Laurentiu Fara

Products of HYPOS - DILETR project: distance learning courses in design and operation of Hybrid Power Systems

The purpose of HYPOS-DILETR project (funded by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme - DG Education & Training) was to develop a tool for organizing attractive European distance learning in designing, operation and monitoring of the hybrid power systems (HPS). Energy planners, decision makers, engineers in energy generation and transportation, as well as technical personnel of regional environment/energy agencies, from different European countries, could evaluate in this way the qualitative and functional role of using HPS, containing one or more renewable energy technologies (RETs). The following guidance and training opportunities appeared: related to the electrification of isolated areas, one can prepare competent specialised teams, who would implement and exploit HPS on large-scale (short-term objective); stimulating the HPS market through raising awareness of electricity distribution networks and of the large public, signalling the importance of developing the hybrid systems market, as well as through transferring the activities related to HPS from the specialized industry, to the public services (long-term objective); promoting large-scale implementation of the HPS technology through elimination of installation, operation and maintenance deficiencies

Numerical procedure for optimizing dye-sensitized solar cells

We propose a numerical procedure consisting of a simplified physical model and a numerical method with the aim of optimizing the performance parameters of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We calculate the real rate of absorbed photons (in the dye spectral range) Greal(x) by introducing a factor β > 1 in order to simplify the light absorption and reflection on TCO electrode. We consider the electrical transport to be purely diffusive and the recombination process only to occur between electrons from the TiO2 conduction band and anions from the electrolyte. The used numerical method permits solving the system of differential equations resulting from the physical model. We apply the proposed numerical procedure on a classical DSSC based on Ruthenium dye in order to validate it. For this, we simulate the J-V characteristics and calculate the main parameters: short-circuit current density jsc, open circuit voltage Voc, fill factor FF, and power conversion efficiency ρ. We analyze the influence of the nature of semiconductor (TiO2) and dye and also the influence of different technological parameters on the performance parameters of DSSCs. The obtained results show that the proposed numerical procedure is suitable for developing a numerical simulation platform for improving the DSSCs performance by choosing the optimal parameters.

Optimization of Electro-Optical Performance and Material Parameters for a Tandem Metal Oxide Solar Cell

In this work, investigation of a silicon-based tandem heterojunction solar cell was iterated via numerical modeling. The tandem cell was split into a top metal oxide and bottom c-Si subcell, and each subcell was analyzed and compared with experimental data. For the top subcell, Silvaco Atlas was used to ascertain optimum materials for the buffer layer and their impact on the cell performance. For the bottom subcell, a Quokka 2 model has be used to evaluate and compare current-voltage and quantum efficiency curves with experimental data. Transfer matrix algorithm was used to ascertain top subcell optical field characterization. The buffer layer materials for the ZnO/Cu2O subcell that yielded best cell performance are presently TiO2 and Ga2O3 while the Quokka 2 model presents a good fit with the experimental curves.

Integration of PV modules in existing Romanian buildings

The paper is based on an on-going national research project focused on the promotion of new architectural concepts i.e. BIPV systems, which include active solar systems (PV generators) and solar tunnels. The advantages of using the distributed solar architecture are more remarkable in the case of large network-connected PV systems, such as the PV systems in the urban area, installed on buildings façades or roofs. Thus, in contrast to other EU states, in Romania there is no photovoltaic building construction branch, the limited number of isolated cases being not enough to argue the start if a photovoltaic market in the building industry. The major purpose of the project is to demonstrate the efficiency of integrating various PV elements in buildings, to test them and to make them known so that they can be used on a large scale. To do this, the new products will be installed on three pilot buildings (two in Bucharest and one in Timisoara) and the PV modules will be integrated in consonance with their architecture. One of them will be a historical building and the other two will be new buildings; they will have different typologies and they will be located in different areas. The installed power for each building will be of approximately 1.000 Wp, including some technologies with PV modules integrated in the architecture of the buildings.

Solar Architecture - First Steps in Romania

Development of solar buildings can have an essential contribution to the sustainable development of the society through promoting distributed photovoltaic stations. This paper discusses the premises of implementing the new architectural concepts, including active (PV and thermo solar generators) or passive (lighting) solar systems. As an example, the project Promotion of Solar Architecture in Romania-PASOR is synthetically presented. In this project activities are very well defined: creating a project Web site, delivering of technical information, data and solutions for the specialists as well as raising public and local authority awareness aiming at overcoming the psycho-social barriers associated to using renewable energy sources, and also for their documentation, visits to some demo installations in Bucharest and Timisoara

Photovoltaic research and development in EU new member and candidate states

This paper presents the state of the art of photovoltaics in the new member and candidate states of the European Union, namely, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. A brief survey of the research, including its organization and potentials, and the development, industry, markets, demonstration installations, education, policies, support mechanisms, barriers, challenges, and needs is given.

Training in Sustainable Energy Technologies

Romania is, after Poland, the second EU pre-accession country by number of inhabitants. In order to fall in line with the proposed EU objectives, Romania, like all the other pre-accession countries, shall have to increase the share of energy produced from renewable energy sources in the total energy production. The Leonardo da Vinci project entitled “VOCATIONES” (1999 – 2001) was focused on the organization of training courses in sustainable energy technologies in one of the economically underprivileged regions of Romania, Carao-Severin county, in south-western Romania. This region was selected due to its very good potential in renewable energy sources, the special interest of local authorities and people in promoting renewable energy, and the need of the local electricity company to improve the professional level of energy installers. Taking into account these elements, the project succeeded in combining in an innovator way the EU experience and the creative ideas of the Romanian partners. The paper is structured as follows: introduction, project outline, main project results, Sustainable Energy Technology (SET) courses based on the new training curricula, and concluding remarks. Special emphasis is laid on the project result dissemination, which included CD-ROM- and paper-based courses, as well as dedicated web pages.

Vocational Training in Sustainable Energy Technologies. Case Study

Publisher Summary This chapter refers to the organization of vocational training courses for one of the economically underprivileged regions of Romania—Caras-Severin county. Although currently going through an economic crisis, the region has a good human potential with high chances of employment through adequate reorientation. This chapter is based on a Leonardo da Vinci project proposal. this Leonardo da Vinci proposal is a multiplier-effect project based on a THERMIE project previously accomplished by EUFORES. The main objective is the organization of vocational training in new and renewable energy technologies for young people and adults without adequate qualification. The main goals of the activities to be carried out within the framework of the project include: (1) retraining of labor from the energy sector in renewable energy technology (RET) and new energy technology (NET), (2) reorientation of labor from other sectors than energy undergoing restructuring, in RET and NET, (3) acquisition of skills for carrying out new jobs in the emerging sectors of RET and NET, and (4) establishment of a local network of SMEs interested in RET and NET. The organizations involved in the project will also give technical assistance for the creation of a Regional Centre for Sustainable Energy and they will contribute to various dissemination activities.