phy699 - Photovoltaics Systems & Energy Meteorology (Complete module description)

Attendance: 56 hrs, Self study: 124 hrs

Basic knowledge of solar radiation and solar resources phy642 Renewable Energy Technologies I

After successful completion of the module students should be able to:

• explain the concepts of physical processes governing the surface solar irradiance available for solar energy applications
• model the solar radiation and show their expertise in application, adaptation and development of models
• discuss state-of-the-art-methods in satellite-based irradiance estimation and solar power forecasting
• categorize and feature different PV systems (PV on-grid, PV off-grid, PV pumping, PV-hybrid)
• explain concepts behind PV system design
• explain the operation principles of PV systems

This specialization module covers more in-depth topics concerning photovoltaic systems and solar energy meteorology. Based on their knowledge about the solar resource and photovoltaic technology, students learn to design a photovoltaic system for various environmental conditions and predict its
performance.
I. Adv. Solar Energy Meteorology (Lecture - 90 h workload)

• Physics of radiative processes in the atmosphere
• Physical modelling of atmospheric radiative transfer (incl. computing tools)
• Solar irradiance modelling for solar energy applications
• Solar spectral irradiance: Theory and relevance for solar energy systems
• Satellite-based estimation of solar irradiance
• Solar irradiance (and solar power) forecasting
• Solar radiation measurements: Basics and setup of highquality measurement system

II. Photovoltaic Systems (Lecture - 90 h workload)

• Detailed description of involved balance of system components (e.g. inverter, charge controllers)
• System Operation
• Detailed System Design -from meteorological input across component rating to energy service output

S. Hegedus, A. Luque, Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, published John Wiley and Sons (2nd Edition 2011)
Christiana Honsberg and Stuart Bowden, PVCDROM,http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/instructions, Access date 2.10.2014
Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Solarenergie, Planning and installing photovoltaic systems: a guide for installers, architects and engineers. Earthscan, London, Third Edition, 2013 (ISBN-13: 978-1849713436)

Passing of the written exam in Solar Energy Meteorology (120 min). Active participation in Photovoltaic Systems. The specific conditions of the active participation will be communicated in the beginning of the semester.