A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

           Currently, when implementing a solar energy system, a buyer does not know how much the system will cost, or how much money they will save. On the NSR website, there is a calculator to generate a number of statistics on the system. However, what is needed is a more comprehensive solution to allow users to assess different scenarios in the future. In this dissertation, we present a more advanced spreadsheet solution for such solar energy systems.

In Singapore, the government would like to consider installing solar panels on not just the rooftops but also the sides of buildings. This is to take advantage of additional space that is available beyond that of the rooftops

Obviously, less energy available on the sides of buildings, BUT is a factor to consider.

Abstract of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

            I will write an abstract (100 words). Solar energy adoption is increasing in Singapore. However, there a few tools available to people interested in implementing a solar solution. In this paper we talk about the current state of solar energy adoption in Singapore and present a framework for designing a solar system and include detailed financial analysis.

Acknowledgements of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

        I would like to thank Professor Poh King Leng for his valuable guidance in this project. I would also like thank Dr Martin Reed at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore for his input. 

Introduction of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas
        Talk about solar globally- challenges- solar panel cost is reducing so many companies are going out of business. Efficiency low, radiation reflected and lost to heat

        In recent years Solar Energy has become very important both globally and in Singapore. The Singapore government has ambitious plans to increase the country’s dependence on solar. Currently, most of Singapore’s energy requirements are met by gas power stations around the country (get locations). Current solar energy production meets less than 5% of the energy needs. By 2030, the goal is to have solar representing 30% of Singapore’s total energy requirements.

Solar energy roadmap: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/solar-photovoltaic-roadmap-for-singapore-a-summary.pdf

Talk about National solar repository: http://www.solar-repository.sg/

Importance of solar energy in Singapore

Solar energy roadmap: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/solar-photovoltaic-roadmap-for-singapore-a-summary.pdf

(Singapore wants to generate more and more solar energy)

National solar repository: http://www.solar-repository.sg/

HDB solar projects (SolarNova- rooftop solar panels)

Sell the energy back to the electricity grid

Challenges of Solar Energy in Singapore

Space- urban areas take up a lot of land. Currently only rooftops being used.

Floating solar systems being implemented.

Moving towards using facades- need to take this into consideration.

Problem must take into account shading effects, so neighboring buildings reduce the energy that can be generated. For example. In the diagram below, we can see that the building on the left will cause shading effects on the building on the right:

Solution is to put solar panels on the facades. In this case, we must take into account the shading effects on the sides of buildings, as well as the rooftops.

Another diagram to show shading (bras basah)

Buy solar panels or lease solar panels, for example: http://www.solareo.sg/services/solar-leasing/

Size and number of solar panels for rooftops

Measuring how much solar energy can be generated

Selling energy back to the power grid

(maybe 1 slide on how energy is generated in the solar panel- photovoltaic effect)

TECHNICAL DISCUSSION about A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Visualization for designing PV systems of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Looking at building 3D models and solar energy potential: Must have a 3D model of the building for accurate simulation.

Looking at shading areas and where to put solar panels. Also takes into account surrounding areas like trees and overhangs from buildings.

ParaView is one tool for analyzing solar PV solutions. Another tool is sketchup (link to that).

Red is lots of solar energy, green & yellow less energy because of shading (ParaView visualization tool)

You can mention you have me as a contact at SERIS (Solar Energy Research institute of Singapore)

 (From a 3D model website- acknowledge the website- turbosquid)

Model definition (develop the NSR website model- financial model)

Step 1: Input parameters(factors) of Solar PV system- number of modules, efficiency, size
For NSR website

System size: how many panels…

Step 2: Define the financial model ((LCOE including interest rates, oil prices, panel costs, capital investment, assumptions)

Step 3 Build Financial model (LCOE including interest rates, oil prices, panel costs, capital investment)- excel spreadsheet with what-if analysis, sensitivity analysis, graphs- sensitivity analysis.

What if- what happens if module price goes up?

Step 4: Purpose: to give potential investors an idea as to how much they might save. A more details report than the one available on the NSR website. Expand the report and make it more flexible to change parameters.

Model Parameters of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Have an excel spreadsheet that can calculate:

Energy generated

 Financial analysis (cost, return on investment, interest rate financing, leasing options etc)

Step 2:

Equations for calculation of all important parameters

An example of a NPV calculation from our spreadsheet

Sensitivity analysis

Case Study of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Spreadsheet functionality of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Better calculator

Rooftop area, number of solar panels, cost of panels

Show all functions and features and why people would use it to invest in solar energy

Further Developments of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

If we were to do more work on the solution, then we could…..

Conclusion on A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

We have shown that we can build a solar energy system financial calculator taking into account things like shading and other factors. This is an improvement on the calculator that is available on the NSR website.

Data Sources and factors of A Physical and Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Solutions in Urban Areas

Building rooftop area
Amount of solar radiation
Number of solar panels
Loan term
Solar panel efficiency (20%)- change that if we like in the calculator
Interest rates (for NPV & sensitivity analysis)
current price of electricity
Cost
Maintenance costs

Uncertain factors:
Lifetime of solar panels – don’t know so we have to make an assumption e.g. 25 years

Goal: have a better report in Excel with lots of information and scenarios (change things like interest rates and plots)