Obiettivo To demonstrate the economic viability of a small photovoltaic system (1.5 KWp) in combination with motor/generator, to provide power for a remote youth hostel. The goal was to supply in summer primarily electricity by the pv system and to supplement it in winter with the liquid gas fuelled generator. In this demonstration, the battery size was smaller than the usual size because the battery can be recharged regularly in winter by the generators.The project was very successful despite of various modifications and improvements (replacement of inverter and charge controller; use of 25 new energy saving lights) that had to be made during the six years of operation.The application of energy saving dc lights reduced the lighting consumption to 50%.Optimisation by a special, new inverter and by a new charge controller raised the average solar fraction from 65% to 91%.One battery cell had to be replaced (in 1991, after damage by corrosion due to deep discharge) and from then on the battery is examinated monthly for eventual other failures (15 to 20 years lifetime of the battery are expected).Energy cost is calculated to be 21.7 Ecu/kWh (8.9 Ecu/kWh for a replication), to be compared to 9.5 ECu/kWh for a grid extension at that specific site and to 3.4 Ecu/kWh for Diesel generation.Two of the originally planned three subprojects had to be cancelled: one burned down after erection (1986, Oekohaus in Freiburg), the other one ((Oekotherm) was not even started for lack of an appropriate site.The Oberlin House (Alsace) (48,15'N; 7'E) is equipped with a combination of a photovoltaic generator (1.48 kWp) and a propane motor/generator (12 kVA) with battery storage (28.8 kWh) and an inverter (1.6 kW). The combination allows power to be drawn from the battery without running the generator for much of the summer, and reduces generator running times in winter. To provide adequate power all year round by PV alone would be more expensive at these power levels than to use the combined system.The array field could not be integrated into the roof, as originally planned, for lack of permission. It now consists of 38 modules of type AEG PQ 10/40 mounted on a rack (south oritented, 49' inclination) about 40 m away from the house. An additional module supplies electricity to the autonomous measurement system.The separation of the domestic electric circuits into a 24 V dc circuit for the lighting and a 220 V a circuit for machines and appliances avoids inefficient partial load operation.The orignally used inverter with poor efficiency and high losses at no load was replaced (Oct. 1989) by the inverter GWR1600 AT (manufacturer: AL-Elektronik).The charge controller was replaced in May 1989 because of interference and overvoltage problems by another one of new design.The planned, patented, twin battery system did not work correctly and was replaced by a conventional connection of the battery in one group.Data of analytical monitoring of good quality for almost 40 months (May 1987 to Aug. 1990) are available. Programma(i) ENG-ENALT 2C - Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects relating to the exploitation of alternative energy sources and to energy saving and the substitution of hydrocarbons, 1983-1985 Argomento(i) 6.1 - PHOTOVOLTAIC Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinatore FRAUNHOFER IAF Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Tullastr. 72 79108 MÜNCHEN Germania Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato
