Entries by Carl Berntsen

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Agrisolar Best Practices Guidelines

Agrisolar is a rapidly expanding sector with incredible potential. It brings together two major sectors of our society and economy: agriculture and energy. The goal of this guide is to draw on past experiences, to take stock of “what works” and “what doesn’t,” in order to advise local and international actors on successfully developing Agrisolar. This first edition of the SolarPower Europe Agrisolar Best Practices Guidelines takes a step in joining forces with agricultural stakeholders to better understand how the solar and agricultural sector can work more closely together, enhancing synergies to advance the energy and climate transition. Every Agrisolar project is unique as it must be adapted to the local agronomical, environmental, and socioeconomic conditions of the project site, and adapted to the needs of farmers and other relevant stakeholders. The most important element to ensure that Agrisolar projects perform effectively as agricultural and photovoltaic projects is to begin by clearly defining a Sustainable Agriculture Concept. Defining a Sustainable Agriculture Concept means assessing how to improve the sustainability of the agricultural practices carried out on site, assessing whether the project can provide local ecosystem services, assessing how it can be best integrated within the local social and economic setting, all while generating clean electricity. Following best practices throughout all 19 areas identified in these guidelines will ensure Agrisolar projects deliver tangible benefits, as planned in the Sustainable Agriculture Concept.

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Performance Analysis of Thermoelectric Generator Implemented on Non-Uniform Heat Distribution of Photovoltaic Module

In this work, an individual TEG module test method was used to measure and analyze data from specific types of TEG, and a record of the maximum power output under different temperature variations is obtained. Then, the performance of the TEG system is measured and evaluated with a test bench where the modules are attached at  different backside areas of generic PV panels.

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Photovoltaic System Performance Enhancement With Non-Tracking Planar Concentrators

This paper presents new methodologies for properly modelling this type of system design and experimental results using a bi-directional reflectance function (BDRF) of non-ideal surfaces rather than traditional geometric optics. This methodology allows for the evaluation and eventual optimization of specular and non-specular reflectors in planar concentration systems.

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Mounting Your Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

Not every location has the desirable characteristics for installing a solar module or array with a clear, unobstructed view of the sun. For example, the owner of a house with east and west-facing roofs needs to determine which direction will gain the most output from the sun, without having to design and install a costly tiltmount racking system. Are there nearby structures (buildings, trees, utility poles or towers) which cast shade on the desired location? If so, what times of the day, and months of the year is the shade problematic? Can the module or array be mounted on the ground, or on a pole? These issues may be dealt with by considering different module or array mounting options.

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Modelling Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems

Evaluating the albedo impact on bifacial PV systems based on case studies in Denver, USA and Västerås, Sweden. This study aims to develop a simulation and optimization tool for bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules based on the open-source code OptiCE and evaluate dynamic and static albedo impact on a bifacial PV system. Further, a review of the market price development of bifacial PVs’ and an optimization to maximize energy output was conducted.

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Increasing the Total Productivity of a Land by Combining Mobile Photovoltaic Panels and Food Crops

Agrivoltaic systems, consisting of the combination of photovoltaic panels (PVPs) with crops on the same land, recently emerged as an opportunity to resolve the competition for land use between food and energy production. Such systems have proved efficient when using stationary PVPs at half their usual density. Dynamic agrivoltaic systems improved the concept by using orientable PVPs derived from solar trackers. They offer the possibility to intercept the variable part of solar radiation, as well as new means to increase land productivity. The matter was analysed in this work by comparing fixed and dynamic systems with two different orientation policies. Performances of the resulting agrivoltaic systems were studied for two varieties of lettuce over three different seasons.

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The Effect of Gap Spacing Between Solar Panel Clusters on Crop Biomass Yields, Nutrients, and the Microenvironment in a Dual – Use Agrivoltaic System

This study examines the crop outputs for Swiss chard, kale, pepper, and broccoli in an AV system with different gap spacings of 2, 3, 4, or 5 feet (AV plots) between panel clusters within rows to determine how much spacing between solar panels is optimal for crop production by comparing these system yields to full sun crop production. This study also examines the effect of the AV system on crop nutrient levels, on soil water content, and crop leaf temperature below the panels.