

1. A range of total supply needed

2. Power grid not reach where energy demand originates

In the latter case you can opt for laying a new distribution line from the nearest point of the overall grid or choose an autonomous system.

When great powers are not needed and consumption is moderate, the option of autonomous generator is more interesting. Obviously, the higher or lower placement solar radiation level is another determinative factor.

In abundant wind areas, a wind turbine or a wind combined with photovoltaic system may be the most convenient option.

In cases where is needed a fairly large power requiring a large number of solar modules while consumption was not high enough to justify the laying of a grid line, the diesel generator can be the best option.

If both budgets (solar isolated and line grid laying) are of similar magnitude (or even laying a grid line is slightly higher), it can be more interesting access to the electricity grid, which will ensure any consumer at any time of year.

Grid connected (On-grid) Systems

It consists of a module field and inverter which can convert DC generated into AC identical to that of the electricity distribution network, to inject energy produced by the modules into the grid.

In return, you can received a contribution (feed-in tariff) established by law for a period which generally ranges between 15 and 25 years.

To realize the economic study should first determine electricity production depending on the sunshine hours of installation location and installed peak power.

Annual electricity production is then multiplied by the contribution is allocated to the project.

Finally a cash flow is prepared detailing revenues (sale of electricity and taxes recovery) and expenses (initial investment, annual maintenance and insurance costs, administrative and financial annual expenses) for the entire period.

From the data obtained the recovery period and IRR of the investment is determined.

The other way is the net-metering.

In this case, the owner of the photovoltaic system can take power from the grid when their system can not provide enough to meet demand, and inject energy to the grid when their system produces above necessary to meet demand.

The solar module prices fell reaching the threshold of U$D 0.50/W Exworks for conventional crystalline silicon modules.

Simultaneously, the price of electricity generated from fossil fuels is increasing annually.

In fact, it is estimated that several European countries will reach grid-parity (equal price between PV and conventional electricity) in 2020.

In developing countries, photovoltaic systems connected to the grid will remain still an expensive option because of the high subsidies electricity generation and distribution receive; limiting their development.

The turnkey price of a fixed installation connected to the grid (modules, support structures, inverters, protections, measurement systems, project costs, installation and administrative permissions) ranges from U$D 2 and 5/W depending on the facility size and location.

You can access content like this in Spanish in the Manual Técnico – Comercial de Energía Solar Fotovoltaica de Sopelia.

Ecuador

Solar Ecuador

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There is a saying “for sample we need only a button”.

If you visit the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Ecuador website you will see a section called “Flagship Projects”.

Lets make a bet. Of a total of 9 renewable projects, how many you think are of solar energy?

Given that we are talking about a country with one of the highest levels of solar radiation probably our response would be 1 or more.

The correct answer is zero.

Of the 9 total projects, 8 are hydroelectric and 1 is wind.

We can conclude that there is a strong rainfall dependence and a lack of renewable energy matrix diversification in Ecuador.

Being located in the middle of the planet, the potential use of solar energy in the country is huge and its extensive use would help achieve energy independence in the long run.

Leaving aside the dominance of hydropower, Ecuador has made progress in wind generation in various regions.

In Loja, the Villonaco Windfarm, located 2,720 m above sea level, has 11 turbines that generate 16.5 MW.

Renewable energies have been consolidated in Galapagos, with advanced projects in wind, photovoltaics and biofuels energy.

In 2007, three wind turbines were installed on San Cristobal island, to give it 2.4 MW. This wind park can cover 30% of island electricity demand.

Since 2005 operates a photovoltaic park in Floreana, which covers 30% of the electrical energy required.
There is a wind park in Baltra with 2.1 MW capacity.

In solar energy, low activity remained thanks to agreements with German government.

Since 2004, the German Energy Agency launched the Solar Roofs Program to promote renewable energy pilot projects in regions of high solar radiation.

The Government developed photovoltaic projects in 8 Gulf of Guayaquil municipalities. The Eurosolar Program gives electricity to 91 isolated communities with support from the European Union.

For solar energy development a law that favored investors was created, but it didn´t work because there´s no financial guarantee for such investments.

The current renewable energies regulation in Ecuador is still quite poor.

It is difficult to develop big projects in the country, so that distributed generation using photovoltaic systems connected to the electricity grid should be promoted.

But it happens that there is no regulation for these systems which discharge energy to the national grid, no values to remunerate people who bring energy are set and, on the contrary, the excess energy being poured it is also charged.

Wind resource is scarce in the tropical region where the country is located as there are no significant winds and in the evening these winds are practically nonexistent.

Ecuador should take advantage of geothermal energy taking into account the geological conditions of the country, but develop this energy involves making very expensive studies.

Ecuador’s location is optimal for solar energy harnessing.

There is another saying “God gives bread to those who have no teeth.”

Solar business and projects in Latam with Sopelia

Cuba

Cuba Solar Pv

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Since Soviet Union demise and US blockade intensification, Cuba has made great efforts to get its energy supply.

Its plans included solar energy, mainly in inaccessible areas where the national electricity system (medical clinics, rural hospitals, social clubs, TV rooms and schools) fails.

In medical clinics 400 W power equipments were installed to provide energy to 1 fridge 12 lamps of 15 W, 1 television and 1 radio to communicate with other clinics and hospitals.

In schools solar equipment was installed to provide lighting systems, TVs and computers.

The government built TV rooms, that were equipped with solar systems, in villages that have no electricity. Each TV room has 1 solar module, 1 TV, 1 video and 30 or 50 seats according to population density. The investment was around U$D 4.500 per TV room.

The first large-scale photovoltaic energy facility has installed more than 14.100 modules domestically manufactured. The plant is located in Cienfuegos province. The park, which was build in 2012, connected 2.6 MW to the national grid.

There are also installed photovoltaic plants connected to the grid in Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba and Santa Clara provinces. The last one can produce electric energy to daily supply about 750 homes at full capacity and can contribute to the national grid with about 962 kW.

The photovoltaic solar park of Pinar del Rio has connected its first MW of the 3 provided, to the national electricity system. This facility, located in the area of Cayo Cana, provide energy to some Wells that supply water to provincial capital and 8,000 people.

Today are already active over 15 photovoltaic plants, in which each MW installed, on average, can produce 1,5 GW/h per year; saving the country annually 430 tons of fuel.

This leap to large-scale plants shows government interest to increase solar energy use and the opportunity to exploit an abundant resource, since the solar radiation average in Cuba is greater than 1,800 kW/h /m2 per year.

In addition, modules are manufactured in a factory located in Pinar del Río province. The local industry has substantial production line technological improvements, which in 2015 reached 60,000 modules focusing on 250 W panels.

Another sign of solar energy interest is the dean Solar Energy Chair, which founded on September 6 2001, at the University of Havana, reaffirms the renewable energy use momentum in Cuba where photovoltaics plays an important role.

Solar business in Latam with Sopelia

Solar Thermal Energy

What is the best solar collector?

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What qualities should we consider when selecting a solar thermal collector?

Are two:

1- Its constructive qualities. Determines the durability and architectural integration possibility.

2- His energetic qualities. Determines economic performance.

In some respects both qualities are interrelated.

A good solar collector is one who possesses both qualities well balanced for the intended application.

There is no use a solar collector with an extraordinary energy intake if their constructive qualities fail or degrade quickly, since the profitability of these facilities is measured in the medium term.

There is no use a solar collector with extraordinary constructive qualities if their energetic qualities fail, because, simply, it is not fulfilling its main task.

By observing the solar collector performance curve, we see that it depends on a variable which is the temperature T, which in turn depends on the solar radiation I, on solar collector fluid inlet temperature Te and on ambient temperature Ta.

That is, the performance of a collector depends:

– On one side of the weather conditions, given by I and Ta,

– On the other side of the working conditions, that is, of what it is used, given by Te.

Therefore, when selecting a collector must be considered:

1) The application will have (only ACS, only heating, hot water and heating, pool heating, etc.).

2) Climatic and radiation conditions of facility location.

3) Models performance curves.

4) Equipment price.

5) The economic profitability (based purely on the relationship between price and yield) and investment recovery period.

6) Its construction quality.

You need to balance construction quality with energetic quality.

There is an open debate among professionals about which of the two most used collectors technologies is the most appropriate: flat or vacuum tube collector?

Those who opt for vacuum tube collectors consider them more advanced and argue that in the future this technology will eventually displace definitely flat plate collectors because of their better performance.

The increased cost gap of vacuum tube collectors respect to flat collectors has been reduced and we can find collectors of both technologies at the same price.

Supporters of the vacuum tube collectors consider opting for them is compensated, because by offering higher performance per m2 we will need to purchase less collectors.

This is not necessarily true, especially in small facilities:

In a small facility that only provides ACS with good weather and radiation conditions, flat plate collectors performance and profitability will be greater.

As you increase the size of the installation, the vacuum tube collector highest performance will offset the lower absorbing surface.

We will also consider building integration of vacuum tubes direct flow collectors (U-Pipe) that can be placed vertically covering a façade or balcony.

In short, a properly trained professional must assess based on the following factors choosing one or the other technology:

• Specific requirements of the installation

• Location climatology in every season

• Previous experience

• Budget availability.

You can find content like this in the Technical – Commercial Solar Thermal Energy Manual by Sopelia

Cuba

Cuba Solar Thermal

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The Cuban population spends between 529 and 791 GWh/year (6% of electricity) to heat water.

Considering the housing technical conditions and water service stability, 1 million Cuban families could receive hot water service using solar energy.

The first ad written in Spanish about commercial solar thermal technology, published in a mass medium communication was held in a Cuban newspaper in the 1930s.

The equipments introduced at that time were mainly from US and its high costs made them only available to economically advantaged clases of the country.

In 1978 a polygon was established to evaluate solar heating systems and the Cuban Standard for systems installation was approved in 1987.

In that period, first models adapted to island climatic conditions was developed and Cuban patent for a solar thermal compact system was obtained in 1979.

Between 1982 and 1991 they were built and installed over 13.000 solar thermal water heating systems in kindergartens and other social institutions. Most of these systems are now out of service because maintenance and technological problems.

From 1992 to 2006 about 4.000 flat collectors and compact equipments, several imported, were installed and were performed efforts to manufacture in the country.

In 2007 Chinese vacuum tube equipments were acquired for pilot test performing purpose.

Approximately 85% of the installed capacity corresponds to the tourist hotel sector.

Solar thermal systems for applications such as drying of agricultural and industrial products are also used.

The solar energy research centers carry over 2 decades working on solar drying technologies development models for timber, medicinal plants, grains, seeds and other products that now allow industrial use of these cameras and provides great economic benefit.

Very advanced solar dryers for tobacco drying and curing technologies developing have also succeeded.

The mentioned centers also work in the use of solar energy in controlled climate chambers for vegetables production and high quality seeds, refrigeration and cooling. The research focuses on potatoes, tomatoes and other products production that currently Cuba is forced to import.

Solar business in Cuba and Latam with Sopelia

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar Creativity

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When Federico Redin answered the phone call at his office in Bahia Blanca (Argentina) he was happy because it was to request their installation services in a new solar energy project.

But when he came to the house where the project would be located, he realized that the facility had some complexity.

It was a continuous use indoor pool with bathroom, dressing room and kitchen.

The pool was closed with rustic solid brick walls, aluminum DVH low quality openings in the enclosure and transparent polycarbonate roof. A challenge.

Piscina

After the visit, which solution adopt to optimally configure the installation was going around in his head.

Appealing to the characteristic creativity of Argentine people, Federico took an unconventional solution: swimming pool conditioning by floor heating (in the transit zones of the enclosure and in the pool itself).

In this way it would achieve heat the pool regardless of the type of water containing the glass and more efficiently, since conventional pool heating has the negative inertia of moving water.

By heating the pool water with a conventional boiler the water is set into motion with the same pool pump, causing cooling it by this movement; which decreases the overall installation performance.

Therefore, a more powerful source of energy and more thermal reaction is needed.

We know that using solar energy do not have a large thermal reaction, ie the heating time is slower.

By heating the pool with underfloor heating water turns hot through the concrete, once in regime, it has more thermal inertia and allows solar energy to maintain that regime.

The radiant “glass” pool and the transit floor area of the enclosure receive input from a conventional gas boiler, which is responsible for putting installation in system, and 7 heat pipe collectors supplying directly fluid to the circuit (without heat exchanger) that transfers heat in sunshine.

Colectores I

Temperature is regulated with a mixing thermostatic valve to not degrade the soil at high temperatures.

The system has a thermostat for transit zones and a thermostat for swimming pool water.

Then room or water temperature are discriminated with electric heads located at the underfloor heating collector, separating pool and transit zones of the enclosure.

The pool has a natural salt chlorination system (salt water 5%) thus avoiding the use of chlorine.

Caldera

Having 2 separate circuits (the pool and underfloor heating), we protect the boiler to heat salt water, which quickly will cause severe and irreversible damage to it.

Federico Redin is Sopelia facilities expert advisor.

Cuba

Solar Cuba

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Cuba is one of the last bastions that refuses to adopt the capitalist system.

This implies virtually the absence of private initiative and as a result of this a great deficiency in infrastructure.

The most common is to make a simplistic association of ideas of “limited resources = poor capabilities.”

Nothing further from reality.

As in other areas (like medicine), in the field of solar energy in Cuba are people with experience and good know-how.

On one hand we have the importance that Cuban gives to “have a say” and on the other hand we have the “times” in which things in Cuba move and respect that we must have free of prejudices about political culture.

Cuba needs to take firm steps toward energy independence by implementing a series of initiatives that are a future investment to counter the problems that have to oil stock up and the harm this means for the country’s economy.

In 2012 Cuba had in its energy matrix 4% of renewable energy and the expectations are to meet the 10% clean energy sources by 2020.

The renewable sources use has helped communities to reduce ecosystem pressure and deforestation caused by the massive use of firewood.

In the country currently operate 13 wind farms and 19 bioelectric plants providing 633 and 755 MW, respectively, to the national grid system.

Energy sovereignty is feasible with 1,100 MW wind power potential and high solar radiation received on its territory located in the Tropic of Cancer, reaches 5 kWh/m2 daily radiation (1.825 kW/m2 per year).

The first experiences in solar energy incorporation have been linked to rural electrification projects. Since the late 80s and early 90s, a program was initiated with the goal of bringing electricity to all rural mountainous and inaccessible regions to improve the quality of its inhabitants life.

After thawing relations initiated in December 2014 by Raul Castro and Barack Obama and the reform process initiated by Castro in 2008 (creation of Mariel special development zone and new Foreign Investment Law) the new economic climate favors the renewable energies development with the presence of some 100% foreign companies.

The expected increase in island tourism demand will cause construction activation, especially for hotels, boosting industry participation in the renewable energies development.

Cuba set a target of 700 MW PV to reach 24% renewables by 2030, reduce their energy costs and diversify its current energy mix in which 94% of electricity production is covered by fossil fuels (about 50.000 barrels a day of own production + 75.000 imports).

The Abu Dhabi Development Fund will enable Cuba to diversify its energy matrix and increasing renewable energy, particularly solar and wind.

This fund, which provides financial support to developing countries, will support a project to generate 10 MW of solar energy, which will increase by 50% the current installed capacity.

It also promotes an ongoing project until 2017 to desalinate water incorporating photovoltaics and small wind technology in new plants.

Solar energy business in Latam with Sopelia

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Solar PV

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The photovoltaic energy in Costa Rica began in 1991 with a pilot project in two indigenous “palenques” from the canton of Siquirres.

Then it spread to places like Península de Osa, Isla Caballo, Dos Bocas de Aguirre, Punta Burica de Golfito, Talamanca, Parque Nacional Volcán Chirripó, Rincón de la Vieja and some Guanacaste zones.

The Miravalles Solar Park was the first major solar electricity plant in Costa Rica and was the largest in Central America when being inaugurated, with a capacity of 1.2 GWh / year.

From Guideline NO14 MINAET the “Pilot Plan for Self Distributed Generation” ICE Group was created.

Many Costa Ricans began to install solar panels on homes and industries and more than 350 requests for interconnection were done, emerged a budding PV market in the country.

In February 2015 ICE Group closed its distributed generation pilot plan, indicating that it had reached its installation limit (10 MW).

Thereafter, users can not made new applications for interconnection.

Distributed generation projects were in the air, which has led to an atmosphere of uncertainty in the sector.

ARESEP Board approved in February 2015, with the corresponding calculation methodology, an access fee which covers all expenses incurred by distributors.

Industry sources said it was an excessively high rate, including maintenance and operating costs not related to distributed generation.

They also criticized the need to implement two measuring devices for subscribers, increasing implementation and billing costs associated with the distribution company.

It is important to unblock this situation to achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan and the VI National Energy Plan 2012-2030.

The solution could be found to continue allowing the interconnection of all stakeholders to the network, reviewing the methodology for calculating the access tariff and reviewing the approach to the need to use 2 measuring devices.

The fixed rates were also rejected by the distributors and the Costa Rican Solar Energy Association.

Regulating the incorporation of photovoltaics to the electricity grid is not easy. There are 3 very different interests (consumers, companies in the solar sector and electricity distributors).

What is clear is that if the legislation reduces the number of users interested in distributed generation, does not fulfill its mission.

Regulation should facilitate procedures for simple and speedy interface for any user, minimizing arbitrariness of either party.

In March 2016 ARESEP set new tariffs for distributed generation access.

How will be charged? It will be based on energy removal. It will not be charged for the energy generated by producer-consumer and used directly in self consumption form.

Time will tell whether the methodology established really meets the objective of encouraging the production of solar or wind energy.

In the case of large photovoltaic generation plants selected under the 7200 Law a very striking situation arises.

ARESEP announced the increase of rate bands established for bidders in July 2015 from $ 7.46 and $ 17.80 kW / h to $ 7.95 and $ 19.08 kW / h.

This increase will affect final energy consumer.

What is striking about this is that none of the four developers selected by the ICE requested any increase. This is a “gift” at final energy consumer expense.

This regulator proposal for increase 6.5% rates for a generation technology that every day is cheaper raises many suspicions.