Analysis of a Residential Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) System in Two Similar Climate Conditions Madalina Barbu, George Darie, Monica Siroux To cite this version: Madalina Barbu, George Darie, Monica Siroux. Analysis of a Residential Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) System in Two Similar Climate Conditions. Energies, MDPI, 2019, 12 (19), pp.3595. 10.3390/en12193595. hal-03070747 HAL Id: hal-03070747 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03070747 Submitted on 15 Dec 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. energies Article Analysis of a Residential Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) System in Two Similar Climate Conditions Madalina Barbu 1,2,* , George Darie 1 and Monica Siroux 2 1 Department of Power Production and Usage, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania 2 INSA Strasbourg ICUBE, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +40-741-551-818 Received: 23 July 2019; Accepted: 18 September 2019; Published: 20 September 2019 Abstract: Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) panels combine solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies and generate simultaneously both heat and electricity. This paper looks at the potential of integrating these systems into small domestic prosumer households for the climates of Bucharest, Romania, and Strasbourg, France. First, some brief background information on PVT systems and the concept of prosumers is introduced, highlighting their features as well as the solar energy market setting in Romania and France. Next, a PVT system is proposed for a given household consumer in Strasbourg and Bucharest with the variable weather conditions corresponding to the two locations. The PVT system and the coupled consumer are modelled in TRNSYS (v17, Thermal Energy System Specialists, Madison, USA). A performance analysis is carried out in order to establish the daily instantaneous energy output and the annual energy production. The results indicate a 10–12% better performance in Bucharest compared to Strasbourg due to slightly better weather conditions. The system efficiency was assessed through various methods (first law efficiency and primary energy saving). Depending on the method used, the location and time of year, the results vary from 15% for the first law efficiency to 90% for the primary energy saving efficiency. The most suitable efficiency assessment method for this study was found to be the primary energy saving method, as it takes into account the regional differences in energy production. This study concludes that the Romanian PVT market has a good potential for adopting the technology, especially since it is currently less mature than in France. Keywords: renewable energy; solar energy; photovoltaic-thermal; micro-cogeneration; prosumer 1. Introduction Solar energy is the most wide-spread type of renewable energy, due to its multiple benefits: It is easily available in many locations, has low operational costs and can be adapted to small, decentralized systems. In theory, there is sufficient solar radiation reaching the Earth to meet 10,000 times the current energy needs of the world [1]. The established solar technologies currently available on the market can be broadly classified into photovoltaic (PV) panels and passive solar-thermal panels (ST). Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal systems (PVT) combine these two technologies and maximize their benefits into one single piece of equipment, producing both electricity and useful heat (Figure1). PVT systems are a type of micro-cogeneration technology that can be very efficiently integrated into individual households. This can achieve decentralized production of clean heat and energy, maximizing the South facing available space and obtaining an overall better payback of the investment, compared to separate side-by-side PV and ST systems [2]. Energies 2019, 12, 3595; doi:10.3390/en12193595 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies Energies 2019, 12, 3595 2 of 18 Energies 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 18 43 FigureFigure 1. 1.Schematic Schematic diagram diagram of of the the functioning functioning principle principle of of solar-thermal solar-thermal (ST), (ST) photovoltaic, photovoltaic (PV) (PV and) 44 photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems.and photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems. 45 TheThe current current social social trend trend of of environmental environmental responsibility, responsibility, combined combined with with the the various various financial financial 46 incentivesincentives available available for for renewable renewable energy energy (Feed (Feed-in-in Tariffs, Tariffs, Green Green Certificates), Certificates), lead lead to to an an increasing increasing 47 numbernumber of of individual individual consumers consumers that that wish wish to to produce produce and and utilize utilize their their own own energy energy ( (‘prosumers’).‘prosumers’). 48 OnOn t thishis market market there there is is a a great great potential potential for for introducing introducing the the PVT PVT technology technology in in order order to to meet meet their their 49 energyenergy demand demand with with clean clean and and on on-site-site produced produced heat heat and and power. power. 50 ResidentialResidential PVTPVT systemssystems and and their their applications applications in various in various climate climate conditions conditions have been have of been research of 51 researchinterest ininterest the past in the years, past with years multiple, with multiple reviews andreviews state an ofdthe state art of papers the art on papers this topic on this [3, 4topic]. A study[3,4]. 52 Ahas study been has carried been outcarried to assess out to the assess performance the performance of building of building integrated integrated PVT (BIPVT) PVT compared(BIPVT) compared to simple 53 tobuilding simple integratedbuilding integrated PV (BIPV) PV in (BIPV) the context in the ofcontext New Delhi,of New India Delhi, [5 ],India and [ also5], and to analyzealso to analyze various 54 varioustypes of types PV cells: of PV Mono-crystalline cells: Mono-crystalline and amorphous and amorphous silicon. Itsilicon. was found It was that found although that although the first wasthe 55 firstmore was effi cient,more theefficient, latter isthe more latter economical is more economical for the regional for the context. region Anotheral context study. Another [6] compares study [ the6] 56 comparesperformance the ofperformance PVT panels of in PVT Athens, panels Munich in Athens and Dundee,, Munichand, and asDundee expected,, and, Athens as expected, offers the Athens most 57 offerspromising the most conditions. promising Similar conditions. to Romania, Similar the to PVT Romania, market the in Greece PVT market is still underin Greece development is still under and 58 developmentoffers great opportunity and offers forgreat development. opportunity An for experimental development. study An [experimental7] also carried study out for [7 India,] also showedcarried 59 outthat for PVT India, system showed performed that PVT better system than performed the simple better PV and than solar the panels, simple whichPV and reinforces solar panels, the interestwhich 60 reinforcesfor further the developing interest for the further PVT technology. developing the PVT technology. 61 ThisThis paperpaper usesuses the the software software TRNSYS TRNSYS to simulate to simulate and analyze and theanalyze energy the output energy and output performance and 62 performanceof PVT panels of inPVT a smallpanels sized in a prosumersmall sized household, prosumer household, comparing comparing two different two climate different conditions: climate 63 conditions:Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania, andRomania, Strasbourg, and Strasbourg, France. The France continental. The continental temperate temperate climates areclimates not the are ideal not 64 thelocations ideal locations for PVT systems,for PVT systems, as it can as be it noticed can be fromnoticed the from literature, the literature, and more and arid more and arid hot areasand hot are 65 areaspreferred. are preferred. However, However, there can there be a potential can be a growingpotential market growing even market in colder even locations. in colder Anlocations. interesting An 66 interestingcomparison comparison can be carried can outbe carried between out France, between where France, the marketwhere the is developed market is developed and there areand several there 67 aremanufacturers several manufacturer and distributerss and distributers of PVT products of PVT available,products andavailable, Romania, and Romania, where the where market the is 68 marketunder-developed. is under-developed. Another Another novelty ofnovelty this study of this is relatedstudy is to related the explicit to the TRNSYSexplicit TRNSYS model which model is 69 whichanalyzed is analyz by twoed performance by two performance indicators: indicators: First law eFffiirstciency law andefficiency primary and energy primary saving energy efficiency. saving 70 efficiency. 2. Residential Prosumers and the Energy Market 71 2. ResidentialA particularly Prosumers important