Low-cost modular solar power system using Total Internal Photonic Absorption (TIPA)
Lead Research Organisation:
Anglia Ruskin University
Department Name: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Abstract
The UK has 90,000MW of electricity generation capacity compared to 4,000MW in Nigeria, 20 times more despite the UK having less than half the population [1]. Nigeria's national grid generates 4,500MW, peak electricity demand has risen to 14,882MW. Furthermore, only 54.3% of Nigeria's population is connected to the energy grid, whilst those connected to the grid experience power supply difficulties 60% of the time [2]. Ghana, despite having enough electricity to afford exporting to other countries, is also in an energy crisis due to unpredictable power supply to homes and industry [3].
The power supply issues experienced in these and other sub-Saharan countries exerts a significant brake on economic growth. According to the World Bank, electricity poses the second most important constraint to business activities in Ghana [4]. Renewable energies, in particular solar and hydro power, provide an extremely viable option to resolving power crises. But, despite the global growth in the solar energy market - solar can be considered on par for cost-per-kW with most other energy sources [5] - African countries continue to lag. While Africa has the best solar resource in the world, it contains less than 1% (1.92GW) of global installed solar capacity. Many African countries fail to recognise the viability of solar-power. For example, Kenya's energy regulatory body, in its "Kenya-Least-Cost-Power-Development-Plan", makes no provision for the generation of electricity. As a result, it is extremely difficult for large-scale solar projects to gain investments.
At the small-scale end of the market, adoption of solar-home-systems (SHSs) is restricted due to limited access to finance, awareness and access to technical support services. Although PV solar is now more attractive than ever before, its remains expensive for low income countries. While solar is cheap to run in the long-term, unfortunately, it's the set-up costs that hold back many African states from getting involved [6]. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are built from relatively expensive silicon based materials and shipping from overseas manufacturing, raises the costs even further.
Furthermore, PV solar panels have a modest panel efficiency of 22%, but must be installed at a particular angle of incidence to sunlight in order to achieve 22%, and require a relatively large surface area. These characteristics make it more difficult for practical installation in local markets, where specialist solar skills may be in short supply and limited outdoor space (e.g. roof) could be a problem, since domestic dwelling buildings tend to be smaller.
To address the aforementioned issues of high-cost, limited space and lack of skilled technical personnel, we will develop and bring to market TIPA - a low-cost modular solar power system based on Total Internal Photonic Absorption technology.
REFERENCES
[1] www.edfenergy.com/future-energy/uk-energy
[2] Aliyu, 2013: Nigeria-electricity-crisis: Power-generation-capacity-expansion-&-enviro-ramifications.
[3] Adjapong, 2018: Dumsor: Energy-Crisis-In-Ghana,Stanford-University
[4] World-Bank, June-2013: Energizing-Economic-Growth-in-Ghana
[5] Clifford, 2016, Forbes: Watch-out, coal! Dubai-announces-plans-for-world's-lowest-cost-solar-plant
[6] Labordena, 2018: Sunny-days-and-solar-ways:How-Africa-must-and-should-plug-its-electricity-gap
The power supply issues experienced in these and other sub-Saharan countries exerts a significant brake on economic growth. According to the World Bank, electricity poses the second most important constraint to business activities in Ghana [4]. Renewable energies, in particular solar and hydro power, provide an extremely viable option to resolving power crises. But, despite the global growth in the solar energy market - solar can be considered on par for cost-per-kW with most other energy sources [5] - African countries continue to lag. While Africa has the best solar resource in the world, it contains less than 1% (1.92GW) of global installed solar capacity. Many African countries fail to recognise the viability of solar-power. For example, Kenya's energy regulatory body, in its "Kenya-Least-Cost-Power-Development-Plan", makes no provision for the generation of electricity. As a result, it is extremely difficult for large-scale solar projects to gain investments.
At the small-scale end of the market, adoption of solar-home-systems (SHSs) is restricted due to limited access to finance, awareness and access to technical support services. Although PV solar is now more attractive than ever before, its remains expensive for low income countries. While solar is cheap to run in the long-term, unfortunately, it's the set-up costs that hold back many African states from getting involved [6]. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are built from relatively expensive silicon based materials and shipping from overseas manufacturing, raises the costs even further.
Furthermore, PV solar panels have a modest panel efficiency of 22%, but must be installed at a particular angle of incidence to sunlight in order to achieve 22%, and require a relatively large surface area. These characteristics make it more difficult for practical installation in local markets, where specialist solar skills may be in short supply and limited outdoor space (e.g. roof) could be a problem, since domestic dwelling buildings tend to be smaller.
To address the aforementioned issues of high-cost, limited space and lack of skilled technical personnel, we will develop and bring to market TIPA - a low-cost modular solar power system based on Total Internal Photonic Absorption technology.
REFERENCES
[1] www.edfenergy.com/future-energy/uk-energy
[2] Aliyu, 2013: Nigeria-electricity-crisis: Power-generation-capacity-expansion-&-enviro-ramifications.
[3] Adjapong, 2018: Dumsor: Energy-Crisis-In-Ghana,Stanford-University
[4] World-Bank, June-2013: Energizing-Economic-Growth-in-Ghana
[5] Clifford, 2016, Forbes: Watch-out, coal! Dubai-announces-plans-for-world's-lowest-cost-solar-plant
[6] Labordena, 2018: Sunny-days-and-solar-ways:How-Africa-must-and-should-plug-its-electricity-gap
Planned Impact
TIPA would have significant impact and benefit for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as follows:
ECONOMIC
- We estimate that 45-55% (£9.03million) of turnover generated by the TIPA sales will flow to local supply chains, in the form of materials bought, out sourced manufacturing and installation. The intent is to develop a solution that allow the consortium to keep supply chain local, so TIPA will generate additional revenue for local economies in 2020.
- Reduce payback for the customer from 5 years to 3 years by increasing generated energy output efficiency and reducing costs.
- Successful roll-out and export of TIPA system will reinforce the UK's reputation as a leader in promoting initiative that empower underdeveloped nations to grow their own economies through technical, manufacturing and environmental innovation.
GOVERNMENTAL PRIORITIES
- Assist African governments to meet their energy and renewable energy targets i.e. reduce the number of homes without electricity, increase the use of renewable energy. For example, Nigeria to generate 30% of energy through renewable sources.
- TIPA will address the Energy Trilemma, through the provision of sustainable energy across the 3 dimensions: security, equity (accessibility and affordability), environmental sustainability.
- TIPA will enable the Nigerian government and REA (Rural Electrification Agency) to provide more electricity to more rural communities in Nigeria, without requirement for mains infrastructure; infrastructure which the major DisCos (Distribution Companies) will not install without significant government investment.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL
- A general rule of thumb is that a diesel generator will use 0.4litres of diesel per kWh produced. Every litre of fuel has 0.73 kg of pure carbon, 2.6 kg of carbon dioxide released per litre of diesel fuel. In 2026, TIPA will be directly responsible for reducing diesel consumption by 2.9million litres and CO2 emission by 2.13million kg. *Figures based on 7,300 TIPA, each generating 1,000kWh per year.
- TIPA will remove the need for women and children in agricultural communities to travel long distance, usually by foot or bicycle, to buy fuel to run diesel power generators.
- Consumers will have much greater energy security, since they will no longer be reliant on generator fuel (diesel), which isn't always in plentiful supply or easily obtainable.
- TIPA will remove the noisy and dirty diesel generators currently used, thereby providing a more relaxed, less stressful home environment; allowing families and friends to spend time together, to chat in peace, relax while watching TV or listening to radio, as well as allowing children to concentrate on school homework.
- Since consumers will no longer use diesel generators, there is no risk to their health of breathing in dangerous NOx particulate matter from the exhaust fumes.
- TIPA will deliver savings to consumers of £8.21million in the first 5 years on market.
- Roll-out of TIPA will generate jobs in manufacturing, installation and maintenance. Maintenance-related jobs will be very local to the installation site (hence spread throughout the country) and remain in place for the lifetime of the solar home system (20+ years). This long-term supply for employment, at a range of proficiency levels, will help sustain the local economy and society.
- A ready store of clean energy, for those connected to mains, for when the grid drops out.
ECONOMIC
- We estimate that 45-55% (£9.03million) of turnover generated by the TIPA sales will flow to local supply chains, in the form of materials bought, out sourced manufacturing and installation. The intent is to develop a solution that allow the consortium to keep supply chain local, so TIPA will generate additional revenue for local economies in 2020.
- Reduce payback for the customer from 5 years to 3 years by increasing generated energy output efficiency and reducing costs.
- Successful roll-out and export of TIPA system will reinforce the UK's reputation as a leader in promoting initiative that empower underdeveloped nations to grow their own economies through technical, manufacturing and environmental innovation.
GOVERNMENTAL PRIORITIES
- Assist African governments to meet their energy and renewable energy targets i.e. reduce the number of homes without electricity, increase the use of renewable energy. For example, Nigeria to generate 30% of energy through renewable sources.
- TIPA will address the Energy Trilemma, through the provision of sustainable energy across the 3 dimensions: security, equity (accessibility and affordability), environmental sustainability.
- TIPA will enable the Nigerian government and REA (Rural Electrification Agency) to provide more electricity to more rural communities in Nigeria, without requirement for mains infrastructure; infrastructure which the major DisCos (Distribution Companies) will not install without significant government investment.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL
- A general rule of thumb is that a diesel generator will use 0.4litres of diesel per kWh produced. Every litre of fuel has 0.73 kg of pure carbon, 2.6 kg of carbon dioxide released per litre of diesel fuel. In 2026, TIPA will be directly responsible for reducing diesel consumption by 2.9million litres and CO2 emission by 2.13million kg. *Figures based on 7,300 TIPA, each generating 1,000kWh per year.
- TIPA will remove the need for women and children in agricultural communities to travel long distance, usually by foot or bicycle, to buy fuel to run diesel power generators.
- Consumers will have much greater energy security, since they will no longer be reliant on generator fuel (diesel), which isn't always in plentiful supply or easily obtainable.
- TIPA will remove the noisy and dirty diesel generators currently used, thereby providing a more relaxed, less stressful home environment; allowing families and friends to spend time together, to chat in peace, relax while watching TV or listening to radio, as well as allowing children to concentrate on school homework.
- Since consumers will no longer use diesel generators, there is no risk to their health of breathing in dangerous NOx particulate matter from the exhaust fumes.
- TIPA will deliver savings to consumers of £8.21million in the first 5 years on market.
- Roll-out of TIPA will generate jobs in manufacturing, installation and maintenance. Maintenance-related jobs will be very local to the installation site (hence spread throughout the country) and remain in place for the lifetime of the solar home system (20+ years). This long-term supply for employment, at a range of proficiency levels, will help sustain the local economy and society.
- A ready store of clean energy, for those connected to mains, for when the grid drops out.
| Description | One of the limitations solar power generation faces and its efficiency is the angle of the incidence of solar radiation on solar flat panels. The solar panels normally are placed south-facing to obtain the maximum amount of the rays on the junctions where power generation takes place. During this project an inventive step was taken to do away with flat panels. According to the first aspect of the invention, a solar pipe consists of a tube with two ends (first and second) and two surfaces (internal and external). The internal surface is coated with a layer of photovoltaic (PV) material, while the first end features an aperture to allow light to enter. Preferably, the first end of the tube is equipped with a convex reflector that includes a lens and a dome. Similarly, the second end of the tube should also have a convex reflector. Light entering through the first end of the tube may either strike the internal surface with the layer of PV material or travel straight through to the bottom of the tube. At the bottom, a convex reflector, such as a mirror, will reflect the light onto the internal surface coated with the PV material. In an optimal configuration, a layer of reflective material should be applied to the internal surface beneath the PV material, and this reflective layer could be a mirror coating. The tube is made from plastic material that utilizes thin-film photovoltaic technology, operating based on the principles of total internal photonic absorption (TIPA). To enhance radiation absorption, large refracting domes or focal lenses are employed to capture varying angles of light and direct them into the tube. A bi-concave lens is included within the tube, causing the incoming light to diverge towards the thin film on the pipe's walls. Unlike traditional PV panels, the light entering the tube-composed of photons-is absorbed by the layer of PV material. Any photon that fails to strike the PV material at the appropriate angle will either be reflected by the PV layer or the underlying reflective layer, redirecting it to another part of the internal surface or to the concave reflector or refractor for further reflection. Once inside the tube, photons cannot escape except through the entry aperture of the solar pipe. The angle of incidence is adjusted through repeated reflections, optimizing the light's path. Photons absorbed by the panel are reflected and continue as photons. Inside the solar pipe, photons are trapped and continue their journey, increasing the likelihood of absorption with each subsequent interaction with the photovoltaic material. This design enhances the probability of quantum electron displacement, thereby increasing the efficiency of the thin film by maximizing the number of times a photon can interact with the photovoltaic layer. Surface area represents a limiting factor for standard PV systems, whether thermal or photovoltaic. Thus, the total amount of energy that can be converted is directly related to the available surface area. The surface area of a cylinder is significantly greater than that of a flat surface. The optimal energy production depends on the length and diameter of the tube. Additionally, efficiency is influenced by the number of reflections and the size of the aperture, as some photons may escape from it. The combination of a refractive dome, a divergent lens, and a convex mirror at the base of the tube is ideally suited to direct photons toward the layer of PV material. TIPA will generate more energy in a given area compared to flat plate collectors due to the efficient use of space and the total internal reflection of photons inside the pipe. |
| Exploitation Route | The conceptual prototypes have served as proof of concept for the invention. The geometry considered for the prototype was a circular tube; however, other geometries can be assessed to optimise the maximum total photonic absorption. In the future, we propose to consider honeycombs, a hexagonal geometry where the angles between surfaces can be used for heat recovery and cooling the top section of the tube. An extensive simulation of the fluid flow inside the tube and the focal length of the convex and concave lenses was conducted. The validated models are very useful tools and should be extended to reduce the number of experiments in the future. Other concepts should also be considered through the value engineering of the prototype for commercial purposes. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Construction Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics Energy Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Retail Transport Other |
| URL | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tipa-the-world-s-most-efficient-solar-panel#/ |
| Description | the design was used to contribute to our understanding of quantum study in photons to use in development of solar panels. much interest was generated in development of TIPA in Nigeria for deprived villages who don't even get access to 30 min of electricity a day. With the implementation of TIPA villages are now able to generate their own electricity and it has begun to educate the Sub-Saharan countries that fail to recognise the viability of solar power. For example, Kenya's energy regulatory body, in its "Kenya-Least-Cost-Power-Development-Plan", makes no provision for the generation of electricity. As a result, it is extremely difficult for large-scale solar projects to gain investments. TIPA has changed the attitude in much of African countries and investments in solar farms are becoming a serious investment. in the UK TIPA has stimulated many investigators to look into alternative designs of flat panel solar collectors with energy efficiency improvements and since TIPA some alternatives to flat panels are emerging. Furthermore, crowdfunding and raised GBP 164,659 from 546 backers and GBP 140,985 from 471 backers on Sep 15, 2023, with another platform |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural Policy & public services |
| Description | TIPA Hexagonal geometry |
| Organisation | Anglia Ruskin University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided the FE simulation of a hexagonal geometry for optimised photonic absorption |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have provided simulation results for various geometry to be used for crowdfund rising |
| Impact | fundraising of GBP 164,659 by 546 backers £140,985 by 471 backers on Sep 15, 2023, with another platform. this was for development of the hexagonal geometry design |
| Start Year | 2023 |