Analysis of solar photovoltaic generation using solar tower concept in Singapore

• Main Author: Seah, Marcus Zi An
• Other Authors: Ng Heong Wah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Energy conservation; DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Power resources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76420
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

International climate pledges will drive growth in solar technologies as the world takes a united stand to reduce world’s emissions. Solar energy remains the most promising source for Singapore as the tropical island enjoys high intake of solar radiation all year round. Singapore’s location gives it comparative advantage compared to other countries by being close to the equator, with daylight hours fluctuating that is negligible, and it does not have the four seasons. However, the uptake of solar has been slow due to the lack of land and roof space. As Singapore is an island, land space is very valuable. This results in the traditional horizontal solar farms not being feasible. The country is mostly made up of heavily developed high rise urban buildings, hence solar panels have to compete for space among an array of other equipment’s such as water tanks, air-conditioning units, CCTV’s, Air vents and backup power generators. This problem can be addressed with the use of 3-Dimensional (3D) solar generation by extending the solar cells upwards in the configuration of a tower. By building upwards we can minimize the horizontal footprint and still increase power generation. This project aims to justify the use of a solar tower over conventional flat solar panels that are commonly used in Singapore This project consists of simulations using Mathematical formulas from publications by Duffie and Beckman. These formulas calculate the solar irradiance on surfaces in Singapore’s geographical context. Data for 53 weeks were calculated to simulate the period of 1 year. A cost analysis was also done to prove the economic feasibility of the solar tower in Singapore’s context.