Solar Energy and Sustainable Development Journal

Development of an Optimal Control Strategy of Three Phase Power Factor Correction System

Mohammad Dreidy, Wael salah, Mohammed Safarini — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The efficient provision of electric power is regarded as a critical issue for both energy suppliers and customers. The power factor, as a measure of system efficiency, is essential for minimizing energy losses and ensuring reliable power output. An insufficient power factor, primarily caused by elevated inductive loads, results in increased line currents, heightened power losses, and significant voltage drops, hence reducing system reliability and inflating energy costs. To address this, power factor correction techniques are typically employed, mostly including the integration of capacitive loads to counteract inductive effects. This study investigates the development of a three-phase power factor correction panel utilizing an ideal methodology to achieve designated power factor levels. The primary objective of this study is to develop a three-phase automatic power factor correction system that employs an optimization method to determine the optimal capacitor combination to improve the power factor to a reference-defined level. The general modified optimization method reduces the operation of switching contactors by a minimum of four times, up to the third dynamic power factor correction, compared to the staged approach (which entails checks and adjustments). Additionally, it reduces transients by the implementation of different operational strategies for the insertion or removal of capacitors, hence improving accuracy and stability while maintaining both within acceptable parameters.

Analysis of a Novel Coupled Inductor-Extended Double Stage Active Boost (CIX²AB) Converter Topology for Maximizing Output Efficiency in PV Power Systems

J. Viswanatha Rao, J. Raji, M. Mohammadha Hussaini, G.W. Martin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solar energy is a critical aspect of Renewable Energy Systems (RES), driven by increasing cost-of-electricity and growing demand from utility customers for clean, pollution-free, sustainable energy. Distributed Photovoltaic (PV) generation systems generally produce low voltage, thus introducing a high step-up converter to interface efficiently with the load is crucial. Therefore, this paper provides a novel Coupled Inductor Extended Double Stage Active Boost (CIX²AB) Converter for enhancing voltage efficiency in PV system. Also, the Proportional Integral (PI) controller is utilized to regulate the converter and supports stabilization of output voltage. The numerical model of the CIX²AB converter circuit integrated with PV is implemented using MATLAB/Simulink software. The experimental verification demonstrates that the developed CIX²AB converter significantly contributes in achieving higher efficiency of 96.2% with enhanced voltage gain and reduced stress.

Towards Green Economy:

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Libya is primarily concerned with the green economy as it relies on a single source of national income and a single source of energy. It loses its national income source as industrial countries abandon fossil fuels and replace them with environmentally friendly alternative energy sources. Therefore, Libya must begin the battle for green economy transformation, and policymakers need to develop strategies for a rapid and safe transition to sustainable green development. This research outlines the basic framework for green economy transition strategies by reviewing other countries' experiences and theoretical studies. It proposes a temporal and financial transformation plan that includes three paths to achieve the green economy transition. The first path involves reducing emissions by using natural gas instead of oil fuel and introducing carbon capture systems in polluting systems. The second path suggests increasing the contribution of zero-emission technologies in the energy mix, such as solar energy, wind energy, and hydrogen. The third path involves enhancing negative emission environmental systems like reforestation and algae cultivation, localizing renewable and environmentally friendly energy industries, and facilitating investment in zero and negative emission projects. This path also aims to achieve sustainable development by utilizing oil in petrochemical industries, which will generate more revenue and jobs than burning it for energy production. To implement this strategic plan, $8.3 billion needs to be allocated for installing carbon capture systems on all electric power plants, plus approximately $7 million in annual payments for maintenance and operation. Additionally, around $39.5 billion is required to establish concentrated solar power plants and use them as a sustainable clean fuel instead of fossil fuels, with annual payments for operation and maintenance estimated at approximately $735 million. Furthermore, about $2.1 million is needed for investment in negative emission environmental systems such as forests, and around $2.5 million in annual payments for managing approximately 20,400 hectares of forests, which will achieve net-zero carbon for the current electric power industry.

Techno-Economic and Environmental Study of Grid-Connected Solar Geothermal Battery System in Tunisian Universities

Yassine Nefzi, Hacen Dhahri — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to evaluate a hybrid energy system combining solar photovoltaic panels, ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), and battery storage, within a unified university-based model applied to three distinct Tunisian climate zones: Beja, Gabes, and Borma. The methodology relied on a dynamic integration of OpenStudio and TRNSYS to accurately simulate annual thermal and electrical loads. A total of 35 design configurations per city were investigated, varying in borehole number and spacing, while system components were standardized to 1,137 photovoltaic panels rated at 450 W and 120 LiFePO₄ batteries with a storage capacity of 13.44 kWh. Results revealed that the imbalance between cooling and heating demands leads to gradual thermal accumulation in the ground, reducing system efficiency over time.To assess mitigation strategies, a composite objective function incorporating four indicators was employed: thermal accumulation, ground field volume, instantaneous operating cost rate, and grid dependency. The optimization process identified configurations capable of limiting ground temperature rise and supporting stable operation. Sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the weight of economic and spatial indicators reshuffles the ranking of certain configurations, highlighting the importance of prioritization based on design goals. The selected configurations demonstrated the ability to cover more than 70% of annual demand, with levelized cost of energy (LCOE) ranging from 0.023 to 0.114 USD/kWh and payback periods between 23 and 44 years, depending on whether the system operates under Tunisia’s restrictive grid policies or more supportive international frameworks. Annual loads ranged from 965 to 1,135 MWh, with peak cooling reaching 660 kW and heating between 324 and 416 kW. Simulations also revealed seasonal variations in battery performance, with average daily charge levels exceeding 50–55% in July and dropping to 17–20% in January, depending on location. The study emphasizes the need to align technical configurations with regulatory reforms to ensure economic viability and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems in academic institutions.