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Solar PV & Solar Thermal ProjectsLessons Learned

Higher Education Facilities Management Association of Southern Africa (HEFMA)

Prepared by U TerblanchePresenter: DJ FitzgeraldDate: 24 October 2018

Place: University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies was established in 2007 to facilitate and stimulate activities in renewable energy study and research at Stellenbosch University.

The Department of Science and Technology has been funding the Renewable and Sustainable Energy (RSE) Hub at Stellenbosch University since its establishment in August 2006. The aims of the RSE Hub are to develop human capital, deepen knowledge, and stimulate innovation and enterprise in the field of RSE. Currently the DST is still sponsoring the work of the Centre with an annual grant administrated by the National Research Foundation.

Stellenbosch University was designated as the Specialisation Centre in Renewable Energy Technology as part of the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute (EPPEI). The research and teaching activities sponsored by Eskom focus on concentrating solar power (CSP) and wind energy and also includes the Eskom Chair in Concentrating Solar Power.

The Sasol Technology group sponsored the new facilities for the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies as well as the work and facilities of the Solar Thermal Energy Research Group at Stellenbosch University.

Agenda

• CRSES overview

• Considering RE projects

• Lessons learned

• Available Resources

• Conclusion

• Contact details

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CRSES overview

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CRSES overview - Activities

• CRSES facilitates RE research, teaching and projects at SU (“Front door for RE research at SU”)

• Facilitate, coordinate and fund postgraduate programmes and modules

• Influence research focus areas and funding opportunities

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CRSES overview - Activities

• Contract research and specialist consulting for public and private institutions (PV & Solar thermal)

• Increase public awareness of RE

• Initiate and drive national flagship projects:– SARETEC

– National Solar Energy R&D Centre

– SAURAN

– National Energy modelling network

– National postgraduate programme in RE

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CRSES overview - short courses• Renewable Energy Systems (Overview of technology)• RE Policy• RE Finance (Project financing)• Introduction to Solar Energy (Both PV and thermal)• Wind Energy• Hydro & Ocean Energy• Bio-Energy (Including bio-fuels)• Solar Thermal Energy Systems (Focus on CSP)• (Conventional) Thermal Energy Systems• Sustainable Development• Integrated Supply-side Technologies• Advanced PV Systems• Energy Storage

More Info:http://www.crses.sun.ac.za/studies-short-courses

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Solar Energy

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Considering RE Projects

There are 3 basic steps to remember before installing RE technology:

• Step 1: Understand your need

• Step 2: Reduce your need

• Step 3: Consider alternative technologies

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Considering RE Projects

Step 1: Understand your need:• Type:

– Mechanical power

– Waste reduction (food waste, materials)

– Heating (hot water, air)

– Cooling (air conditioning, refrigeration)

– Electricity (do not get stuck on this one)

• Occurrence:– Time of day

– Yearly variations (holidays)

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Considering RE Projects

Step 2: Reduce your need• Lowest price improvement is proper management

• Lower paybacks through improving existing technologies

• Reduced demand requires smaller RE system

• RE system has a larger impact

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Considering RE Projects

Step 3: Consider alternative technologies

• Most RE technologies are modular

• Only after covering the first 2 steps, do you need to consider alternative/renewable energy technology

• Address the demand, not the auxiliary systems:

– Hot water = Solar thermal, gas burning (biogas), geothermal

– Cold water = Water masses (ponds), geothermal

– Mechanical power = Wind mill

– Electricity = Photovoltaic, wind turbine (Heat pumps)

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Lessons Learned

Consult an expert!

• Things to remember:– Salesman are biased– Beware of bad maths– Bakkie brigades

• Expert benefits:– Independent and unbiased assessment– Assist you with documentation– See through the sales pitch during tender evaluation– Assess and model technology and resource– Realistic and accurate assessments

• Beware of generalists (the opposite of experts):– Especially the risk with large firms. Does not matter how many coal power

plants XYZ Engineering built, it does not mean they understand PV systems

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Lessons Learned

• Averaging vs not averaging (actual PV example) – E.g. Eskom tariffs change,

depending on time of day, day of week, month, etc.

– Actual tariff = 55c – R 2.76 /kWh– Blended on bill = R 1.80 /kWh– Blended on amount = R 1.56 /kWh

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• Understanding the technology – Different quotes received from different suppliers for different sized

systems:• Contractor 1: Mono-crystaline panels; 21 kW ; R 352 000• Contractor 2: Thin film; 19 kW ; R 342 000• Which is more value for money ? • Which produces more power ?(Electronics are sensitive to temperature)

Lessons Learned

• Experts may be closer than you think– Universities have large amount of experts you may not be aware of.

• This was the case for CRSES in Stellenbosch, but similarly, other Universities have their own research centres.

• Build a relationship with the departments and enquire about available skills.

– Students are cheap/free labour. • Many of the investigative projects can be done as student projects at no cost• Enquire about topics and propose topics to supervisors

– E.g. at Stellenbosch University, FM was assisted with the following projects:• Solar PV feasibility studies – CRSES engineers• Solar PV tender evaluation – CRSES engineers• Water consumption study for labs – Intern student• Building energy profile assessments – M student part-time work• Waste characterization study – M student part-time work• Biogas feasibility study for farm – International student exchange…and more

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Lessons Learned

Think long term:• There is no such thing as 0 maintenance

– Common misconception of PV systems; it requires inspections, cleaning, replacements, etc.

– Plan for access for maintenance; Safety harness attachments, walkways, etc.

• Consider the infrastructure plan– PV & solar thermal have long life spans 20+ years– First check the infrastructure it connects to, future roof

replacement plans, infrastructure changes, large maintenance works or building works that may cause shading, etc.

– Plan for PV in new buildings and upgrades

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Lessons Learned

• Not all municipalities and service providers allow technology such as PV

– Enquire about registration requirements, size limitations, feed in tariffs, etc.

– Possible disconnection if rules are not followed

– In South Africa, each municipality has its own bylaws that governs the installation of RE

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Available Resources

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• Self-raised capital (system pay-off period)

• Loan (on balance sheet)

• ESCO (off balance sheet)

Available Resources

• Grant funding for research

– It is possible to align the University’s infrastructure aims with research goals. E.g. Marriendahl PV (Dr. Arnold Rix)

– Electricity supplied to the network while research is conducted – contributes to RE goals

• Funding opportunities

– Large amount of expertise and funding opportunities are available for solar thermal through the SOLTRAIN program

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Research Opportunities

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Available Resources

• SOLTRAIN programme– Southern African Solar Thermal Training & Demonstration Initiative– Applies to SADC region– Funded by the Austrian Development Agency– Representatives at various Universities:

• National (Zimbabwe) University of Science and Technology• University of Botswana• University of Stellenbosch – CRSES• Namibian University of Science and technology – Namibia Energy Institute

– It offers workshops and training for installers and professionals to design and model the solar thermal systems

– Offers partial funding to demonstration systems (unique applications)

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• Beneficiary company: Cape Brewing Company (CBC)

• Location: Paarl

• Application: Brewery (Process)

• Collector Area: 120 m2

• Thermal Storage: 10 m3

• Commission Date: November 2015

• Operating Temperature : 85°C

• Installer: E3 Energy

• Finance: co-financed subsidy from SOLTRAIN 2

• Circulation : Pumped

SOLTRAIN Demonstration System – Cape Brewing Company

Available Resources

• South African Universities Radiometric Network (SAURAN)– Free solar and weather data available– Universities with stations include:

• Namibian University of Science and Technology• University of Gaborone• University of Venda• University of Fort Hare• Nelson Mandela University• University of Kwazulu-Natal• University of the Freestate/Central University of Technology (moved)• University of Pretoria• Mangosuthu University of Technology• Stellenbosch University• University of Zululand• More ?

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Available Resources

• South African Universities Radiometric Network (SAURAN)

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Available Resources

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Conclusion

• Contact CRSES if you have questions or uncertainties, we work with all Universities

• Utilize this platform and conference to share experiences…

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Contact Details

crses@sun.ac.za

(+27) 21 808 3605

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