Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
With Transportation Applications
College of Engineering
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Overview• Solar Energy Research at the University of Louisiana at
Lafayette• Renewable Energy Market Forces• Solar Energy Applications and Considerations for
Transportation Departments
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing LabThe 1.1 MW Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing (PART) Lab is one of the largest university-owned outdoor test facilities in the southeast United States
Used for research, workforce development, and outreach
Power for campus
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)The Solar Thermal Applied Research and Testing (START) Lab is one of the largest university-owned CSP test facilities in the nation and the only one in the southeast
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Energy System Integration LabCurrently under development
Ties all our renewable energy generation facilities at the Crowley facility into a micro-grid
Hardware-in-the-loop simulation of micro-grid and local feeder
Test various micro-grid components (solar, storage, EV’s, Loads) under realistic conditions
Simulate any type of load profile (commercial, residential, etc.)
Simulate any type of generation profile (wind, solar, traditional)
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Workforce DevelopmentTrain the renewable energy workers of the future: engineers, technologists, and technicians
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
OutreachInspiring the next generation of renewable engineers and technicians, to help insure the next generation will always have an abundant and reliable supply of energy from clean and sustainable sources.
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET FORCES
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
New U.S. electricity generating capacity additions, 2010-2018 (SEIA, 2019)
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Solar Resource• Mexico has
abundant solar resources
• More than most locations in the U.S.
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Solar Growth Strong in Mexico• 3 GW installed
capacity• 4.5 GW expected by
end of 2019• 39 large solar plants
in 11 states• 85,000 distributed
generation contracts
College of Engineering
Source: PV Magazine: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/01/16/mexicos-installed-pv-capacity-tops-3-gw/
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering
A map of Mexico’s 39 operational solar parks. Image: Asolmex
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Energy Needs for Highway Departments• Roadway signs
and lights• Maintenance
buildings• Rest areas, and
other facilities
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Noise Barrier Applicationsa. German PV
sound barrierb. German noise
barrierc. German solar on
noise-barrier tunnel
d. Zig-zag photovoltaic noise barrier installed in the Vallese di Oppeano in Italy
College of Engineering
(Poe & Filosa, 2010) and https://www.worldhighways.com/sections/irf/features/photovoltaic-noise-barriers/
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Lighting Application• Veteran’s Glass
City Skyway bridge
• Developed with University of Toledo
• 117.5 kW• Offsets load for
196 foot LED lighted structure on bridge
• (Ramesh, 2014)
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Rest Area Application• 1.75 MW on 7
acres• Adjacent to
Oregon BaldockSafety Rest Area
• (Poe & Filosa, 2010)
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
DesignConsiderationsSolar irradianceEconomic use caseGrid-tied or Stand-aloneAvailable spaceShadingWind loadingArray orientationSite ConditionsSafetyMaintenance
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Solar Irradiance• Mexico has
abundant solar resources
• Most parts of the country could be suitable for solar on the basis of irradiance
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Economic Use Case
• Why do you need solar?• Reduce energy bills?• Back-up power?• Off-grid?
• What is the required load?• Do you intend to use your own power or export it to the grid?• If export, who will buy it?
• Utility?• Bi-lateral PPA?
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Connectivity
• Stand-alone• Small all-in-one systems can be
simple and inexpensive• Larger off-grid solutions
(buildings or rest areas) are the most technically complicated
• Grid-tied• Simplest type of solar application• Grid serves as back-up and
storage• How close is the interconnection
point?
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
All-In-One SystemsTraffic Signal
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
All-In-One SystemsStreet lighting
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
All-In-One SystemsRadar Station
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Stand-Alone SystemsRest Area
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Grid-Tied SystemsHighway Department Buildings
Need reliable power
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Solar RoadwaysGoal to add solar without using additional space
Transparent concrete with solar panels underneath
Power towns, lighting, charge EV’s while on the road
Pilot projects in France the Netherlands, and China
Results not yet encouraging with materials available
Expensive
Maintenance Problems
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Available Space• Approximately 2.8
acres per MW
• Clear-Zone of 30 feet
• Need additional area for access roads for operation and maintenance
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Shading• Even small
amounts of shading can significantly reduce solar production
• Locate solar site to south of obstacles such as trees and light poles
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Wind Loading• Certain locations
have high wind loads
• Canyons• Open plains
• Choose site carefully
• Structural engineering is important
• Foundation as well as racking system
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Array Orientation• North-South• East-West
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Fixed-TiltArray oriented East-West
Simplest and inexpensive
Tilt angle approximately equal to Latitude
Arrays should face south at a tilt angle of approximately 22 degrees for San Luis Potosi
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Single-Axis TrackingArray oriented north-south
Good for north-south roadways
Maximize power production
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
Site ConditionsSoil conditionsSlope of terrainWetlands
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
SafetyGuard rails
GlareLocate south of
east-west roadway
Driver distraction
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
MaintenanceAllow for maintenance of roadway and solar array
Access roads
Space between rows
Washing modules
Site security
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana
SummarySolar can be a valuable addition to a transportation department portfolio
Care must be exercised to insure a site-appropriate application
College of Engineering
Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy CenterEnergy Institute of Louisiana College of Engineering