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Content archived on 2022-12-27

PV LIGHTING OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN TUSCANY

Objective

To demonstrate the technical and the economical viability of utilizing photovoltaic technology to power lighting systems and services in archeological sites not connected to the electrical grid. In this project, two etruscan sites in Cetona and Sovana (Tuscany) have been selected in agreement with the Toscany regional authorities. The two sites, the "grottas" at Cetona and the "Ildebranda" tomb at Sovana are both of particular historical and artistic relevance and, presently are not easily accessible for tourists because of the lack of lighting and services.
In both installations only a small amount of electricity (about 115 kWh/month) was needed because visitors could not be admitted to the caves for lacking safety features and hence lights were not switched on for long times. However the plant has certainly been a clear technical success, demonstrating the extreme reliability and adaptability for archaeological areas, where ecological preservations are overriding technical and economical considerations.
The cost per unit of energy is calculated to be 46 Ecu/kWh for the demonstration project and 25 Ecu/kWh for a replication.
This project employs photovoltaics in an unusual context to provide lighting for caves and a tomb in remote archaeological sites. At Sovana the regular removal of water from an ancient tomb is provided by means of a solar pump.
Two pv arrays are installed.
At the Cetona Caves an array of 19.44 kWp is installed (300 modules type ITALSOLAR 76DL/01) with 212 kWh of battery storage, and at the Ildebranda tomb an array of 6.66 kWp is installed (168 modules type ITALSOLAR 36MSC) with 73 kWh of battery storage.
The modules are connected in series of 25 or 21 modules with an output voltage of about 380 V. The OSAE inverters give 220 V, 50 Hz output for the lights (fluorescent tubes). For the data logger system a dc/dc converter 380 V dc/ 24 V dc exists.
A special developed control system is used at each site. This controls the charging of the batteries and the switching of the lighting systems (internal and external).
A datalogger which can store data for periods of 2 months is used to record 10 parameters including the solar irradiation on the plane of the array, in accordance with JRC Ispra Monitoring Guidelines.

Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Italsolar SpA
EU contribution
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Address
Via A D'Andrea 6
00048 Nettuno
Italy

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Total cost
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