A energia solar fotovoltaica é uma alternativa de energia limpa que está se tornando uma importante opção para se utilizar eletricidade em regiões desprovidas de energia elétrica. Um estudo das condições energéticas da região através de consulta às concessionárias de energia elétrica (Eletricidade de Moçambique - EDM no caso de Moçambique) e do Ministério de Energia do Governo, são fontes importantes de dados para se conhecer o cenário energético de cada região. Outra fonte de dados importante para se estimar o potencial de geração de energia solar fotovoltaico sãoos indices de irradiação da região. Estes podemser obtidos através do órgão meteorológico da região (INAM no caso de Moçambique) que forneceesses dados para as principais cidades através de suas estações meteorológicas espalhadas na região. Laboratórios de pesquisa internacionais sãooutra importante fonte de dados solarimétricos, pois utilizam satélites capazes de cobrir todo globo terrestre e os dados obtidos são publicados e permitem, a partir das coordenadas do local, identificar a irradiação solar em diversos locais do mundo. Os dados desses laboratórios podem ser comparados com dados de órgãos oficiais da região. Utilizando o banco de dados solarimétricospode-se calcular o potencial fotovoltaico de geração de energia de cada localização e também definir qual região seria mais propícia a utilização de energiasolar fotovoltaica conectada à rede. / Photovoltaic solar energy is an alternative clean energy that it is becoming an important option to be used in region that it does not have available electricity. A study about energy condition of region contacting local energy company (Electricity of Mozambique EDM in the case of Moçambique) and the ministry of governmental are important resources of data to know the electric power conditions scenery of each region. Another important data resource to assesss the photovoltaic potencial of a region is to access the solarimetric data of region. It should be got from the region meteorological organ (in Mozambique it is INAM) that provides this information for main cities through its meteorological station spread across the region. Research International labs are another important resource of the data. They use satellites that are able to cover the whole terrestrial globe and make it available. These data allow applications through the coordinates of the location, identify the exact solar irradiance at any point (in the case NREL in the USA). Laboratory data should be validated through comparisons with data from the official bodies of the region. Thus it is possible to build a solarimetric database and assess photovoltaic potential power generation of each location. On the current study done to Mozambique it was observed that some regions without electricity grid are very adequate to the utilization of solar energy for the direct generation of electricity connected to grid.

Interest in research concerning renewable energy sources has grown in recent decades. In this context, the study of the physical processes that are important in the conversion of solar energy radiation via the photovoltaic effect has increasingly been the topic of theoretical and experimental research. In this thesis, we discuss the photovoltaic effect in pn junctions found in Si solar cells, as well as the photoelectrochemical effect at semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces. Specifically, we propose a new linearizable model for the photocurrent-voltage characteristics of nanocrystalline TiO2 dye sensitized solar cells, as well as ZnO solar cells. We also report predicted values for fill factors. The model uses the Butler-Volmer and Nernst equations to describe the photocurrent-voltage characteristics. A single free parameter of the model controls the fill factor. Upon renormalization, diverse experimental photocurrent-voltage data collapse onto a single universal function. These advances allow the estimation of the complete current-voltage curve and the fill factor from any three experimental data points, e. g., the open circuit voltage, the short circuit current and one intermediate measurement. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O interesse em pesquisas sobre fontes de energia renováveis tem crescido nas últimas décadas. Nesse contexto, cada vez mais o estudo dos processos físicos relevantes na conversão da energia da radiação solar, através do efeito fotovoltaico, tem sido alvo de pesquisas experimentais e teóricas. Nesta tese, discutimos o efeito fotovoltaico em junções pn que ocorrem nas células solares de Si, bem como o efeito fotoeletroquímico em interfaces semicondutor-eletrólito. Especificamente, propomos um novo modelo linearizável para as curvas características de fotocorrente-voltagem de células solares de TiO2 nanocristalino sensibilizado por corante, assim como células solares de ZnO. Descrevemos também valores previstos para os fatores de preenchimento. O modelo utiliza as equações de Butler-Volmer e de Nernst para descrever as curvas características de fotocorrente-voltagem. Um único parâmetro livre do modelo controla o fator de preenchimento. Após a renormalização, as curvas com os dados experimentais de fotocorrente-voltagem colapsam em uma única função universal. Estes avanços permitem a estimativa completa da curva de fotocorrentevoltagem e o fator de preenchimento, usando apenas três pontos experimentais, tais como, a voltagem de circuito aberto, a corrente de curto-circuito e uma medida intermediária.

A energia solar fotovoltaica é uma alternativa de energia limpa que está se tornando uma importante opção para se utilizar eletricidade em regiões desprovidas de energia elétrica. Um estudo das condições energéticas da região através de consulta às concessionárias de energia elétrica (Eletricidade de Moçambique - EDM no caso de Moçambique) e do Ministério de Energia do Governo, são fontes importantes de dados para se conhecer o cenário energético de cada região. Outra fonte de dados importante para se estimar o potencial de geração de energia solar fotovoltaico sãoos indices de irradiação da região. Estes podemser obtidos através do órgão meteorológico da região (INAM no caso de Moçambique) que forneceesses dados para as principais cidades através de suas estações meteorológicas espalhadas na região. Laboratórios de pesquisa internacionais sãooutra importante fonte de dados solarimétricos, pois utilizam satélites capazes de cobrir todo globo terrestre e os dados obtidos são publicados e permitem, a partir das coordenadas do local, identificar a irradiação solar em diversos locais do mundo. Os dados desses laboratórios podem ser comparados com dados de órgãos oficiais da região. Utilizando o banco de dados solarimétricospode-se calcular o potencial fotovoltaico de geração de energia de cada localização e também definir qual região seria mais propícia a utilização de energiasolar fotovoltaica conectada à rede. / Photovoltaic solar energy is an alternative clean energy that it is becoming an important option to be used in region that it does not have available electricity. A study about energy condition of region contacting local energy company (Electricity of Mozambique EDM in the case of Moçambique) and the ministry of governmental are important resources of data to know the electric power conditions scenery of each region. Another important data resource to assesss the photovoltaic potencial of a region is to access the solarimetric data of region. It should be got from the region meteorological organ (in Mozambique it is INAM) that provides this information for main cities through its meteorological station spread across the region. Research International labs are another important resource of the data. They use satellites that are able to cover the whole terrestrial globe and make it available. These data allow applications through the coordinates of the location, identify the exact solar irradiance at any point (in the case NREL in the USA). Laboratory data should be validated through comparisons with data from the official bodies of the region. Thus it is possible to build a solarimetric database and assess photovoltaic potential power generation of each location. On the current study done to Mozambique it was observed that some regions without electricity grid are very adequate to the utilization of solar energy for the direct generation of electricity connected to grid.

Segundo o Atlas Brasileiro de Energia Solar, apesar das diferentes características climáticas observadas no Brasil, pode-se constatar que a média anual de irradiação solar global apresenta boa uniformidade e elevados índices por todo o país. Os valores desta grandeza em quase toda a extensão do território brasileiro (4200-6700 Wh/m2/dia) são superiores aos da maioria dos países da União Europeia, como Alemanha (900-1250 Wh/m2/dia), França (900-1650 Wh/m2/dia) e Espanha (1200-1850 Wh/m2/dia), onde projetos para aproveitamento de energia solar, alguns contando com fortes incentivos governamentais, são amplamente disseminados. Grande parte dos avanços científicos obtidos nos estudos sobre aproveitamento da energia solar se deve à utilização de simuladores solares compactos nos experimentos de longa duração. Ao substituir o Sol por fontes artificiais, como lâmpadas capazes de emitir radiação próxima à solar, os simuladores eliminam a dependência de fatores naturais como condições climáticas, horário do dia, intermitência e movimento de direção da radiação solar. O projeto proposto para esta dissertação de Mestrado teve como objetivo o domínio do processo de concepção e fabricação de um simulador solar concentrador formado por lâmpadas e um refletor ótico. Uma vez dominada a técnica, um modelo piloto de simulador solar foi construído e alguns testes executados para avaliar a qualidade do projeto, a resistência dos componentes e o fator de concentração do aparato. / According to the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy, despite the different climatic characteristics observed in Brazil, the annual average of global solar irradiation has good uniformity and high levels throughout the country. The values of global solar irradiation in almost the entire length of Brazil (4200-6700 Wh/m2/day) are higher than those observed in most European Union countries, like Germany (900-1250 Wh/m2/day), France (900-1650 Wh/m2/day) and Spain (1200-1850 Wh/m2/day), where projects for solar energy applications, some of them relying on strong government incentives, are widely disseminated. Several scientific and technological advances made in the study of solar energy applications are due to the use of compact solar simulators in long-term experiments. Replacing the Sun by artificial sources, such as arc lamps with radiation emission similar to the Sun spectrum, indoor simulators avoid the dependence on natural conditions such as the weather, the daytime, the sunlight intermittence and the directional change of the solar radiation. The project proposed for this dissertation aimed to master the design and manufacturing processes of a high-flux solar simulator consisting of arc lamps and an optical reflector. Once technique was understood, a solar simulation pilot model was built and some tests were performed to assess the project quality, the resistance of components and the apparatus concentration factor.

The description of a novel device to measure the spectral direct normal irradiance is presented. The solar spectral irradiance meter (SSIM) was designed at the University of Ottawa as a cost-effective alternative to a prohibitively expensive field spectroradiometer (FSR). The latter measures highly-varying and location-dependent solar spectrum, which is essential for accurate characterization of a concentrating photovoltaic system’s performance. The SSIM measures solar spectral irradiance in several narrow wavelength bands with a combination of photodiodes with integrated interference filters. This device performs spectral measurements at a fraction of the cost of a FSR, but additional post-processing is required to deduce the solar spectrum. The model was developed to take the SSIM’s inputs and reconstruct the solar spectrum in 280–4000 nm range. It resolves major atmospheric processes, such as air mass changes, Rayleigh scattering, aerosol extinction, ozone and water vapour absorptions. The SSIM was installed at the University of Ottawa’s CPV testing facility in September, 2013. The device gathered six months of data from October, 2013 to March, 2014. The mean difference between the SSIM and the Eppley pyrheliometer was within ±1.5% for cloudless periods in October, 2013. However, interference filter degradation and condensation negatively affected the performance of the SSIM. Future design changes will improve the longterm reliability of the next generation SSIMs.

Solar energy is of huge interest due to the current situation with global warming. A number of solar technologies have been developed, such as photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and solar water heating systems, to name a few. However, the technologies are being slowly implemented, and Botswana, with generous amounts of sun, is particularly suitable for solar energy. The opportunities were investigated due to the overwhelming and horrifying warnings echoed by many of the world's scientists regarding global warming. First, a handful of solar technologies were thoroughly investigated. A field study at Gakgatla village was then conducted, where the locals were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed, and solutions were suggested based on the identified needs of the locals. The biggest challenges identified were the lack of electricity in many of the households, parental figures not being supportive of the children's education, and theft. Additionally, many locals cooked with firewood. The most helpful solution but difficult to implement is photovoltaic panels. Solar water heating systems would also be helpful to the locals who predominantly had cold water. Additionally, solar cookers could help minimize exposure to hazardous smoke. Lastly, solar lamps could help students study during nighttime. Some locals also showed huge enthusiasm for what the future partnership with Botho University will bring. It is encouraged to develop a prototype of a solar cooker, particularly the parabolic solar cooker, in order to install solar cookers in Gakgatla village. Solar dryers would also greatly benefit the locals and are also suggested developments. Both of the mentioned solutions would help minimize the locals' exposure to the hazards of cooking with firewood. The solar dryers will also help eliminate bacteria by drying the food in a protected space inside a container.

The Regional Council of Jämtland has a goal to increase the export of renewable energy and with that reduce the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the measures used to reach this goal is to give subsidies and tax reductions for investments in photovoltaics. Photovoltaics are generally perceived as “good for the environment” and give a “good image” to companies. They are marketed as interesting for private persons and farmers from a profitability point of view. Sweden has an electricity mix with average CO2 emissions of 20-30 g/kWh. Compared to other countries in Europe this is very low. The CO2 emissions of photovoltaics during their lifetime are 46 g/kWh according to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Taking this in consideration it can be concluded that photovoltaics actually increase GHG emissions as they have higher emissions of CO2 than the average in Sweden. When the decision to invest in photovoltaics is made with profitability as a main reason, it is debatable if the subsidies and tax reductions are needed. When the decision to invest in photovoltaics is made with environmental concern as a main reason, the subsidies might be given to other environmental technologies that are better from a climate perspective. Considering this, the push for profitability of photovoltaics can be seen as just another increase in consumption.

Solar chimney is an important passive design strategy to maximize solar gain to enhance buoyancy effect for achieving adequate air flow rate and a desired level of thermal comfort inside a building. Therefore, solar chimney has the potential advantages over mechanical ventilation systems in terms of energy requirement, economic and environmental benefits. The main aim of this project is to study the technical feasibility of a solar chimney incorporating latent heat storage (LHS) system for domestic heating and cooling applications. The research work carried out and reported in this thesis includes: the development of a detailed theoretical model to calculate the phase change material (PCM) mass for solar chimney under specific climatic condition, the development of a CFD model to optimise the channel depth and the inlet and outlet sizes for the solar chimney geometry, experimental and numerical investigations of the thermal performance of the proposed system using a prototype set-up, a parametric study on the proposed system to identify significant parameters that affect the system performance was carried out by using the verified numerical model. The numerical and experimental study showed that the numerical model has the ability to calculate the PCM mass for the proposed system for the given weather conditions. The optimum PCM should be selected on the basis of its melting temperature, rather than its other properties such as latent heat. The experimental work on the thermal performance of the proposed system has been carried out. The results indicated that the LHS based solar chimney is technically viable. The outlet air temperature and the air flow rate varied within a small range during phase change transition period which are important for a solar air heating system. A numerical model was developed to reproduce the experimental conditions in terms of closed mode and open mode. The model results were in a close agreement with the experimental results particularly the simulated results for the discharging process. With the verified model, a comprehensive parametric analysis intended to optimise the thermal performance of proposed the system was performed. The results analysed are quantified in terms of charging/discharging time of the PCM, temperature difference between outlet air and inlet air of the solar chimney, and mass flow rate of the chimney, which are the most important quantities of the proposed system.

Nepal, a country located between India and China, is one of the world’s least developed countries.  Access to electricity is a problem throughout Nepal. Both for the grid connected areas that suffer from power cuts up to 16 hours a day during the dry season, and for remote areas where lack of money, infrastructure or even the location itself set limits for the electrification. In the eastern part of Nepal, around 100 km south of Mount Everest is Thade, a small mountain village with about 200 residents. Until 2015 the village only had an old, dilapidated school building that was in such bad condition that it could barely be used. Therefore, many of the children in the village did not go to school, and it was only the families with enough money that could send their children to a better school. Other children had to walk for hours to reach the nearest school. With contribution and support from a Swedish-Nepali non-government organisation (NGO) a new school opened in May 2015. One year later there are 42 children at the Grace Academy School. One of the main problems for the school today is that they do not have any electricity, which places limitations on both teachers and students. The purpose of this study was to investigate if it is possible, in a simple and sustainable way use a solar cell system with battery storage to meet the basic needs for electricity of the school. The aim was to build a simulation model, of the energy system, in MATLAB’s Simulink® program and then validate the result from that model to the result from the commercial solar system program PVsyst. Tilt and orientation of the panels was optimized specifically for Thade School to get as much electricity as possible from the prevailing conditions. Further, the aim was to, through interviews and conversations with the residents in the village and people connected to the school project, gain an understanding of how electrification of Thade School would affect the school, the teachers and the students, as well as the village and its residents. In general, Nepal has very good conditions for solar power, with around 300 days of sunshine annually. According to the residents of Thade, the weather is usually clear and sunny early in the morning, but after 10am it most often becomes cloudy and foggy. Hence investigation whether solar power in Thade would work is interesting. Electrification of the school would allow for easier learning and most likely increase the status of the school in the surrounding area. It would be easier for students and stuff to get information from the outside world, especially if their plan for Internet access is incorporated in the future. The interest for teachers to come to Thade would perhaps increase. Today the school has a hard time getting good teachers to come, to teach and live in the small mountain village. The children attending the school would also have a better chance to compete with other children to enter University or further educations. The advantages of electrification for Thade are clear.   Three different cases were simulated, with different assumptions of the solar radiation. The results showed that solar power could cover about 95 % of the annual demand, based on the needs that were reported as needed today. / Nepal, ett land inklämt mellan Indien och Kina, är ett av världens minst utvecklade länder. Tillgången på elektricitet är ett problem i hela Nepal, både för de nätanslutna områdena som kan ha strömavbrott upp till 16 timmar per dygn under torrperioden, men även för avlägsna områden där bristen på pengar, infrastruktur eller bara platsen sätter gränser för elektrifiering. I den östra delen av Nepal, ca 100 km söder om Mount Everest, ligger Thade, en liten bergsby med ca 200 invånare. Fram till 2015 hade byn endast en gammal sliten skolbyggnad som var i sådant dåligt skick att den knappt gick att använda. Därför gick många av barnen inte i skolan, och det var bara familjer med mycket pengar som kunde skicka sina barn till bättre skolor. Andra barn var tvungna att gå i timmar för att komma till den närmsta skolan. Med bidrag och stöd från en Svensk-Nepalesisk icke-statlig organisation (NGO), kunde en ny skola öppna i maj 2015. Ett år senare går 42 barn i Grace Academy School. Ett av de största problemen för skolan idag är att de inte har någon elektricitet, vilket skapar begränsningar för både lärare och elever. Syftet är att undersöka om det är möjligt att på ett enkelt och hållbart sätt kunna tillgodose skolans grundläggande behov av el genom ett solcellssystem med batterilagring. Målet är att bygga en simuleringsmodell, över energisystemet, i MATLABs Simulink® program och sedan validera resultatet från den modellen med resultatet från det kommersiella solsystem programmet PVsyst. Lutning och orientering av solpanelerna kommer att optimeras specifikt för Thade skolan för att få ut så mycket energi som möjligt från de rådande förhållandena. Vidare är syftet att genom intervjuer och samtal med invånarna i byn och personer med anknytning till skolprojektet, få en förståelse för hur en elektrifiering av skolan i Thade kan komma att påverka skolan, lärarna och eleverna, men också byn och dess invånare. Nepal har i allmänhet mycket goda förutsättningar för att använda solenergi, med ca 300 soldagar per år. Enligt personerna som bor i Thade är vädret ofta råder ofta klart och soligt på förmiddagen, men ungefär efter klockan 10 blir det ofta molnigt och dimmigt. Av den anledningen är det intressant att undersöka möjligheterna för solenergi i just Thade. Elektrifiering av skolan skulle underlätta utbildningen och förmodligen höja statusen för skolan. Det skulle göra det enklare för både elever och personal att få tillgång till information, speciellt om planen att i framtiden skaffa internet går i lås. Intresset att vara lärare i Thade skulle förhoppningsvis öka. Idag har skolan svårt att få bra lärare som vill komma och undervisa och bo i den lilla bergsbyn. Barnen skulle också få en större chans att tävla med andra barn om att komma in på universitet eller vidareutbildningar. Fördelarna med elektrifiering av Thade skolan är många. Tre olika simuleringar gjordes, med olika antaganden för solinstrålningen. Resultatet visade att solenergin kan täcka ca 95% av den årliga efterfrågan, utifrån de behov som sades behövas idag.

The surface (photosphere) of the Sun is threaded throughout by magnetic fields. Groups of magnetic fields form magnetic features (of a wide range of sizes in flux and area) on the surface where the fields are directed into or out of the Sun. The aim of this thesis is to examine in detail the four key processes, emergence, cancellation, fragmentation and coalescence, which determine the behaviour of small-scale magnetic features, in the Sun's photosphere. I identify features in both Hinode/NFI and SOHO/MDI full-disk to enable these processes to be examined at the currently smallest observable scales and over an entire solar cycle. The emerging event frequency versus flux distribution, for intranetwork emerging regions to active regions, is found to follow a power-law distribution with index -2.50, which spans nearly 7 orders of magnitude in flux (10¹⁶ - 10²³ Mx) and 18 orders of magnitude in frequency. The global rate of flux emergence is found to be 3.9 x 10²⁴ Mx day⁻¹. Since the slope of all emerged fluxes is less than -2 this implies that most of the new flux that is fed into the solar atmosphere is from small-scale emerging events. This single power-law distribution over all emerged fluxes suggest a scale-free dynamo, therefore indicating that in addition to dynamo actions in the tachocline producing sunspots, a turbulent dynamo may act throughout the convection zone. Similarly for cancellations I find a power-law relationship between the frequency of cancellation and the peak flux lost per cancelling event (for events detected in both Hinode/NFI and SOHO/MDI full-disk), with slope -2.10. Again, the process of cancellation appears to be scale free and the slope is less than -2 indicating that numerous small-scale features are cancelling the majority of flux on the Sun. I also estimate the frequency of all surface processes at solar maximum and find, 1.3 x 10⁸, 4.5 x 10⁷, 4.0 x 10⁷ and 3.6 x 10⁶ events per day over the whole surface for emergence, cancellation, fragmentation and coalescence events, respectively. All the surface processes are found to behave in a similar manner over all flux scales. The majority of events for all processes occur in features with flux below 10²º Mx, which highlights the dynamic nature of the magnetic carpet. Using SOHO/MDI full-disk data I investigate the cyclic variation of the 4 key processes throughout cycle 23. It is found that the rate of emerging events, cancellations, fragmentations and coalescences varied in anti-phase with the solar cycle by factors of 3.4, 3.1, 2.4 and 2.2, respectively over the cycle. Not surprisingly, therefore, the number of network features detected throughout the cycle also exhibits an anti-phase variation over the solar cycle by a factor of 1.9. The mean peak flux of tracked small-scale network, fragmenting, coalescing and cancelling features showed in-phase relationships with the solar cycle by factors of 1.4, 1.7, 2.4 and 1.2, respectively. The total flux which is emerged and cancelled by small-scale events, varied in anti-phase with the solar cycle, by factors of 1.9 and 3.2. This is clearly due to the variation in the number of emerging and cancelling events and the fact that the flux of individual emerging events showed no cyclic variation. The results in this thesis show that the large-scale solar cycle plays a complex role in the surface processes features undergo. The fact that the number of ephemeral regions emerging has an anti-phase variation to the solar cycle has a knock-on effect in the number of features which are available to undergo surface processes. Also decaying active regions, during more active periods, contribute more small-scale features, with high flux density, into the network which has an effect on the surface processes. This work has revealed the significant importance of small-scale features in the flux budget through continual emergence and cancellation, plus highlighted how through dynamic surface motions, small-scale features form the fundamental components with which the network is developed.