ENGI 9854 - Fundamentals of Energy Systems

Assignment #7

Due Date: March 15, 2021, 9:00 a.m

Submit to the corresponding assignment folder in Brightspace

 The assignment is to be completed individually

 Avoid plagiarism (https://www.mun.ca/writingcentre/plagiarism/)
 Uphold academic integrity (https://www.mun.ca/engineering/undergrad/academicintegrity.php)
 Submit source code of calculations (or scanned calculations) and state all the assumptions
 Prepare and submit solutions to the assignment that are clear and professional

Question 1

(a) Assuming that the electrical generation is directly proportional to the irradiation level,
estimate the annual energy production for a BP 3160 photovoltaic module (specifications in
Table 9.13), in St John’s, NL. Use monthly data of solar intensity from pvwatts.nrel.gov, and
compare it with estimates using yearly averages of solar intensity. Examine (i) constant tilt at the
latitude angle, (ii) one-axis tracking (north-south) tilted at the latitude angle and (iii) two-axis
tracking. Create a figure that shows the monthly variations in energy production for the three
systems. Comment and discuss key points in terms of the solution methodology, levelized cost of
energy (LCOE), sustainability, and technological feasibility.

(b) Improve the estimate by including losses and inefficiencies (clearly state assumptions) and
compare with estimates from PVWatts (clearly state assumptions). Comment and discuss key
points in terms of the solution methodology, LCOE, sustainability, and technological feasibility.

(c) Repeat Part (b) for a different city (your choice) and compare with the estimates from St.
John’s, NL. Comment and discuss key points in terms of the solution methodology, LCOE,
sustainability, and technological feasibility.
Question 2

Find the theoretical maximum overall efficiency of a solar cell in space. Assume the solar cell
has a band gap energy of 2.5 eV. Comment and discuss key points in terms of LCOE and
technological feasibility.

Hints:

1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J

Plank’s constant is 6.625 × 10-34 J·s

Assume the speed of light is 3 × 108 m/s

ℎ𝑐 ∫ 𝜂𝜆 𝐼𝜆 𝑑𝜆
𝜆= 𝜂=
𝐸 ∫ 𝐼𝜆 𝑑𝜆

Table: Extraterrestrial Solar Irradiance

λ (µm) Eλ (W/m2 µm) λ (µm) Eλ (W/m2 µm) λ (µm) Eλ (W/m2 µm)

0.12 0.007 0.38 1120 0.64 1544

0.14 0.03 0.4 1424.5 0.66 1486
0.16 0.23 0.42 1747 0.68 1427
0.18 1.25 0.44 1810 0.7 1369
0.2 10.7 0.46 2066 0.72 1315.4
0.22 57.5 0.48 2074 0.74 1261.8
0.24 63 0.5 1942 0.76 1209.8
0.26 130 0.52 1833 0.78 1159.4
0.28 222 0.54 1783 0.8 1109
0.3 514 0.56 1695 0.82 1065.4
0.32 830 0.58 1715 0.84 1021.8
0.34 1074 0.6 1666 0.86 978.2
0.36 1068 0.62 1602 0.88 934.6