International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Solar energy is a cornerstone in the transition towards sustainable and renewable energy sources. Enhancing the efficiency of solar cells is critical to maximizing energy capture and utilization. One promising approach to improve solar cell performance is the application of self-cleaning coatings. This research work explores the enhancement of the energy efficiency of solar cells through the application of a SiO2/WO3-B5 self-cleaning coated film. These coatings not only help in maintaining the cleanliness of the solar cell surfaces but also contribute to better light absorption and reduced reflection losses, ultimately leading to higher energy output.

The paper deals with an operating photovoltaic plant in Bulgaria. The wide application of photоvoltaic plants in the energy system is known. At the same time, subject matters about their normal functioning are fundamental. The goal of the paper set is to analyze data from the operation of a photovoltaic power plant , which is ultimately related to improving its behavior. Relevant conclusions have been dоne.

A summary study of the development of solar energy and the main factors determining the productivity of photovoltaic systems has been carried out. The predominant surface contaminants of solar panels, reducing the efficiency of photovoltaic installations, and the existing different design types of cleaning systems for their effective removal are examined. The main trends in the development of singlelayer and multi-layer hydrophobic and other oxide coatings with diverse performance indicators suitable for solar panels are traced. In laboratory conditions, experimental self-cleaning coatings (based on compositions with the participation of Y2O3 and ZrO2) deposited by the sol-gel method on vitreous samples were obtained. The structure and morphology of the prepared thin films and the technological conditions for the deposition of nanoscale layers with different functional characteristics were investigated. The experimental results represent a prerequisite for the development of a series of additional compositions and a detailed technological regime for obtaining various modifications of resistant, long-lasting self-cleaning coatings, potentially applicable to photovoltaic panels.

Environmental and economic problems caused by over dependence on fossil fuels have increased the demand and request for green energy produced by alternative renewable sources. Solar energy systems have emerged as a viable source of renewable energy over the past two or three decades, and are now widely used for a variety of industrial and domestic applications. Such systems are based on a solar collector, designed to collect the sun’s energy and to convert it into either electrical power or thermal energy. Solar energy is predictable to play a great role in the infrastructure as a distributed source, due to the fact that it is an easily available renewable source of energy. In Jordan, natural conditions for solar are excellent, with an intensity of direct solar radiation with 5 to 7 kWh/m². The main purpose of the present study to estimate the performance of a solar tracking photovoltaic (PV) panel of dual axis type, through designing, construction and testing of a solar tracking system which automatically searches the optimum PV panel position with respect to the sun by means of a DC motors controlled by Arduino Mega board that receives input signals from dedicated Light Dependent Resistor (LDR), and compare the results with fixed PV panel. The results showed that the use of the Dual-Axis Tracking System can produce about 37.37% gain of power output, compared with a fixed system inclined at 30° to the horizon.

The aim of this paper is to review the cleaning of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and applied coatings that eliminates costly automated cleaning systems by using nano-sized TiO2 combined with various organic binders.

Solar energy has a drawback when it works individually, because it could not produce electrical energy in rainy and cloudy seasons, and during the night time. Wind energy is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. Therefore, the need to overcome these drawbacks could be by combining two energy resources so that any one source fails the other source will keep generating electricity. In this study, a designed prototype that combines two energy resources wind and solar energy will be constructed and tested. The design will supply the sustainable energy resources without damaging the nature and gives uninterrupted power. Also it works during day time and produce DC power by the solar PV cell which is stored in the battery bank through a hybrid controller, which maximizes charging current and prevents excessive discharge/overcharge. The Wind turbine generator will generate power when wind speed exceeds cut-in speed; wind power is also stored in the battery bank through hybrid controller. Energy stored in the battery is drawn by electrical loads through the inverter, which converts DC into AC power. The inverter has in-built protection for short-circuit, reverse polarity, low battery voltage and over load. The battery bank is sizing to feed loads up to five hours, during non-sun/wind days. The designed prototype has proved to work efficiently for a sustainable electricity supply for 24 hours, the results of this work give an incentive to proceed with building and using such sustainable power generation systems (hybrid) that have proven to be efficient and economically feasible to use for continuous energy generation which is suitable for urban, rural and isolated areas.

The research focus addresses to installation of PV modules in industry sector in Albania. Due to energy crises, the prices are going higher and with the new regulations that are defined by Albanian government, businesses that are connected to 20kV, 10kV, 6kV transmission lines must secure the energy supply by their selves in open market, since a part of price was covered by government, now companies are facing higher prices. The new price is expected to increase more than 70%, up to 0.16 €/kWh from 0.092 €/kWh. Also, companies that will be in the open market will face price volatilities, hence with the installation of PV modules, reduction of electricity price is possible, since the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) for the PV in Albania, including 20% VAT tax, is calculated around 0.035 €/kWh. To calculate the effect in electricity price a simulation using RETScreen Expert is performed. The simulations are made for a company connected to a 20kV electricity transmission line where an on-grid PV system 217.28 kW power installed is integrated on the roof. The PV modules covers 52.4% of the company electricity demand, by generating 286055 kWh electricity yearly from which 68% of electricity generated from PV is consumed by the company and 32% is exported to grid because company works 8 h/day and there is not an electricity storage system installed. With the price increment from 0.092 €/kWh to 0.16 €/kWh, the total earnings from PV installed system will be increased by an average 65.3% and if the electricity price in the open market is doubled the total earnings will be increased by an average 85.3%.

Solar energy is one of the leading renewable energy sources because of its great potential, affordability of the individual system prices, zero emission and no noise emission. 21st century will be based on renewable energy sources, with strict environmental measures, primary energy use will mainly consist of a combination of (different) clean energy sources among which solar energy will play a leading role. Two technologies for harnessing the energy of the sun are photovoltaic cells (PV) and solar collectors. Photovoltaic cells (PV) exploit the visible part of the spectrum while solar collectors use the infrared part. Combining these two technologies into one provides a system that produces electricity and heat at the same time using all parts of the solar spectrum. These systems are known as photovoltaic thermal systems or PV/T. This paper presents the description of these systems and methods of application. Among this, this paper gives description of experimental PV/T installation at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Banja Luka.

In this paper, we design and simulate a 20 kW solar on grid power charging unit for electric vehicles at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU)/Maan-Jordan by using a Bluesol 3.0, Sketch Up 2018 software.
Two scenarios are considered; one where number of vehicles is five in the interval (8 am – 12 pm) & five vehicles in the interval (12 pm – 4 pm) and time of charge half of battery capacity four hours and the second scenarios where number of vehicles is eight in the interval (8 am – 12 pm) & eight vehicles in the interval (12 pm – 4 pm) and time of charge half of battery capacity four hours. We conclude that the system is efficient and very useful to the electric vehicles users in the university. In addition, the system is reducing the CO2 emissions annually from generating power by 28.4 tons of CO2.