Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.10
Differenttypesofsolarthermalsystemsbasedonflatplates
and vacuum tubes, used to produce hot water for domestic and industrial
use. See also Colour Insert.
solar thermal systems on 95% of the buildings. Hotels, hospitals,
and care homes are ideal buildings to start these installations.
Figure 10.10 shows two different types of solar thermal systems
widely used today, and these are comparatively low-tech when
compared to PV solar panels.
Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have a huge potential
in the future. The advantages of PV are the freely available space on
rooftops and walls of existing and new buildings, without the need
for any additional land space, and its main feature of not having
any moving parts. These small power stations can be connected to
the national grid and feed the energy when all the industries are
busy working during daytime. Inverters have been designed and
manufactured for this purpose. This accessory has beendesigned to
convert DC power into alternating current (AC), step up the voltage,
and feed into the grid. Also, the electronic circuitry has been intel-
ligently designed with safety in mind to stop feeding the grid when
thegridpowerisswitchedoffformaintenancepurposes.Inaddition,
two-wayelectricmeters(netmeteringsystems)enableahousehold
to import energy from the gridduring night-timeand export energy
into the grid during daytime, using the roof as a small and clean
power station. Millions of such solar roofs are now emerging in
Japan,theUS,Germany,andItaly,reachinggridparityinsomeplaces
(CaliforniaandItaly)(Fig.10.11).Allsun-richcountriesshouldlearn
these new technologies early and apply them in the future.
