Archive | 2021
Autonomous solar electric generating stations for private farms in North-West Russia
Abstract
Currently, renewable energy sources occupy a significant place in the energy sector of agriculture under climatic conditions of the North-West of the Russian Federation. Solar energy has the greatest application potential among them. The study purpose was to determine the efficiency of a solar power plant in the North-West region. The study tested a designed and manufactured experimental autonomous solar electric generating station, which consisted of three hetero-structural photovoltaic modules with a capacity of 315 W each (Hevel Energy Group, Russia), a storage battery, an inverter, and a charge controller. The study used the “passive experiment” method and statistical data analysis. The results were obtained for the natural operation conditions, under different solar radiation intensity (irradiance) and ambient air temperature. The solar electric generating station demonstrated 22% efficiency and the on-peak energy generation of 1920 Wh. The combined small-size (up to 50-70 kW) electrical stations were found most promising for electricity supply of the facilities in the remote private farms – pig houses for 10 to 30 head, houses for rabbits, poultry, sheep, and goats, as well as residential houses.