Development and Integration of Biomass and Concentrating Photovoltaic System for Rural and Urban Energy Bridge: BioCPV
Lead Research Organisation:
Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science
Abstract
Given the threat posed by global warming it is widely accepted that the reliance on fossil fuels for our energy need must decrease rapidly. To tackle the global threat and self dependency on fossil fuels, renewable energy such as solar, wind, wave and biomass gives the pathways to reduce the overall CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. This project addresses the issues related to integrated solar photovoltaic system - converting incoming solar energy into electricity and biomass power technologies - generation of electrical power from waste materials, for rural electrification.
This project seeks to develop a new class of solar photovoltaic technologies - Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) to integrate with Biomass and waste power generation as a backup source and develop high efficiency hydrogen generation and storage from the integrated systems. The integrated system will be installed at Uttar Sehalai Tribal Hamlet, located in a remote village, 200km west of Calcutta for rural electrification with key focuses on satellite based remote monitoring technologies. The village comprised of 80 households and has a population of approximately 400. It is located very close to Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan (a probable World Heritage Site).
The scalable prototype developed in this project will be the first ever such integrated system (Biomass, CPV and Hydrogen) for the provision of electricity that will be installed in India. Due to the lack of electricity in the village, the major fuels currently used are kerosene, firewood and wood based raw coal. Most of the nearby villages are also without any grid connections and as a result, children from the poorer families do not have the motivation and necessary resources to take advantage of basic education and health. Many of them that start schooling are forced to discontinue their studies due to the need to work to provide for their families. Availability of energy is a critical driving factor in economic development, while limited fossil fuel resources and environmental hazards drive the need for sustainable and environmental friendly solutions based on renewable energy. Thus, the project will brings together Biomass, Concentrating Photovoltaic, and Hydrogen Generation and Storage expertise from University of Leeds, Heriot-Watt University, University of Nottingham in the UK and Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, PSG College of Technology in India with the goal of developing a low cost autonomous power generating system for rural electrification.
This project seeks to develop a new class of solar photovoltaic technologies - Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) to integrate with Biomass and waste power generation as a backup source and develop high efficiency hydrogen generation and storage from the integrated systems. The integrated system will be installed at Uttar Sehalai Tribal Hamlet, located in a remote village, 200km west of Calcutta for rural electrification with key focuses on satellite based remote monitoring technologies. The village comprised of 80 households and has a population of approximately 400. It is located very close to Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan (a probable World Heritage Site).
The scalable prototype developed in this project will be the first ever such integrated system (Biomass, CPV and Hydrogen) for the provision of electricity that will be installed in India. Due to the lack of electricity in the village, the major fuels currently used are kerosene, firewood and wood based raw coal. Most of the nearby villages are also without any grid connections and as a result, children from the poorer families do not have the motivation and necessary resources to take advantage of basic education and health. Many of them that start schooling are forced to discontinue their studies due to the need to work to provide for their families. Availability of energy is a critical driving factor in economic development, while limited fossil fuel resources and environmental hazards drive the need for sustainable and environmental friendly solutions based on renewable energy. Thus, the project will brings together Biomass, Concentrating Photovoltaic, and Hydrogen Generation and Storage expertise from University of Leeds, Heriot-Watt University, University of Nottingham in the UK and Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, PSG College of Technology in India with the goal of developing a low cost autonomous power generating system for rural electrification.
Planned Impact
DIRECT BENEFICIARIES:
Commercial Private Sector:
Several industries such as NaREC, ANSYS, West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited (Green Energy), Genotex and Rensol Power Limited have expressed an interest in participating in the project as detailed in their 'letter of support'. NaREC will benefit from this project by the new developments of concentrating photovoltaics system. ANSYS will benefit from the new algorithm development in computational fluid dynamics techniques for biomass power generating system. Green Energy will benefit from the different renewable energy system integration techniques and their application to the rural society. Genotex will benefit from the development of Solar and Biomass integrated control algorithm development and Rensol power will benefited from the development of novel, low-cost and high efficiency solar energy technology proposed - a new class of concentrating Photovoltaic devices. Developing optics, receiver and integration for solar power generation in CPV system is the challenging issue. In addition, Genotex and Rensol will potentially commercialise the new development given a successful outcome of the project in relevant areas as stated in their letter of support.
Training of Researchers:
This project will support 13 PDRAs (3 PDRA in the UK and 10 PDRA in India) and 10 PhDs (4 in the UK and 6 in India) and the training and development that we have planned in this research will provide personnel fit for the renewable energy industry, high performance modelling industry and digital technologies. This will create technical expertise in their specific tasks. In addition, bi-lateral research staff exchange will enhance their educational experience, cultural exchange to prepare them for being top researchers in the global platform.
Indirect Beneficiaries:
Successful outcome of this proposal will have a greater impact on wider economics and to the society in both the UK and India via the development of low cost and high efficiency autonomous power generating systems. In addition, wider acceptance of BioCPV technology in rural parts will directly benefit society by reducing environmental pollution. In addition, being experts in Solar energy, Biomass, Hydrogen generation/storage, power electronics and rural energy needs in two continents, all the academics in this consortium have the opportunity to share the valuable knowledge of their own expertise to the wider public and policy makers. Some of these research developments will provide valuable information to the regional and national government agencies and policy makers to influence decision making for the deployment of low carbon technologies.
In the most remote Indian villages, uncontrolled modes of localised power generation lead to large-scale environmental pollution over time. The project is being implemented in a remote village where the villagers have no access to conventional grid power and the community has only a single option for power generation that of using conventional fuel, generating flue gas exhaust, causing environmental degradation and health problems. This project, which utilises solar and biomass power, will not only eliminate environmental degradation but will also provide an educational example to this new generation, where the illiteracy rate is almost 100%.
Commercial Private Sector:
Several industries such as NaREC, ANSYS, West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited (Green Energy), Genotex and Rensol Power Limited have expressed an interest in participating in the project as detailed in their 'letter of support'. NaREC will benefit from this project by the new developments of concentrating photovoltaics system. ANSYS will benefit from the new algorithm development in computational fluid dynamics techniques for biomass power generating system. Green Energy will benefit from the different renewable energy system integration techniques and their application to the rural society. Genotex will benefit from the development of Solar and Biomass integrated control algorithm development and Rensol power will benefited from the development of novel, low-cost and high efficiency solar energy technology proposed - a new class of concentrating Photovoltaic devices. Developing optics, receiver and integration for solar power generation in CPV system is the challenging issue. In addition, Genotex and Rensol will potentially commercialise the new development given a successful outcome of the project in relevant areas as stated in their letter of support.
Training of Researchers:
This project will support 13 PDRAs (3 PDRA in the UK and 10 PDRA in India) and 10 PhDs (4 in the UK and 6 in India) and the training and development that we have planned in this research will provide personnel fit for the renewable energy industry, high performance modelling industry and digital technologies. This will create technical expertise in their specific tasks. In addition, bi-lateral research staff exchange will enhance their educational experience, cultural exchange to prepare them for being top researchers in the global platform.
Indirect Beneficiaries:
Successful outcome of this proposal will have a greater impact on wider economics and to the society in both the UK and India via the development of low cost and high efficiency autonomous power generating systems. In addition, wider acceptance of BioCPV technology in rural parts will directly benefit society by reducing environmental pollution. In addition, being experts in Solar energy, Biomass, Hydrogen generation/storage, power electronics and rural energy needs in two continents, all the academics in this consortium have the opportunity to share the valuable knowledge of their own expertise to the wider public and policy makers. Some of these research developments will provide valuable information to the regional and national government agencies and policy makers to influence decision making for the deployment of low carbon technologies.
In the most remote Indian villages, uncontrolled modes of localised power generation lead to large-scale environmental pollution over time. The project is being implemented in a remote village where the villagers have no access to conventional grid power and the community has only a single option for power generation that of using conventional fuel, generating flue gas exhaust, causing environmental degradation and health problems. This project, which utilises solar and biomass power, will not only eliminate environmental degradation but will also provide an educational example to this new generation, where the illiteracy rate is almost 100%.
Publications
Al Siyabi I
(2018)
Multiple Phase Change Material (PCM) Configuration for PCM-Based Heat Sinks-An Experimental Study
in Energies
Castellanos J
(2015)
Modelling an off-grid integrated renewable energy system for rural electrification in India using photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion
in Renewable Energy
Edmunds R
(2015)
Thermal power plant operating regimes in future British power systems with increasing variable renewable penetration
in Energy Conversion and Management
Fernández E
(2015)
Analytical Modelling of High Concentrator Photovoltaic Modules Based on Atmospheric Parameters
in International Journal of Photoenergy
Leonardo Micheli
(2012)
Infrared reflecting coverglass for multijunction cells in a terrestial high -concentrating photovoltaic system
in 27th European Photovoltaic Conference
Manickam K
(2015)
Optimization of AB2 type alloy composition with superior hydrogen storage properties for stationary applications
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Mathew A
(2014)
Biogas production from locally available aquatic weeds of Santiniketan through anaerobic digestion
in Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
| Description | An integrated solar energy and anaerobic digestion (AD) based electricity generated system was developed for providing electricity to the rural villagers. A new type of concentrated photovoltaic system, an improved AD system, and low cost hydrogen geared system was also developed during the project, |
| Exploitation Route | This six university UK Indian project developed new class of Concentrated photovoltaic system (CPV) and AD based biomass system for providing electricity to the rural villagers with minimum use of electrical storage. This new approach has been taken forward for wider scale of renewable energy integration and implementation. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | http://biocpv.ex.ac.uk |
| Description | The new finding been used by allowing ways: 1. New development of the CPV system which has concentration ratio of 500 times and using highest level os solar cell efficiency. 2. CPV system was integrated with AD system for electricity provision 3. A NGO is being involved later stage of the project for uptake of the concept. 4. More than 40 research articles have been published in the area at varieties of international journals and conferences 5. A new company named BuildSolar Limited has been established in 2018, the company is spin-off from University of Exeter, with a partial development of the technology. At present stage several companies are interested for full scale demonstration of the technology. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |
| Description | Embedded systems for Integrated Photovoltaics in Rural Buildings: E-IPB I |
| Amount | £800,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 71208-481703 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Joint UK India Virtual Clean Energy Centre |
| Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P003605/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | PSE Process Simulation |
| Organisation | Siemens Process Systems Engineering Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research team is working with PSE software to develop virtual reality dynamic simulation of the power plants. In addition we provide data from pilot scale facility to validate the new models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing technical support, seminars and software. |
| Impact | A number of journal publications joint submission of research proposals joint seminars, workshops and CPD courses |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | joint research |
| Organisation | Fraunhofer Society |
| Department | The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | development of concentrated solar cells |
| Collaborator Contribution | material optimisation of the CPV devices |
| Impact | joint publications and seminars, EU proposal applications |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Title | Butterflies as Photovoltaic Concentrators |
| Description | An optical concentrator is described that comprises an element associated, 5 in use, with a photovoltaic panel, the element comprising or having applied thereto a series of spaced nano-particles in the form of or optically equivalent to pterin containing beads. By way of example, the element may comprise a coating applied, in use, to a photovoltaic panel, the coating comprising pterin containing nano-beads. |
| IP Reference | GB1509621.7 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | This has huge potential of developing low cost solar power technology where weight power ratio is a key concern. |
| Title | Construction Block with Photovoltaic Device |
| Description | This invention relates to a construction block for use in a building, the block preferably being of transparent, light transmissive form, and which includes a photovoltaic device to permit the generation of electricity. The use of transparent, typically glass, blocks in buildings to form internal partitions whilst allowing light to pass through the partitions, or in the formation of sections of external walls which allow the transmission of light therethrough is well known. Such blocks are sometimes of solid glass form, but other arrangements in which the blocks are of hollow form are also known, such arrangements being advantageous in that they are of reduced weight and material cost. The incorporation of photovoltaic cells into or onto building structures to allow the generation of electricity is also well known. By way of example, large photovoltaic panels are often located upon or incorporated into the roofs of buildings or are mounted upon the external walls of buildings. Arrangements are known in which photovoltaic panels or cells are incorporated into glass blocks, alongside rechargeable batteries or the like and electrically operable light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes to form a solar powered light which may be incorporated into a structure, for example in the walls or floors thereof. However, in arrangements of this type, the panels or cells and other components substantially prevent the passage or transmission of light completely through the block, and so such devices are unsuitable for use in the formation of light transmitting wall or floor sections. Large solar cells are usually of opaque form and so incorporation of such panels or cells into a transparent block would prevent the block from allowing the transmission of light from one surface thereof to another. Clearly, therefore, the incorporation of large solar cells into transparent blocks intended for use in the construction of a light transmitting region or section of a wall, floor or partition is not appropriate. Arrangements are known in which solar collector devices are used to allow smaller dimension photovoltaic devices to be used and so allowing a quantity of light to pass completely through the block. Such arrangements allow the generation of electricity whilst being suitable for use in the construction of a light transmissive partition. Where used in part of an exterior wall of a building, it is desirable for a transparent block to not only allow the transmission of light between opposing surfaces thereof in order to achieved the desired function of admitting light to the building, but also for the block to be of good thermal insulating properties so as to avoid significantly negatively impacting upon the overall thermal insulating properties of the building in which they are used. Known arrangements are of relatively poor thermal insulating properties and so are unsuitable for use in such applications. It is an object of the invention to provide a block suitable for use in such applications and in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with known blocks are overcome or are of reduced effect. According to the present invention there is provided a block comprising an input wall and an output wall spaced apart from the input wall, a void being formed between the input wall and the output wall, wherein the input wall has a plurality of projections formed integrally therewith, the projections extending toward the output wall and serving to disrupt convection currents forming in the void, at least one of the projections comprising a solar concentrator which has a photovoltaic device mounted thereon. The projections preferably stop short of the output wall, but arrangements are possible in which they extend substantially to the position of the output wall, being spaced therefrom only by a sufficient distance to permit the mounting of the photovoltaic device thereon. It will be appreciated that in such an arrangement, as the photovoltaic device is mounted upon a solar concentrator, it need not be of large dimensions. Consequently, a significant quantity of light is able to pass the photovoltaic device, passing from the input wall to the output wall, and so the block is suitable for use in applications in which it is desired to allow light to enter a building, whilst still allowing electrical energy to be generated. By providing projections which disrupt the formation of convection currents in the void, the thermal insulating properties of the block are enhanced. The projections preferably extend to positions spaced from the input wall by at least 25% of the spacing between the input wall and the output wall. Preferably, they extend to positions spaced from the input wall by 30-60% of the said spacing. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the formation of convection currents is significantly disrupted, in use, by the projections. At least one of the input wall and the output wall preferably has a peripheral wall formed integrally therewith, the peripheral wall extending towards the other of the input wall and the output wall. Preferably, peripheral walls are associated with both the input wall and the output walls, the peripheral walls engaging one another to space the input wall and the output wall apart from one another, the input wall, the output wall and the peripheral walls together defining the void. The peripheral walls may be cold fused to one another. However, if desired, other securing techniques may be used. The projections may be arranged in a regular array. However, other patterns may be used, if desired. When viewed from the input wall, the parts of the block formed with the solar concentrator(s) and photovoltaic device(s) will appear as dark spots or regions. By appropriate positioning of the projections, a desired visual appearance may be achieved. For example, the dark spots may be arranged to give the appearance of dark lines. If desired, certain of the projections may have no photovoltaic device associated therewith. Instead, they may have a coloured element associated therewith, with the result that the block appears to have coloured spots or regions thereon or therein. Again, by appropriate location of the projections, a desired visual appearance may be achieved. The outer face of the input wall may be shaped to include domed regions aligned with the projections. The domed regions may serve to increase the angle of incidence with which light is able to enter the projections. The output wall may be patterned to provide a desired visual effect. By way of example, it may be textured to provide an obscure glazed effect. Alternatively, through the use of coloured elements mounted upon the projections the block may give the effect of a series of coloured spots or pixels. Where a plurality of photovoltaic devices is present, they are conveniently connected together, and output conductors from the devices are preferably arranged to pass from the block, for example through an opening formed in the output wall or between the input and output walls. The projections may take a range of forms. Where serving as solar concentrators, they are preferably shaped in such a manner as to define an input side of, for example, substantially circular or elliptical shape and an output side of, for example, substantially square or rectangular shape. Whilst the aforementioned shapes are convenient, other shapes may be used. By way of example, the input and/or output sides may be of polygonal shape such as being of hexagonal shape, or they may be of non-regular shape. The photovoltaic device is preferably of substantially the same dimensions as the output side. The input sides of adjacent ones of the solar concentrators are preferably spaced apart from one another. |
| IP Reference | GB1705840.5 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Our technical impact has been very strong on the glass block industry wherein we have completely transformed a standard construction material into an innovative energy solution. Prototyping of our first product Solar Squared is in progress and we hope to complete it by August this year. Further new designs of the product are being developed for the next round of prototyping. Socially we have presented our product to the public, researchers and school children visiting the Environment & Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter. We have also participated in the stakeholder workshop on BIPV technologies organized by BRE. Through this workshop we have introduced our product to existing BIPV manufacturers and gathered their feedback, understand the wider challenges BIPV industry faces and unlock routes for future developments. The Solar Squared unit will improve the performance of a widely used building material (glass block). The function of architectural glass blocks is to allow daylighting, and lower artificial lighting loads. Thus, Build Solar have reduced the active cell area of the PV, while still pulling back efficiency and yield by concentrating incoming light. The power density at standard tests conditions is analogous to approx. 25 Wp/m2. This compares well with amorphous silicon and organic photovoltaics which also have a similar power density. With the addition of the concentrators and solar cells in the block, internal convective air currents are reduced which in turn improves the thermal insulation performance of the block versus the standard hollow version. The traditional glass block has a U-Value =2.8 W/m2 K. Solar Squared Glass Block aims to reduce this by up to 50 %. The improvement of U-Value to 1.4 W/m2 K will result in thermal energy savings of 0.51 kWh/annum/block. This equates to Year 1 savings of 69,700 kWh, the equivalent of 6 houses' energy demand. By year 4 this is 4,056,114 kWh or 347 houses (based on U-Value improvement from 2.8 to 1.4 W/m2 K, Year 1-unit sales of 136,400 units, year 5 unit sales of 7,937,600 units and an average UK household energy usage of 11,700 kWH p.a.). The CO2e savings equate to 24t CO2e saved in Year 1 rising to 1,425t CO2e by Year 4 (based on UK grid CO2e grid electricity of 0.35156kg CO2e/kWH, BEIS Carbon Factors 2017). The price per tonne of carbon saved equates to ?73k in Year 1 falling to just ?11k per tonne by Year 4. Assuming full market adoption to 114m glass blocks this results in carbon savings of over 20,000t per annum. The concentration concept is not new and has been proven in other concentrating solar technologies. In the case of Solar Squared, the team at Exeter have chosen a relatively low power concentrator which magnifies by a factor 3 - 6. This allows the concentrating lens to have a wide angle of acceptance (ca. half acceptance angle 35°), meaning that contrary to typical high concentration application which need dual axis tracking, a vertically installed south facing Solar Squared array should be able to receive light for at least 7 hours a day. The Energy Payback Time of the system can be as low as 3yrs which is comparable to current rooftop PV technologies, something that current BIPV struggle to deliver. The Energy Return On Investment of Solar Squared is targeted to be less than 5 years with an estimated equivalent carbon footprint of 20g CO2e/kWh energy generated. Based on the BEIS toolkit for valuation of energy use the Year 4 energy savings have an NPV of?619,280 and an annualized NPV. |
| Title | CFD modelling tool for Anaerobic Digester based bioenergy system |
| Description | High precision computational fluid dynamics model was developed to optimised AD system |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | It optimise the AD system for a given climatic conditions |
| Title | Discretised Thermal model for concentrated photovoltaic system |
| Description | Grid indecent thermal model was developed for characterisation of concentrated solar photovoltaic system, which enables to predict material's temperature. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | It predict the component level temperature within a CPV system and material's effect with the temperature. |
| Title | Energy Vector model for integrated renewable energy system |
| Description | An energy vector model was developed to optimise the energy flow for a Bioenergy, Solar and Hydrogen based energy system, which includes different energy resources and variability independently. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | This unique software enable to configure integrated renewable energy system for a cost effective manner. |
| Title | Integrated optical and thermal modelling tool for photovoltaic system |
| Description | Integrated model for concentrated photovoltaic system was developed which includes optics and heat transfer and its electrical performance of the CPV system, |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | It enables to predict full performance of the CPV system which includes, optics, heat transfer and electrical performance. |
| Title | New Metal hydride based hydrogen storage material |
| Description | New alloys for hydrogen storage was developed by the university of Nottingham, which increased the density and reduct the cost of hydrogen storing system |
| Type Of Technology | New Material/Compound |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | High capacity hydrogen storage facility developed |
| Title | Optical modelling tool for concentrated photovoltaics system |
| Description | In-House developed optical modelling tool was developed for optical characterisation of concentrated photovoltaic system, it enables to calculate flux distribution of the solar cell for any photovoltaic system |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | Due to highly intermittence of solar radiation in cloudy conditions, it is difficult to calculate the solar uniformity of the solar flux at solar cell, which was developed by an automated process using the optical model. |
| Company Name | Build Solar |
| Description | Build Solar develops photovoltaic cells, for the collection of solar energy, that can be integrated with building features such as walls and skylights. |
| Year Established | 2017 |
| Impact | 60% of global carbon emissions are caused by buildings. Our vision is to challenge this adversity through the concept of Net Zero Energy buildings, meaning the total amount of energy used on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site. BUILD SOLAR aims to commercialize innovative photovoltaic solutions by combining them with traditional construction materials and transforming buildings from energy consumers to power generators. Through a series of its products, the company is poised to become a major key player in the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) industry. The BIPV market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 16% between 2016 and 2024 and the global market is currently valued at $7 billion. To catch up with this growing industry and gather further momentum BUILD SOLAR is currently faced with several obstacles including lack of education about these technologies among architects, standard product specifications, building regulatory, manufacturing costs and lack of well-trained installers. Aimed at the commercial and public sectors, our first product Solar Squared provides standard benefits such as daylighting, protection, and structure alongside electricity generation and better thermal insulation. The company has established a route to market within the UK market through Glass Block Technology Limited, one of the major glass block sellers, distributors, and installers in Europe. The company will build a network of partnerships with similar glass block companies to access international markets in the future. We have already patented our technology through the following UK patent "Construction Block with Photovoltaic Device, PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 1705840.5". Our technical impact has been very strong on the glass block industry wherein we have completely transformed a standard construction material into an innovative energy solution. Prototyping of our first product Solar Squared is in progress and we hope to complete it by August this year. Further new designs of the product are being developed for the next round of prototyping. Socially we have presented our product to the public, researchers and school children visiting the Environment & Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter. We have also participated in the stakeholder workshop on BIPV technologies organized by BRE. Through this workshop we have introduced our product to existing BIPV manufacturers and gathered their feedback, understand the wider challenges BIPV industry faces and unlock routes for future developments. The Solar Squared unit will improve the performance of a widely used building material (glass block). The function of architectural glass blocks is to allow daylighting, and lower artificial lighting loads. Thus, Build Solar have reduced the active cell area of the PV, while still pulling back efficiency and yield by concentrating incoming light. The power density at standard tests conditions is analogous to approx. 25 Wp/m2. This compares well with amorphous silicon and organic photovoltaics which also have a similar power density. With the addition of the concentrators and solar cells in the block, internal convective air currents are reduced which in turn improves the thermal insulation performance of the block versus the standard hollow version. The traditional glass block has a U-Value =2.8 W/m2 K. Solar Squared Glass Block aims to reduce this by up to 50 %. The improvement of U-Value to 1.4 W/m2 K will result in thermal energy savings of 0.51 kWh/annum/block. This equates to Year 1 savings of 69,700 kWh, the equivalent of 6 houses' energy demand. By year 4 this is 4,056,114 kWh or 347 houses (based on U-Value improvement from 2.8 to 1.4 W/m2 K, Year 1-unit sales of 136,400 units, year 5 unit sales of 7,937,600 units and an average UK household energy usage of 11,700 kWH p.a.). The CO2e savings equate to 24t CO2e saved in Year 1 rising to 1,425t CO2e by Year 4 (based on UK grid CO2e grid electricity of 0.35156kg CO2e/kWH, BEIS Carbon Factors 2017). The price per tonne of carbon saved equates to ?73k in Year 1 falling to just ?11k per tonne by Year 4. Assuming full market adoption to 114m glass blocks this results in carbon savings of over 20,000t per annum. The concentration concept is not new and has been proven in other concentrating solar technologies. In the case of Solar Squared, the team at Exeter have chosen a relatively low power concentrator which magnifies by a factor 3 - 6. This allows the concentrating lens to have a wide angle of acceptance (ca. half acceptance angle 35°), meaning that contrary to typical high concentration application which need dual axis tracking, a vertically installed south facing Solar Squared array should be able to receive light for at least 7 hours a day. The Energy Payback Time of the system can be as low as 3yrs which is comparable to current rooftop PV technologies, something that current BIPV struggle to deliver. The Energy Return On Investment of Solar Squared is targeted to be less than 5 years with an estimated equivalent carbon footprint of 20g CO2e/kWh energy generated. Based on the BEIS toolkit for valuation of energy use the Year 4 energy savings have an NPV of?619,280 and an annualized NPV. BUILD SOLAR is a recent startup and an outcome of more than five years of Solar PV research at the University of Exeter. Since its launch at the Cleantech Innovate UK in April this year it has managed to raise a lot of interest from several construction companies and media. Some of the notable articles can be found below. Build Solar in the Press • Solar power glass bricks generate energy while letting in light, Reuteurs, November 28th, 2017 • Watts new in glass blocks, Royal Institute of British Architects September 8th2017 • Researchers develop solar glass blocks to power houses, PV Magazine August 24th2017 • Could This Glass Brick Be the Solution to Solar Energy's Design Problems?, Architectural Digest August 23rd2017 • Revolutionary glass building blocks generate their own solar energy, Inhabitat August17th2017 • University of Exeter creates energy generating glass bricks, BIM+Chartered Institute of Building August 23rd2017 • Solar blocks could replace solar panels on buildings, TreeHugger, August17th2017 • These solar glass bricks let in light while generating energy, Curbed August 23rd2017 • Is This Solar Power Tech the Future of Glass Blocks?, Architect-Journal of American Architects, August17th2017 • How to Leverage Glass Block Construction to Achieve LEED Certification, Architizer August 31st2017 • These solar glass blocks would make great skylights for your solar roofs, Techcrunch August18th2017 |
| Website | http://buildsolar.eu |
| Company Name | Penryn PV Ltd Ltd |
| Description | |
| Year Established | 2014 |
| Impact | Its just been developing |
| Description | Butterfly-inspired technique could make solar energy cheaper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News article published on Butterfly-inspired technique could make solar energy cheaper, our discovery initially published in our University of Exeter website, followed by more than 110 press article world wide |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/the-good-earth/Butterfly-inspired-technique-coul... |
| Description | Environment and sustainability day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Over 100 students from all over cornwall, UK participated in the Environment and sustainability day at University of Exeter's Penryn campus, and we presented how solar cell works |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
| Description | Invited lecture on Micro-Manufacturing Technology and Applications to the Manufacture of High-Value Added Products |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a lecture on on Micro-Manufacturing Technology and Applications to the Manufacture of High-Value Added Products; to share information with other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Invited lecture: Deterministic manufacturing of ultra precision and freeform surfaces |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a presentation on deterministic manufacturing of ultra precision and freeform surfaces, in order to share information with other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | National women in engineering at Truro High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | over 100 female students age range of 10-13 were attended for the national women in engineering day at Truro high school, and we presented novel way of making solar cell |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
| Description | News article in national newspaper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | several press article published at december 2012 for UK-Indian project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | News article on Butterfly research for concentrated photovoltaic system |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Since our publication on scientific report about the butterfly wings as solar concentrator, over 110 press articles published worldwide in 2015. also, several press article published in printed news media |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.simplescience.co.in/statesman/276.5thAug2015.ButterflyWingTweakSolarCell.pdf |
| Description | Scientific committee member for European Society of Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | poster presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Member of programme committee, review papers, recommendation,selection best paper award and studentship After the talk researchers from Leuven University, Frauhofer IPT, Bremen University have visited my lab and discussed potential joint EU Horizon 2020 grant applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |
| URL | http://www.euspen.eu/OurEvents.aspx |
| Description | UK/India Energy Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk on outcome of our RCUK/India project for a audience invited by FCO and British council. The outcome of this project had a major social impact in India via electrification of villages Using low carbon energy system. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |