Researchers have developed a new joint system that harvests energy from the sun and, with the addition of biomass, can provide 100 percent of the heating needed for a one-story house throughout the year. In the warmer months, the system can generate excess electricity that can be sold to the grid. The system has so far only been developed and tested at a simulation level, but it appears to have excellent potential.
In 'the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy', researchers in China and the United States outline a computer simulation model that addresses the challenge of solar's inherent intermittent energy by adding biomass as another renewable energy source to provide a reliable, affordable heating solution. development and at the same time reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“We showed how this hybrid system can provide a cleaner and more energy-efficient heating solution than fossil fuels in single-family homes,” the researchers explained, adding that “the system would be particularly cost-effective in rural communities.” Farms contain large amounts of biomass in the form of agricultural waste that can be combined with solar energy.”
The proposed solar-biomass hybrid system is based on multi-generation distributed technology that integrates photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) and biomass energy sources.
Biomass is produced from renewable organic material, such as corn cobs, nut shells, wood pulp, and food and animal waste. A PV/T system, consisting of PV panels and thermal collectors, is an emerging technology that converts solar energy into both heat and electricity with higher energy conversion efficiency.
Studies of emerging decentralized hybrid systems have focused on neighborhoods and commercial greenhouse farms. The researchers evaluated their system based on the heating needs of a single-storey cottage from November to March in northwestern China, where temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius in winter.
Of the total energy input, the PV/T collector generated 52% of the electrical energy and captured 8% of the available thermal energy. The biomass generated the remaining 40% of the electricity needed to heat the house.
The researchers are now developing a biomass/solar system model to meet the heating and cooling needs of a small commercial building and, if successful, plan to develop a prototype for pilot testing.
