Ostfeld, A. E., & Arias, A. C. (2017). Flexible photovoltaic power systems: Integration opportunities, challenges and advances. Flexible and Printed Electronics, 2(1), 013001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-8585/aa5750
Notes:
Flexible PV modules are lighter weight and can be rolled up for transportation or storage
Ideal for remote portable lighting systems
Flexible batteries can be integrated into the PV module so no external battery pack is needed.
Performance and financial evaluation of various photovoltaic vertical facades on high-rise building in Malaysia | Elsevier Enhanced Reader. (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.11.003
Notes:
Vertically mounted PV are ideal where no horizontal space is available such as in a city
Vertically mounted PV is capable of generating more electricity than a horizontally mounted system in cases where the vertical area is significantly larger.
Vertical surfaces do not collect dirt making them ideal in dusty environments
Al-Haddad, T., Brooks, B., Gentry, R., Goodman, J., Lohr, J., & Rahimzadeh, K. (2014). Quad Pod: Ultra-efficient PV Racking System for Long-span Ground Mount and Canopy Applications. 1566–1575. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784413517.160
Notes:
Pre-assembled in a controlled environment such as a factory improves worker safety, and higher quality
Uses galvanized steel due to lower cost compared to custom aluminum extrusions
Quad Pod can be either ground mounted or span over large spaces
Trautz, K. M., Jenkins, P. P., Walters, R. J., Scheiman, D., Hoheisel, R., Tatavarti, R., Chan, R., Miyamoto, H., Adams, J. G. J., Elarde, V. C., & Grimsley, J. (2013). Mobile Solar Power. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 3(1), 535–541. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2012.2215580
Notes:
Semirigid, lightweight, rugged, and efficient portable solar blanket that can be stored or mounted on backpacks of Marines
Decreased use of liquid fuels for power generation with solar being the best current technology to replace liquid fuels
High performance panels by W/kg and W/m^2
Future work to make panels so they can connect in parallel to charge a battery faster
Cavieres, A., Al-Haddad, T., Gentry, R., Nagel, K., & Goodman, J. (2013). SIMPLE BoS: Towards a Multidisciplinary Integration of Photovoltaic Energy in Buildings. ARCC Conference Repository. https://doi.org/10.17831/rep:arcc%y198
Notes:
Most significant pv cost reduction needs to come from “balance of system” cost
One strategy is for optimizing individual components having multidisciplinary groups working together
SIMPLE BoS project aims to reduce racking and hardware cost by 50%
Keeping standardization between each of the individual components
Ren, M., Mitchell, C. R., & Mo, W. (2020). Dynamic life cycle economic and environmental assessment of residential solar photovoltaic systems. Science of The Total Environment, 722, 137932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137932
Notes:
Houses with a small number of panels/size are best not investing in battery storage systems as this will increase the system cost
Increasing the number of panels will increase the optimum battery storage capacity
Having a small number of panels with no battery storage is the most economic savings
Smith, B., & Margolis, R. M. (2019). Expanding the Photovoltaic Supply Chain in the United States: Opportunities and Challenges (NREL/TP-6A20-73363). National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). https://doi.org/10.2172/1547262
Notes:
Analysis of new PV components and materials that the U.S. is already a net exporter of will give a competitive advantage as well as a unique U.S. product
U.S. manufacturing of PV cells and modules has declined the demand has increased
Utilization of steel in racking components as U.S. steel production has been 80% below capacity.
(Goodman, J., Nagel, K., Wren, M., & Morris, J. (2014). Applying Lean Process Principles to Improve Labor Efficiency of Solar Photovoltaic Installations. 709–718. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784413517.073)
Notes:
In order to reduce the cost of PV systems standardization of information, hardware, and work task
Solar module costs have significantly dropped in price while the balance of system (BoS) has only small cost reduction to none at all.
Reduction in labor cost will increase residential adoption of solar
Harmon, J., Hanna, H. M., & Miller, T. (2017). Solar photovoltaic energy for agricultural operations. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Extension and Outreach Publications. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/abe_eng_extensionpubs/9
Notes:
Solar generation on farms can be used for powering ventilation/aeration fans
Electricity usage varies by season and having battery storage is essential due to parts of the year generation will be higher than usage and at times usage will be much higher than generation
Technical viability of mobile solar photovoltaic systems for indigenous nomadic communities in northern latitudes | Elsevier Enhanced Reader. (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.036
Notes:
Nomadic lifestyle requires mobile PV systems that can be transported with a reindeer-sleigh
Due to permafrost standard ground-mounted PV racking is not feasible
Tents are primary structure at campsite and racking could be made from wood
Stathopoulos, T., Zisis, I., & Xypnitou, E. (2014). Local and overall wind pressure and force coefficients for solar panels. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 125, 195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2013.12.007
Notes:
Having panels near the edge of a roof experience the highest net force coefficient
Net peak force on panels due to wind is decreased at a lower inclination
Peak net force coefficients are fairly independent of the building height
