Geographic potential of shotcrete photovoltaic racking: Direct and low-concentration cases

Hollman, Madeleine R.; Pearce, Joshua M.

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2021.01.051

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Albedo measurements have become increasingly important for bifacial solar PV systems [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] . Albedometers are also increasingly important for three new solar PV applications: i) albedo optimization for low concentration PV systems [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , ii) agrivoltaic crop albedo [22] , [23] , and iii) PV material selection for optimization of a given location [24] , [25] . As there are so many varied applications for albedo measurements there is a wide range of commercial developments [4] , [26] , [27] , [28] , which use pyranometers to obtain albedo data, in addition to the use of remote sensing and satellites [29] .…”

Section: Hardware In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a low-cost mobile multispectral albedometer with geopositioning and absolute orientation

Botero-Valencia¹,

Mejia-Herrera²,

Pearce³

2022

HardwareX

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Section: Hardware In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a low-cost mobile multispectral albedometer with geopositioning and absolute orientation

Botero-Valencia¹,

Mejia-Herrera²,

Pearce³

2022

HardwareX

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“…Secondly, racking is focused proprietary and costly designs, and racking costs dominate the cost of small PV systems [161]. There are, however, FOSH designs that substantially reduce racking costs for low-tilt-angle ground mounts, which result in 85% and 92% savings from proprietary alternatives [169], large-scale ground mounts with low-concentration reflectors [170], tensegrity structures (saved up to 77%) [171], and small-scale agrivoltaic cold frames [172]. For buildings, there are also FOSH designs for flat roofs that save over 80% [173], RV rooftops mounts [174], and post-market module retrofits for building integrated PV [175].…”

Section: Fosh For Renewable Energymentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategic Investment in Open Hardware for National Security

Pearce

2022

Technologies

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Free and open-source hardware (FOSH) development has been shown to increase innovation and reduce economic costs. This article reviews the opportunity to use FOSH as a sanction to undercut imports and exports from a target criminal country. A formal methodology is presented for selecting strategic national investments in FOSH development to improve both national security and global safety. In this methodology, first the target country that is threatening national security or safety is identified. Next, the top imports from the target country as well as potentially other importing countries (allies) are quantified. Hardware is identified that could undercut imports/exports from the target country. Finally, methods to support the FOSH development are enumerated to support production in a commons-based peer production strategy. To demonstrate how this theoretical method works in practice, it is applied as a case study to a current criminal military aggressor nation, who is also a fossil-fuel exporter. The results show that there are numerous existing FOSH and opportunities to develop new FOSH for energy conservation and renewable energy to reduce fossil-fuel-energy demand. Widespread deployment would reduce the concomitant pollution, human health impacts, and environmental desecration as well as cut financing of military operations.

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“…One approach to reducing costs of small-scale PV systems is to use do-it-yourself (DIY) development of open source technologies [35]. This approach is well developed and there are open source hardware designs for the distributed production of PV racking of the following types of systems: (1) low-tilt angle PV racks for mobile arrays [36], (2) steel cable-based cross X-wire PV racking systems for flat commercial rooftops [37] and groundmounted near the equator [38], (3) tensegrity-based solar PV racking [39], (4) after-market adaptions of conventional modules to allow for building-integrated PV (BIPV) [40], (5) fixedtilt ground-mounted wood-based racks [41], (6) variable-tilt wood-based PV racks [42,43], (7) vertically mounted (sign-based) wood PV racks [44], (8) fence-based PVs for agrivoltaics on existing farm fencing [45], (9) aftermarket adaptation to make floatovoltaics (FPV) [46], (10) trellis-based agrivoltaics wood-based PV racks [47], (11) cable and pipe-based mobile photovoltaic racking [48], (12) cable based variable tilt racks [49], and (13) earth and shotcrete-based racking [50]. There are also many community-developed racking systems made from wood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ballast-Supported Foundation Designs for Low-Cost Open-Source Solar Photovoltaic Racking

Vandewetering,

Jamil,

Pearce

2024

Designs

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Although solar photovoltaic (PV) system costs have declined, capital cost remains a barrier to widespread adoption. Do-it-yourself (DIY) system designs can significantly reduce labor costs, but if they are not attached to a building structure, they require ground penetrating footings. This is not technically and economically feasible at all sites. To overcome these challenges, this study details systems designed to (1) eliminate drilling holes and pouring concrete, (2) propose solutions for both fixed and variable tilt systems, (3) remain cost effective, and (4) allow for modifications to best fit the user’s needs. The ballast-supported foundations are analyzed for eight systems by proposing two separate ballast designs: one for a single line of post systems, and one for a double line of post systems, both built on a 4-kW basis. The results of the analysis found that both designs are slightly more expensive than typical in-ground concrete systems by 25% (assuming rocks are purchased at a landscaping company), but the overall DIY system’s costs remain economically advantageous. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to show how modifications to the dimensions influence the weight of the system and thus change the economic value of the design, so users can trade dimensional freedom for cost savings, and vice versa. Overall, all wood-based PV racking system designs provide users with cost-effective and easy DIY alternatives to conventional metal racking, and the novel ballast systems presented provide more versatility for PV systems installations.

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Geographic potential of shotcrete photovoltaic racking: Direct and low-concentration cases

Cited by 12 publications

References 34 publications

Design of a low-cost mobile multispectral albedometer with geopositioning and absolute orientation

Design of a low-cost mobile multispectral albedometer with geopositioning and absolute orientation

Strategic Investment in Open Hardware for National Security

Ballast-Supported Foundation Designs for Low-Cost Open-Source Solar Photovoltaic Racking

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