PHOTOVOLTAICS

In our proposed system, an array of PV (photovoltaic) modules is to be used to power our system. As detailed in the overview and the  technical core sections of this web site, electricity from our PV array is going to be used to -

A: Electrolyse water to produce hydrogen, which can be used for seasonal storage of energy or meeting demand when there is

BP-Solarex 585 Solar Panel

B: Power the house directly, bypassing the electrolyser / fuel cell system, when solar energy is sufficient to match the demand.

Of all the components in the system, the PV component is one of the most readily available and has a relatively long history of proven service. As such, it was easy to assimilate information on PV compared to assimilating information on fuel cells, hydrogen storage and the water electrolyser.

The work completed on the PV component of this group project fell into two broad categories. The first was a detailed desk-top study to investigate all aspects of PV deployment and characteristics. Click here for the results of this study. The second component comprised of experimental work (done using the university PV testing facilities) to fully characterise monocrystalline PV module behaviour. Click here for more information on this experimental work.

Other PV-related work available on these pages are the building integration of PV, the PV- Fuel cells sizing and matching work, the environmental implications of PV manufacture and the risks associated with PV installation and deployment.