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PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

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In this way, the optimum solutions for supply type, siting and sizing are found,<br />

and an economic evaluation is then carried out.<br />

This is an excellent system that combines a comprehensive survey <strong>of</strong> the siting<br />

potential <strong>of</strong> a specific area with a matching <strong>of</strong> the potentially available supply<br />

with local demand. However, this type <strong>of</strong> survey is site specific, and it would<br />

take time to gather the relevant information and build up a model for a specific<br />

area. It is also mainly suited to the analysis <strong>of</strong> larger systems, as this type and<br />

depth <strong>of</strong> analysis would not be necessary for an individual building, farm or<br />

small community. Although this system does not consider the use <strong>of</strong> biomass,<br />

waste and derived fuels, and concentrates on electricity supply only, it could be<br />

expanded to consider these sources and to look at electricity, heat and<br />

transportation fuel supply. This, however, would greatly increase the<br />

complexity <strong>of</strong> the model, and make it increasingly difficult to work with and<br />

more time consuming to create.<br />

3.2 Matching Demand and Supply<br />

Temporal, quantitative, and climate analyses are vital when dealing with<br />

intermittent renewable energy supplies, and should all be considered in any<br />

system that contains these types <strong>of</strong> supply. For example, many people find the<br />

concept <strong>of</strong> solar powered streetlights strange, however, it is the use <strong>of</strong> batteries<br />

that makes this possible. The key to designing such a system is to correctly size<br />

the required photovoltaic array and battery provision, taking into account the<br />

energy required during the longest night, with the solar resource available<br />

during the shortest day. The effects <strong>of</strong> cloud cover must also be taken into<br />

consideration, and there may be scope for some interseasonal storage in the<br />

battery. Clearly, the results for such a system situated near the equator, with its<br />

unvarying day lengths, would be very different from one near the north or south<br />

pole where there can be six months <strong>of</strong> darkness followed by six months <strong>of</strong> light.<br />

This system would be even more complicated if it were wind power which was<br />

being considered, as the wind resource is much more unpredictable, and varies<br />

substantially throughout the day.<br />

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