Universal access to electricity stands high on the global agenda and is regarded as essential for positive development in sectors such as health care, education, poverty reduction, food production and climate change. Decentralized, off-grid electrification is deemed an important complement to centralized grid extension. By utilizing a renewable energy source, solar technology for the generation of electricity, photovoltaics (PV) is being considered as a way forward to minimize the environmental problems related to energy use. This thesis aims to contribute to improving the technical and social feasibility of PV and PV-diesel hybrid micro-grids for the purpose of providing access to electricity to people in rural areas of countries with low level access to electricity. In line with these general aims, the focus has been to address three questions related to challenges in three phases of rural electrification. The work has a multi-disciplinary approach, addressing mainly technical and social aspects of long-term sustainability of micro-grids, in a local context, and the changes these are intended to generate. One specific micro-grid in Tanzania has been used as a major case study. The thesis is developed through three papers, all presenting methodologies or aspects for investigation in rural electrification projects and studies in general, and for PV-diesel hybrid micro-grids in particular. Paper I puts forward a methodology to facilitate non-social scientific researchers to take social aspects increasingly into consideration. Paper II is a guideline to support system users to increasingly apply an evaluation based system operation. Paper III specifically highlights the importance to consider blackouts when investigating how an existing off-grid PV-diesel hybrid system shall be utilized when a national grid becomes available.

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abstract: Stress-related failure such as cracking are an important photovoltaic (PV) reliability issue since it accounts for a high percentage of power losses in the midlife-failure and wear-out failure regimes. Cell cracking can only be correlated with module degradation when cracks are of detectable size and detrimental to the performance. Several techniques have been explored to access the deflection and stress status on solar cell, but they have disadvantages such as high surface sensitivity. This dissertation presents a new and non-destructive method for mapping the deflection on encapsulated solar cells using X-ray topography (XRT). This method is based on Bragg diffraction imaging, where only the areas that meet diffraction conditions will present contrast. By taking XRT images of the solar cell at various sample positions and applying an in-house developed algorithm framework, the cell‘s deflection map is obtained. Error analysis has demonstrated that the errors from the experiment and the data processing are below 4.4 and 3.3%. Von Karman plate theory has been applied to access the stress state of the solar cells. Under the assumptions that the samples experience pure bending and plain stress conditions, the principal stresses are obtained from the cell deflection data. Results from a statistical analysis using a Weibull distribution suggest that 0.1% of the data points can contribute to critical failure. Both the soldering and lamination processes put large amounts of stress on solar cells. Even though glass/glass packaging symmetry is preferred over glass/backsheet, the solar cells inside the glass/glass packaging experience significantly more stress. Through a series of in-situ four-point bending test, the assumptions behind Von Karman theory are validated for cases where the neutral plane is displaced by the tensile and compressive stresses. The deflection and stress mapping method is applied to two next generation PV concepts named Flex-circuit and PVMirror. The Flex-circuit module concept replaces traditional metal ribbons with Al foils for electrical contact and PVMirror concept utilizes a curved PV module design with a dichroic film for thermal storage and electrical output. The XRT framework proposed in this dissertation successfully characterized the impact of various novel interconnection and packaging solutions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2019

Die vorliegende Dissertation stellt ein neues multikriteriell optimierendes Betriebsführungsverfahren für netzgekoppelte Energiespeicher am Beispiel eines PV-Batteriespeichersystems im Hausbereich vor. Neben der Maximierung des Eigenverbrauchs an Solarenergie steht die Minimierung von Leistungsspitzen sowie der lebensdaueroptimierende Betrieb der Lithium-Ionen-Batterie im Fokus. Zur Verknüpfung der unterschiedlichen Wirkungshorizonte der teils konkurrierenden Betriebsführungsziele wird ein mehrstufiger, optimierungsbasierter Ansatz entwickelt. Das Betriebsführungsverfahren unterteilt sich in die Ebenen Momentan-, Kurzzeit- und Langzeitoptimierung. Die Momentanoptimierung regelt die Netzleistung, gene-riert den Leistungswert der Lithium-Ionen-Batterie und sorgt für einen effizienten Betrieb des Gesamtsystems. Die Kurzzeitoptimierung auf Basis der Dynamischen Programmierung ist verantwortlich für die Maximierung der Nutzung der Solarenergie, die Minimierung der Netzeinspeise- und Netzbezugsleistung und die Minimierung der Stromkosten. Die Reduzierung des Einflusses von Modell- und Prognoseunsicherheiten gelingt durch einen modellprädiktiven Ansatz. Die Langzeitoptimierung beeinflusst das Alterungsverhalten der Lithium-Ionen-Batterie und gewährleistet den lebensdaueroptimierenden Betrieb. Für eine breite Anwendungsklasse werden die Betriebsführungsparameter der einzelnen Ebenen hinsichtlich ihrer Leistungsfähigkeit untersucht und der Funktionsnachweis des gesamten Betriebs-führungsverfahrens erbracht. Weiterhin erfolgt der Vergleich mit zwei ausgewählten Referenzverfahren anhand definierter Bewertungskriterien. Abschließend wird der Einsatz des Betriebsführungsverfahrens für den industriellen Anwendungsbereich im Rahmen des For-schungsprojekts OptiStore vorgestellt.

The topic of this thesis is focused on the testing of resistance of selected Brassica species to the black rot infection and viral mosaics caused by economically important pathogens of Brassicaceae family. The theoretical part describes characteristics of causal pathogens - Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV), and summarize the current state of a resistance study of these pathogens in the Brassicaceae family. The thesis also describes modern molecular methods used for the detection of bacterial and viral pathogens. In the experimental part, the detections of Xcc, TuMV and TYMV pathogens were optimized by PCR and RT-PCR. For bacterium Xcc, the Real-time PCR targeting a part of the zur gene sequence was designed using a TaqMan® probe. This detection system was subsequently processed in the form of a certified methodology for use in diagnostics. To increase the specificity, Real-time PCR targeting zur gene was involved in the Multiplex Real time PCR reaction. Then the dynamics of the Xcc infection was monitored in 6 hybrid cabbage cultivars. The testing of resistance to the black rot disease was optimized by the procedure including artificial inoculations using the suspension of the Xcc isolates HRIW 3811, 3971A and 1279A and the SU1 isolate originated from the Czech Republic. In a four-year experiment, the total of 42 homozygous breeding lines and 4 hybrid cultivars were tested, where 5 lines were recommended for breeding for resistance to the black rot disease. For the detection of TuMV and TYMV viruses, Real-time RT-PCR approaches based on the TaqMan® probe and SYBR Green dye were tested. The target region of both detections was the coat protein. The TuMV detection has been optimized for SYBR Green approach; for the TYMV detection, the use of the TaqMan® probe has been recommended. Detection systems were used to evaluate artificial inoculations of 6 cabbage cultivars by individual viruses. The tested plants did not show visual symptoms of infection therefore the presence of viruses was evaluated by Real-time RT PCR. The system designed for TYMV detected the presence of virus in all tested samples, TuMV was detected only in two samples. Negative detection results are probably in connection with the absence of TuMV symptoms which indicates unsuccesful plant inoculation. For both detection systems, it was recommended the verification on a wider range of viral isolates prior to standard use in diagnostics

Rural areas continue to be home to the majority of the population in Africa. The importance of providing modern energy to rural areas cannot, therefore, be overemphasized.  No wonder that at presently the major energy resource in Mozambique is fuel wood biomass. Total population is estimated to be 25 million and more than 80% of the energy consumed in the country comes from fuel wood biomass. The energy from the main grid covers about 45.3% of Mozambican population which 26.8% comes from the National Grid and the remaining 18.5% from renewables and other sources. People outside the grid are mainly those living in rural and suburban areas. For most rural households in the region, biomass fuels continue to be the dominant fuel of choice. The present document suggests possible options that could have greater impact on rural clean energy development. Such options could be Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal energy, Wind and Micro- hydropower for pumping water or electricity generator and Biofuels. These energy options are receiving adequate attention from policy makers and are improving rural life. These are useful Renewable Energy sources available in the rural areas since they can supply reliable, relatively cost-effective electricity for basic needs in developing countries. They can be used to improve the lives of people in many ways, including supplying clean electricity to light homes, hospitals, schools, small shops, and other infrastructures, pumping water, etc. For example, using the natural resource of wind, sunlight, rivers and Jatropha plants can improve the lives of many people in general and those in rural areas in particular. This paper aims to describe and discuss the present status of renewable energy technologies in developing countries (case of Mozambique), to define the plausible ways for expanding rural electrification and improving the life conditions for the rural population.

This paper deals with the usage of photovoltaics in positive energy buildings. The European Union published in 2010 a directive about the energy performance of buildings in which article 9 states that all member States shall ensure that by the end of 2020 all new buildings should be “nearly zero-energy” buildings (by the end of 2018 for public buildings). This kind of nearly zero-energy buildings is starting to develop in France under the name “BEPOS” (which stands for POSitive Energy Building, in French), and this is the name that will be used in this document. 288 projects have been certified “BEPOS” as of 2012, according to the ADEME which published a map of all the BEPOS buildings in France (the ADEME is a French agency for the environment and the energy utilization, which is a major actor in the French energy policy, often deciding where to allocate funds). To be a BEPOS, these buildings need to produce electricity on site and photovoltaics are often considered as one of the most mature and competitive technology to do so, also the most used. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that photovoltaics are an economically viable means to reach the BEPOS quality label, and to provide data to quantify the cost and performance of a photovoltaic system. To achieve that, the technological and market conditions of photovoltaics in France are reviewed, and techno-economic calculations are made using data provided by solar and construction companies.

This project work focuses on the feasibility study of a hybrid PV-Wind System for rural electrification at the Estatuene Locality in southern Mozambique. This is in line with electricity network expansion, which, in Mozambique shows high implementation cost and low operation cost. Through field research, an analysis was made of the actual electrical demand in the Estatuene rural community. The wind data was collected from the installed weather stations in the region while the solar data were extracted internally from the HOMER software by introducing the site coordinates. All the configurations, simulations and selection of hybrid systems were also made using HOMER. For the Estatuene rural community it was estimated a scaled annual average demand of 9.4 kWh/day with a peak load of 1.4 kW for DC charge; and a total scaled annual average of 133 kWh/day with a peak load of 15.3 kW for AC Charge. The annual mean solar potential is 5.205 kWh/m2/d, and the mean wind speed is 4.84 m/s for 12 meters above the ground. Thus the calculations and the selection of the best configuration of the hybrid system were crossed out with the technical specifications and costs of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, power converter, batteries, and the electricity network, specifically for the comparison between an optimum hybrid system solution and two separate ones. The calculations presented an analysis of the technical and the financial viability of the selected hybrid system for local electric power production.

Rapporten redogör för en solcellsanläggnings generering av reaktiv effekt samt för de växelriktarbaserade kontrollmetoderna P(U), Konstant Q, Konstant Cosφ, Cosφ(P), Q(P) samt Q(U) för reaktiv effektkontroll. Rapporten redogör även för möjligheterna till att utnyttja solcellsanläggningen till reaktiv effektkompensation för spänningsreglering för det lokala elnätet. Rapportens syfte är att specificera en eller flera kontrollmetoder som möter både solcellsanläggningens och det lokala elnätets reglerbehov.Rapporten behandlar relevanta elektriska storheter, ger en kort introduktion till Sveriges elnät, elområden samt metoder för frekvens- och spänningsreglering. Solinstrålningens variation samt vanligt förekommande komponenter i en solcellsanläggning kartläggs och rapporten diskuterar även vilka effekter en hög andel solel kan ha på ett elnät.Utgångspunkt för rapporten är HSBs solcellsanläggning i Strängnäs samt Strängnäs lokalnät. Efter samtal med Strängnäs lokalnät konstateras att elnätet inte är i behov av ökad reglerkapacitet för spänningsreglering, dock visar insamlat data att det finns ett reglerbehov för kapacitiv reaktiv effekt. Enligt insamlat data över HSBs solcellsanläggning konstateras att så även är fallet för solcellsanläggningen.Det är därmed fördelaktigt för både HSBs solcellsanläggning och Strängnäs lokalnät med reaktiv effektkompensation med induktiv reaktiv effekt. Eftersom solcellsanläggningen inte behöver ta hänsyn till lokalnätets spänning kan anläggningen välja att styra genereringen av reaktiv effekt med kontrollmetoderna Konstant Q, Konstant Cosφ, Cosφ(P) samt Q(P). Här har kontrollmetoderna Cosφ(P) samt Q(P) fördelen att genereringen av reaktiv effekt baseras på solcellsanläggningens produktion av aktiv effekt och kan därmed implementeras utan risk för att strypa produktionen av aktiv effekt.

Since the first commercial silicon carbide (SiC) transistor was released, the interest in SiC has grown exponentially [1]. The wide energy band gap, high critical electric field and thermal conductivity of silicon carbide allow it to withstand higher voltage/current gains than conventional semiconductor materials [2]. The electrical properties of SiC enable integrated devices and circuits to operate at higher voltages and temperatures. One of the most attractive applications for SiC is in inverters for photovoltaic systems, where switching time is of great importance. This thesis presents the study of two bipolar junction transistors (BJT), FSICBH15A120 of SiC and BUV48A of conventional silicon (Si). The transistors were simulated and validated experimentally, then tested in a DC/AC pv inverter with a polycrystalline solar module of 36 solar cells as power source. The simulation results showed high efficiency and low power losses. / Sedan den första kommersiella transistorn av kiselkarbid (SiC) släpptes har intresset för SiC ökat exponentiellt [1]. Det breda energibandgapet, höga kritisk elektriska fältstyrkan och termiska ledningsförmågan i SiC gör att den klarar en högre kombination av spänning/strömförstärkning än konventionella halvledarmaterial [2]. De elektriska egenskaperna av SiC gör det möjligt för integrerade komponenter och kretsar att arbeta i högre spänningar och temperaturer. Ett av de största användningsområdena för SiC är i växelriktare för solceller, där switch-tid har stor betydelse. I detta examensarbete presenteras studien av två bipolära transistorer (BJT), FSICBH15A120 av SiC och BUV48A av konventionellt kisel (Si). Transistorerna simulerades och valideras experimentellt, och slutligen jämfördes med varandra i en DC/AC-omvandlare med en polykristallin solpanel av 36 solceller som strömkälla. Hög verkningsgrad och låga energiförluster påvisades.