The Experts below are selected from a list of 318 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Komali Yenneti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Spatial justice and the land politics of renewables: Dispossessing vulnerable communities through Solar energy mega-projects
Geoforum, 2016Co-Authors: Komali Yenneti, Rosie Day, Oleg GolubchikovAbstract:This paper considers aspects of spatial justice in the processes of land acquisition for large-scale Solar energy projects in the developmentalist context of India. It explores the case of one of the world’s largest Solar Park projects in Charanka, Gujarat. While the official rhetoric suggests an inclusive project for globally benign renewable energy production, the research reveals a more controversial land and power politics of renewable energy. It is argued, in particular, that the project increases the precariousness of vulnerable communities, who are exposed to the loss of livelihoods due to the enclosure of common land and extra-legal mechanisms through which land acquisitions for the project have reportedly taken place. This case exemplifies how Solar mega-projects may manifest a regime of accumulation whereby low-carbon coalitions of interests can maximize their gains by dispossessing vulnerable social groups of their life-sustaining assets.
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Distributional justice in Solar energy implementation in India: The case of Charanka Solar Park
Journal of Rural Studies, 2016Co-Authors: Komali Yenneti, Rosie DayAbstract:Large scale renewable energy developments, although seen as environmentally good, also have the potential to damage a community’s well-being if the distribution of outcomes of the development, both good and bad, is unfair. Inequality in the distribution of benefits and costs, especially when some sections of a community benefit at the expense of others, can divide communities, damage relationships, and result in conflicts. In recent years, a considerable number of empirical studies examining the controversies over distributional inequalities in renewable energy practices have emerged. However, most of them have focused on the developed world; there has been little research in the context of the Global South, where large scale and rapid development of Solar energy especially is anticipated to contribute to economic development and relieve energy poverty. This paper provides an empirical case study of ‘Charanka Solar Park’ in the Indian state of Gujarat. The objective is to qualitatively analyse the distributional concerns in the implementation of the large scale Solar Park, developed in a remote rural location. The research illustrates how the benefits of renewable energy development tend to accrue at regional and national level whilst local host communities bear adverse consequences. Distributional inequalities also occurred at the local scale in Charanka, where while the upper caste and economically better of sectors of the community were able to take opportunities, while vulnerable pastoralists and small farmers suffered the most from loss of land resources and associated livelihoods. Thus, the uneven distribution of benefits arising from the Solar Park development reinforced and deepened existing inequalities. The paper concludes by discussing how distributional injustice in such developments might be ameliorated in the future.
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industry perceptions on feed in tariff fit based Solar power policies a case of gujarat india
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016Co-Authors: Komali YennetiAbstract:India has an active participation in global Solar energy contribution through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) and its many states are also walking hand in hand with the national government through individual state Solar policies. The state of Gujarat, through the ‘Gujarat Solar Power Policy 2009 (GSPP 2009)’, has been leading the country in Solar power generation. The feed-in-tariff based GSPP 2009 is a unique experiment of the state to develop individual Solar projects as well as public-private partnership based large-scale ‘Solar Parks’. Of the about 2700MW (in September 2014) installed Solar energy capacity in India, Gujarat occupies a share of more than 900MW. This paper, through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with project developers involved in implementation of the Charanka Solar Park, Gujarat, investigates the industry perspectives on the GSPP 2009. With an installed capacity of 216MW (in April 2012), the Charanka Solar Park is the Asia׳s largest Solar Park. Findings from this study indicate that the attractive fixed feed-in-tariff and strong implementation mechanisms are the key strengths of the policy. On the other hand, the key challenges are lack of trust of financial institutions on Solar energy projects, and tradability and bankability of the Solar power purchase agreements.
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Industry perceptions on feed in tariff (FiT) based Solar power policies – A case of Gujarat, India
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016Co-Authors: Komali YennetiAbstract:India has an active participation in global Solar energy contribution through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) and its many states are also walking hand in hand with the national government through individual state Solar policies. The state of Gujarat, through the ‘Gujarat Solar Power Policy 2009 (GSPP 2009)’, has been leading the country in Solar power generation. The feed-in-tariff based GSPP 2009 is a unique experiment of the state to develop individual Solar projects as well as public-private partnership based large-scale ‘Solar Parks’. Of the about 2700MW (in September 2014) installed Solar energy capacity in India, Gujarat occupies a share of more than 900MW. This paper, through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with project developers involved in implementation of the Charanka Solar Park, Gujarat, investigates the industry perspectives on the GSPP 2009. With an installed capacity of 216MW (in April 2012), the Charanka Solar Park is the Asia׳s largest Solar Park. Findings from this study indicate that the attractive fixed feed-in-tariff and strong implementation mechanisms are the key strengths of the policy. On the other hand, the key challenges are lack of trust of financial institutions on Solar energy projects, and tradability and bankability of the Solar power purchase agreements.
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Procedural (in)justice in the implementation of Solar energy: The case of Charanaka Solar Park, Gujarat, India
Energy Policy, 2015Co-Authors: Komali Yenneti, Rosie DayAbstract:Solar PV is being rolled out on a large scale in India and other emerging economies, but in the enthusiasm for Solar’s promise of plentiful, low carbon energy, the social and environmental justice concerns accompanying such infrastructure development are in danger of being overlooked. In this context, this paper, using the case study of ‘Charanaka Solar Park’ in Gujarat state, qualitatively analyses the degree of provision for procedural justice in Solar energy implementation in India using a framework drawn from social environmental and energy justice literatures. The case study illustrates how the failure of various aspects of procedural justice can result in unnecessarily large impacts on the livelihoods of rural communities and the further marginalisation of those of lowest status. We conclude with discussion of the aspects of procedural justice that need attention in low carbon energy developments in developing countries alongside some policy and governance suggestions for the achievement of this in India and elsewhere.
Frederik C Krebs - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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ecodesign of organic photovoltaic modules from danish and chinese perspectives
Energy and Environmental Science, 2015Co-Authors: Nieves Espinosa, Alexis Laurent, Frederik C KrebsAbstract:The life cycle of a Solar Park made using organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology is assessed here. The modules have been fabricated in a pilot scale plant and they have been installed together with other components to evaluate the balance of system, in a Solar Park located in Denmark. Three possible waste management practices have been contemplated for the end of life of the Solar Park: recycling, incineration or the average local mix. The assessment of the environmental impacts of such a system reveals that silver used in the electrodes is overall the largest source of impacts, such as chemical pollution and metal depletion. The establishment of resource recovery systems for the end-of-life management of the OPV modules is therefore crucial to reduce overall environmental impacts. Liability on the manufacturers or on the operators should be implemented. The electricity produced from OPV Solar Parks yields similar footprints to other traditional energy technologies; e.g. coal and natural gas. However, when the efficiency of the OPV modules is increased from 1% to 5% they are comparable to other mature PV technologies already on the market. The effects of outsourcing or exporting the production of the OPV modules from Denmark to China have additionally been studied to determine the most advantageous configuration. The stakeholders should aim at anchoring the manufacturing of Solar Parks in countries with stringent emission standards and/or high technology efficiencies, e.g. Denmark, and at deploying them in countries with high Solar radiation to maximise the environmental benefits of the PV technology.
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Efficient decommissioning and recycling of polymer Solar cells: justification for use of silver
Energy and Environmental Science, 2014Co-Authors: Roar R Sondergaard, Nieves Espinosa, Mikkel Jorgensen, Frederik C KrebsAbstract:Large 100 m long polymer Solar cell modules were installed in a Solar Park using fast installation (>100 m min−1) and operated for 5 months ensuring a meaningful energy return factor (ERF > 1) followed by fast de-installation (>200 m min−1) and end-of-life management. Focus was on recovery of silver that is an essential component of the two electrodes. We employed life cycle analysis as a tool to evaluate the most efficient silver extraction method as well as the impact on the overall life cycle of the Solar cells. Silver from the electrodes could be recovered as silver chloride in 95% yield, which diminishes the overall energy payback time by 13%. The efficient recovery of silver justifies the use of silver electrodes in OPV even in a scenario where it is scaled to production volumes of 1 GWp per day.
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25th Anniversary Article: Rise to Power – OPV‐Based Solar Parks
Advanced Materials, 2013Co-Authors: Frederik C Krebs, Markus Hösel, Roar R Sondergaard, Nieves Espinosa, Mikkel JorgensenAbstract:A Solar Park based on polymer Solar cells is described and analyzed with respect to performance, practicality, installation speed, and energy payback time. It is found that a high voltage installation where Solar cells are all printed in series enables an installation rate in Watts installed per minute that far exceed any other PV technology in existence. The energy payback time for the practical installation of polymer Solar cell foil on a wooden 250 square meter platform in its present form is 277 days when operated in Denmark and 180 days when operated in southern Spain. The installation and de-installation rate is above 100 m min−1, which, with the present performance and web width, implies installation of >200 W min−1. In comparison, this also exceeds the overall manufacturing speed of the polymer Solar cell foil with a width of 305 mm which is currently 1 m min−1 for complete encapsulated and tested foil. It is also significant that simultaneous installation and de-installation which enables efficient schemes for decommissioning and recycling is possible. It is highlighted where research efforts should most rationally be invested in order to make grid electricity from OPV a reality (and it is within reach).
Alona Armstrong - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Realising co-benefits for natural capital and ecosystem services from Solar Parks:a co-developed, evidence-based approach
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020Co-Authors: Richard Randle-boggis, Piran C. L. White, Joana Cruz, G Parker, H Montag, J.m.o. Scurlock, Alona ArmstrongAbstract:Abstract The number of ground-mounted Solar Parks is increasing across the world in response to energy decarbonisation. Solar Parks offer an opportunity to deliver ecosystem co-benefits but there is also a risk that their development and operation may be detrimental to ecosystems. Consequently, we created the Solar Park Impacts on Ecosystem Services (SPIES) decision-support tool (DST) to provide evidence-based insight of the impacts of different Solar Park management practices on ecosystem services. The SPIES DST is underpinned by 704 pieces of evidence from 457 peer-reviewed academic journal articles that assessed the impacts of land management on ecosystem services, collated through a systematic review. Application to two operational Solar Parks evidences the commercial relevance of the SPIES DST and its potential to enable those responsible for designing and managing Solar Parks to maximise the ecosystem co-benefits and minimise detrimental effects. Further, evaluation using data from nine Solar Parks across the south of England demonstrates the validity of the DST outcomes. With the increasing land take for renewable energy infrastructure, DSTs, such as SPIES, that promote the co-delivery of other ecosystem benefits can help to ensure that the energy transition does not swap climate change for local scale ecosystem degradation, and potentially prompt improvements in ecosystem health.
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Southerly winds increase the electricity generated by Solar photovoltaic systems
Solar Energy, 2020Co-Authors: Damon Waterworth, Alona ArmstrongAbstract:Abstract The urgent need to decarbonise energy supplies has prompted exponential growth of Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the world. As the penetration of renewable energy sources increases, the need to accurately forecast electricity output heightens to ensure efficient energy system operation. While exposure to high temperatures and moisture are known to significantly reduce PV panel efficiency, the effects of wind on both PV panel temperature and electricity output are poorly resolved. Here, meteorological and PV panel production data from Westmill Solar Park, Oxfordshire, were examined to determine the influence of wind, cloud, ambient temperature and relative humidity. We found that, after Solar radiation, relative humidity and cloud cover were the dominant controls of PV electricity output; increases in relative humidity and cloud cover were associated with decreased electricity outputs. However, when all other variables were held constant, the mean electricity generated under southerly winds was 20.4 – 42.9% greater than under northerly winds, with the difference greater at higher electricity outputs and attributable to differences in surface cooling capabilities caused by the PV array asymmetry. This finding suggests that PV electricity output predictions could be improved by incorporating wind direction into computer models. Moreover, there is potential to modify Solar Park design and deployment location to capitalise on wind benefits, especially in areas where panel temperatures are a leading cause of efficiency loss. Ensuring deployments are optimised for site environmental conditions could boost electricity outputs, and therefore profitability, with implications for system viability in post-subsidy markets.
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Local microclimatic impacts of utility scale photovoltaic Solar Parks
2020Co-Authors: Alona Armstrong, Rebecca R. Hernandez, George Alan Blackburn, Gemma Davies, Merryn L. Hunt, James Duncan Whyatt, Li GuoqingAbstract:<p>Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has risen exponentially, with the majority deployed as ground-mounted Solar Parks, across the world. Deployments are projected to continue, leading to further land use change with implications for the hosting environment, including perturbations in ecological processes that underpin the supply of natural capital and ecosystem services. Whilst alterations to within Solar Park climate of magnitudes known to effect ecosystems processes have been quantified, the spatial extent remains unclear. In this study, we use remote sensing and field data to provide evidence of a Solar Park land surface temperature (LST) cool island. Specifically, we quantify a LST cooling of up to 2.3 &#8451; outside the Solar Park boundary, with the effect declining rapidly with distance from the Solar Park but extending up to 730 m away. The magnitude of cooling observed is sufficient to alter ecosystem processes, including greenhouse gas emissions with implications for the carbon intensity of the electricity produced. Consequently, we need to better understand the local climatic impacts of Solar Parks and associated cascading impacts on ecosystem function to establish the broader environmental co-benefits and costs of this rapidly growing means of low carbon electricity production.</p>
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Solar Park microclimate and vegetation management effects on grassland carbon cycling
Environmental Research Letters, 2016Co-Authors: Alona Armstrong, Nick Ostle, Jeanette WhitakerAbstract:Increasing energy demands and the drive towards low carbon (C) energy sources has prompted a rapid increase in ground-mounted Solar Parks across the world. This represents a significant global land use change with implications for the hosting ecosystems that are poorly understood. In order to investigate the effects of a typical Solar Park on the microclimate and ecosystem processes, we measured soil and air microclimate, vegetation and greenhouse gas emissions for twelve months under photovoltaic (PV) arrays, in gaps between PV arrays and in control areas at a UK Solar Park sited on species-rich grassland. Our results show that the PV arrays caused seasonal and diurnal variation in air and soil microclimate. Specifically, during the summer we observed cooling, of up to 5.2 °C, and drying under the PV arrays compared with gap and control areas. In contrast, during the winter gap areas were up to 1.7 °C cooler compared with under the PV arrays and control areas. Further, the diurnal variation in both temperature and humidity during the summer was reduced under the PV arrays. We found microclimate and vegetation management explained differences in the above ground plant biomass and species diversity, with both lower under the PV arrays. Photosynthesis and net ecosystem exchange in spring and winter were also lower under the PV arrays, explained by microclimate, soil and vegetation metrics. These data are a starting point to develop understanding of the effects of Solar Parks in other climates, and provide evidence to support the optimisation of Solar Park design and management to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services from this growing land use.
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wind farm and Solar Park effects on plant soil carbon cycling uncertain impacts of changes in ground level microclimate
Global Change Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Alona Armstrong, Jeanette Whitaker, Susan Waldron, Nick OstleAbstract:Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and Solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant–soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible effects of changes in ground-level microclimates on these phenomena is crucial to reducing uncertainty of the true renewable energy carbon cost and to maximize beneficial effects. In this Opinions article, we examine the potential for the microclimatic effects of these land-based renewable energy sources to alter plant–soil carbon cycling, hypothesize likely effects and identify critical knowledge gaps for future carbon research.
Nick Ostle - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Solar Park microclimate and vegetation management effects on grassland carbon cycling
Environmental Research Letters, 2016Co-Authors: Alona Armstrong, Nick Ostle, Jeanette WhitakerAbstract:Increasing energy demands and the drive towards low carbon (C) energy sources has prompted a rapid increase in ground-mounted Solar Parks across the world. This represents a significant global land use change with implications for the hosting ecosystems that are poorly understood. In order to investigate the effects of a typical Solar Park on the microclimate and ecosystem processes, we measured soil and air microclimate, vegetation and greenhouse gas emissions for twelve months under photovoltaic (PV) arrays, in gaps between PV arrays and in control areas at a UK Solar Park sited on species-rich grassland. Our results show that the PV arrays caused seasonal and diurnal variation in air and soil microclimate. Specifically, during the summer we observed cooling, of up to 5.2 °C, and drying under the PV arrays compared with gap and control areas. In contrast, during the winter gap areas were up to 1.7 °C cooler compared with under the PV arrays and control areas. Further, the diurnal variation in both temperature and humidity during the summer was reduced under the PV arrays. We found microclimate and vegetation management explained differences in the above ground plant biomass and species diversity, with both lower under the PV arrays. Photosynthesis and net ecosystem exchange in spring and winter were also lower under the PV arrays, explained by microclimate, soil and vegetation metrics. These data are a starting point to develop understanding of the effects of Solar Parks in other climates, and provide evidence to support the optimisation of Solar Park design and management to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services from this growing land use.
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wind farm and Solar Park effects on plant soil carbon cycling uncertain impacts of changes in ground level microclimate
Global Change Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Alona Armstrong, Jeanette Whitaker, Susan Waldron, Nick OstleAbstract:Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and Solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant–soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible effects of changes in ground-level microclimates on these phenomena is crucial to reducing uncertainty of the true renewable energy carbon cost and to maximize beneficial effects. In this Opinions article, we examine the potential for the microclimatic effects of these land-based renewable energy sources to alter plant–soil carbon cycling, hypothesize likely effects and identify critical knowledge gaps for future carbon research.
Jamshed Iqbal - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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INTELLECT - Towards autonomous cleaning of photovoltaic modules: Design and realization of a robotic cleaner
2017 First International Conference on Latest trends in Electrical Engineering and Computing Technologies (INTELLECT), 2020Co-Authors: Masood Ul Hassan, Muhammad Ibtisam Nawaz, Jamshed IqbalAbstract:Solar panels typically consist of photovoltaic (PV) cells covered by a protective glass coating, which generate electricity when subjected to radiations. However, the capability of electricity generation is constrained due to layer of dust on PV modules. In contrast with conventional method of cleaning the modules using water, this paper presents design and development of a robotic cleaner for cleaning PV modules of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (QASP). The hardware as well as software architectures of the proposed robotic cleaner are detailed. The novelty of the design lies in its low cost indigenous development and simplicity in design. The mechanism primarily consists of ducted fan, roller brush and blower fan to offer slippage-free motion and cleaning on a glassy surface. Series of experiments and field trials demonstrate efficiency of the mechanism in cleaning the modules effectively.
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Design and analysis of 300MW Solar configuration and its comparison with Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park
2018 International Conference on Engineering and Emerging Technologies (ICEET), 2018Co-Authors: Iqra Akram, Muhammad Awais, Adnan Bashir, Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan, Jamshed IqbalAbstract:Pakistan's recent energy crisis demands efficient utilization of renewable energy resources. The country, being richest with respect to Solar potential, is experiencing a remarkable progress in power generation from Photovoltaic sources. Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (QASP) is an example to improve the efficiency in term of Performance Ratio (PR) and energy injected into grid. In an attempt to further elevate the efficiency, the present work proposes configuration consisting of modules and inverters with low temperature coefficient. Based on meteorological data obtained from Meteonorm/NASA, performance of the proposed configuration is simulated in PVsyst and is then compared with that of QASP. Comparative results indicate that the proposed configuration annually improves PR by a factor of 3–4% while increasing the energy injected into the grid by 4.5 MW. It is anticipated that physical realization of the proposed configuration will improve energy yield.
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Towards autonomous cleaning of photovoltaic modules: Design and realization of a robotic cleaner
2017 First International Conference on Latest trends in Electrical Engineering and Computing Technologies (INTELLECT), 2017Co-Authors: Masood Ul Hassan, Muhammad Ibtisam Nawaz, Jamshed IqbalAbstract:Solar panels typically consist of photovoltaic (PV) cells covered by a protective glass coating, which generate electricity when subjected to radiations. However, the capability of electricity generation is constrained due to layer of dust on PV modules. In contrast with conventional method of cleaning the modules using water, this paper presents design and development of a robotic cleaner for cleaning PV modules of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (QASP). The hardware as well as software architectures of the proposed robotic cleaner are detailed. The novelty of the design lies in its low cost indigenous development and simplicity in design. The mechanism primarily consists of ducted fan, roller brush and blower fan to offer slippage-free motion and cleaning on a glassy surface. Series of experiments and field trials demonstrate efficiency of the mechanism in cleaning the modules effectively.