Tag Archives: energías renovables en américa latina

Nicaragua

Nicaragua Solar Thermal

Leave a comment

Undoubtedly, the emblematic project, in terms of thermal solar energy, is the system inaugurated on October 9, 2018 at the Doctor Alejandro Dávila Bolaños Military Hospital in Managua.

With an investment of US $ 4.3 million financed through a soft loan from Oesterreichische Kontrollbank and Raiffeisen Bank International and with the United Nations Agency for Industrial Development (UNIDO), and the National Production Center more Clean from Nicaragua support; This system provides 30% of the demand required for air conditioning and 100% of the demand for hot water (used in various hospital operational functions, such as: personal, patients and doctors hygiene, food cleaning and preparation in the kitchen, for laundry area, among others).

The solar system was installed in a 4,450 square meters area, is composed of 338 thermal solar panels and will have an environment positive impact eliminating more than 1,100 tons of dioxide carbon emission each year.

It is the second largest system in the world, the largest in hospitals and unique in Latin America.

Resultado de imagen de energía solar hospital militar nicaragua

Despite the increase in systems number, solar energy only represents 1% of Nicaragua’s energy matrix.

There is a feeling that decision making is more market focused and not as a development issue.

The key is to associate the solar technology development with economic activities, establish a relationship between water resources, renewable energy and food security and base on renewable energy the climate change adaptation.

Currently solar energy provides energy security in contrast, for example, to energy supply via hydroelectric dams that depends on rains that are varying more and more throughout the region due to climate change.

Resultado de imagen de energía solar térmica nicaragua

Energy sources diversification becomes indispensable and has led to a solar energy investments growth.

This has been possible due to public resources contribution to support this technology development, the political commitment and the role carried out by the private initiative.

In this sense, it is worth highlighting the work that the BID is doing in the region.

In spite of advances, the pending subject continues being the regional energetic integration.

An energy networks extension at regional level would help lower costs and a energy supply diversification would guarantee greater energy security.

All you need is Sun. All you need is Sopelia.

Nicaragua

Solar Nicaragua

Leave a comment

Nicaragua claims to be less dependent on thermal energy, which is produced based on petroleum derivatives, and therefore executes solar development projects on the Caribbean coast and in country rural areas.

One of the first initiatives back in 2009 was the Euro Solar program, which benefited 42 communities (7,000 families) in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN), generating electricity for health services, education and Internet and telephony communication in community centers.

Then Nicaragua depended 80% of energy generated from petroleum derivatives.

Due to its location, Nicaragua is a country with high potential for solar energy use and at same time has one of the lowest electrification rates in the region.

In 2015, with the objective of bringing electricity to North Atlantic Autonomous Region communities and interior municipalities, the Mulukukú Electric Substation was built, which included 200 kms of transmission lines construction between Siuna and Puerto Cabezas (RAAN), where 1,500 solar modules and several electrical substations were installed.

Nicaragua’s largest photovoltaic park, Astro Solar Plant, was installed, which with 3 MW in the Tipitapa municipality supplies electricity to the Zona Franca Astro industrial park.

Ver las imágenes de origen

Energy generation from renewable sources development had important fiscal benefits thanks to Law 901:

Payment exemption of Import Tariffs (DAI) and Value Added Tax (VAT), on machinery, equipment, materials and supplies used for pre-investment and construction work, including the construction of subtransmission lines necessary to energy transport from generation plant to National Interconnected System (SIN).

Payment exemption of Income Tax (IR) for a period of 7 years from project entry into commercial operation.

Payment exemption of Municipal Taxes on real estate, sales and registration for a period of 10 years from project entry into commercial operation.

Resultado de imagen de energía solar nicaragua

Renewable energy in Nicaragua continues to advance smoothly. In 2006, renewable energy represented only 25% of national energy matrix, mainly hydroelectric and geothermal. Until December 2018, renewable energies accounted for 59% of national energy matrix, although in some moments of last year it reached up to 80% of total generation.

Regarding renewable generation contribution by sector, it is estimated that biomass with sugar cane residues contributed 216 MW; hydroelectric energy 150 MW; geothermal 154 MW; wind energy 186 MW; and solar 13 MW. Geothermal energy has been considered the energy of the future of Nicaragua because compared to wind and hydroelectric, it is more firm and constant in its level of generation and has great potential.

Despite these advances, Nicaragua continues to be the country with the most expensive Central American energy in industrial sector. Only those who consume less than 150 kWh per month pay for cheap energy, which mainly benefits the residential consumer.

The origin of these high prices is in the need and urgency of government income, which are obtained in national energy tariff and used to pay internal and external debts.

The main obstacles to distributed solar generation development in Nicaragua are the high initial investment represented by a system for most Nicaraguans and the lack of a law that promotes and regulates electricity sale from small photovoltaic systems connected to the grid.

It is necessary to amend Law 532 or adopt a new law that establishes a reasonable sales rate, incentives for producers, network operators and consumers, as well as simplifying bidding processes in the contracting of energy for small residential systems and the industrial and services sectors.

Number of renewable energy professionals increases every year. New generations are more aware of environment damage that has been done and of solar energy potential. This new Nicaraguan generation must work to reduce energy prices and take advantage of solar energy to provide Nicaragua with a more sustainable and just future.

All you need is Sun. All you need is Sopelia.

Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Solar Wiring

Leave a comment

Cables, both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), if correctly sized, will minimize energy losses and protect the installation.

For a photovoltaic system, DC cables must meet some requirements:

* Have grounding line and protection against short circuit.
* Be resistant to UV rays and adverse weather conditions with a wide range of temperatures (approximately between -40ºC and 110ºC).
* Possess a wide voltage range (more than 2000 V).
* Be simple and easy to manipulate.
* Be non-flammable, of low toxic level in case of fire and without halogens.
* Have a very low conduction loss (up to 1%).

Photovoltaic installation cables must have certain characteristics that differentiate them from conventional cables, although many argue that differences are not very large.

Since voltage in a photovoltaic system is low DC voltage, 12 or 24 V, currents that will flow through the cables are much higher than those in systems with 110 or 220 V AC voltage.

Power amount in Watts produced by the battery or photovoltaic panel is given by the following formula: P = V. I

V = voltage in Volts
I = current in Amperes

This means that to supply a power at 12 V current will be almost 20 times higher than in a 220 V system. It implies that much thicker cables must be attached to prevent overheating or even a fire.

Following table indicates recommended cable section according to power and for different voltage levels.

For very low voltages and low power demands, very thick cables must be used. For example, to reach a power of approximately 1 Kw at 12 V we would need a 25 mm2 section cable. The same as to supply 20 Kw at 220 V.

This increases system price drastically because thicker cables are more expensive.

That is why it is very important that the lengths of DC wiring are as short as possible.

When designing large systems, a cost / performance analysis must be performed to choose most suitable operating voltage. It would be advisable to gather small groups of modules and if possible to make operating voltage higher than 12 or 24 V.

To verify cable section values recommended in tables, maximum voltage drops compared to voltage at which you are working should be below the 3% / 5% limit.

To calculate the relationship between conductor section and its length we can apply following formula:

S = 2 r. l. i / ΔV

Being:

r Conductive material resistivity (0.018 in case of copper conductors)
l Cable section length
i Current intensity
ΔV Voltmeter reading difference

Let’s see an example:

Battery terminals output voltage is 13.1 V. The main line between it and a device, which consumes 60 W, measures 12 m of 6 mm2 cable.

We must find the voltage value at device input to verify that we are within maximum recommended values of voltage drop.

The intensity i = P / V = 60 / 13.1 = 4.6 A

S = 6 = 2. 0.018. 12 4.6 / ΔV

ΔV = 0.33 V

Therefore, voltage at device input will be: 13.1 – 0.33 = 12.8 V

Voltage drop is 2.34% (maximum recommended value: 3%).

It is normal to use tables to select recommended section and use the formula to calculate the voltage drop and perform the verification.

In case that voltage recommended maximum values drop are exceeded, we will select section immediately above and we will carry out verification again.

Cables for photovoltaic applications have a designation, according to regulations, which is composed of a set of letters and numbers, each with a meaning.

Cables designation refers to a series of characteristics (construction materials, nominal voltages, etc.) that facilitate the selection of the most suitable to the need or application.

This is an extract of contents included in Technical-Commercial Photovoltaic Solar Energy Manual and Sopelia e-learning training.

All you need is Sun. All you need is Sopelia.

Solar Thermal Energy

Heat Transfer Fluid

2 Comments

Heat transfer fluid passes through absorber and transfers energy to thermal utilization system (accumulator or exchanger).

Most used types are:

* Natural water: can be used in open circuit, when sanitary water passes directly through collectors, or in closed circuit (independent consumption circuit).

In first case, circuit can only be constituted by materials allowed for drinking water supply. In some countries this system is not allowed.

It will be necessary to consider water characteristics, especially its hardness (calcium and magnesium amount), which when heated produces a hard crust or tartar.

This crust accelerates corrosion, restricts flow and reduces heat transfer. The values start to be problematic from 60 mg / l. Very soft waters can also cause problems due to their corrosivity.

* Water with antifreeze: to avoid drawbacks of freezing and boiling of heat transfer fluid, use of antifreezes called “glycols” is the most widespread.

Mixed with water in certain proportions prevent freezing to a limit of temperatures below 0 ° C depending on their concentration.

On the other hand the boiling point rises making heat transfer is protected against too high temperatures.

Choice of concentration will depend on historical temperatures of the area where installation is located and on characteristics provided by manufacturer.

Most commonly used glycols are ethylene glycol and propylene glicol.

Resultado de imagen de tabla anticongelante solar

Fundamental characteristics of antifreeze:

• They are toxic: their mixing with drinking water must be prevented by making secondary circuit pressure greater than that of primary, for prevention exchanger possible breakage.

• They are very viscous: factor to take into account when choosing electric pump that is usually more powerful.

• Dilates more than water when heated: as a safety standard, when we use antifreeze in proportions of up to 30%, when sizing the expansion vessel, we will apply a coefficient of 1.1 and 1.2 if proportion is greater.

• It is unstable at more than 120ºC: it loses its properties so it stops avoiding freezing. There are some that withstand higher temperatures, but they are expensive.

• The boiling temperature is higher than that of water alone, but not too much.

• Specific heat is lower than that of water alone, so it must be taken into account in the flow calculation, conditioning pipe and pump dimensioning.

To calculate antifreeze amount that must be added to an installation, you must first consult the table of historical temperatures which is the minimum temperature recorded in that city or location.

Once it is known, goes to glycols graph supplied by manufacturer and value is transferred to indicate what percentage is.

* Organics fluids: there are two types, synthetic and petroleum derivatives.
Precautions mentioned in case of antifreeze regarding toxicity, viscosity and dilation are applicable to organic fluids. Additional risk of fire should be mentioned, but also that they are chemically stable at elevated temperatures.

* Silicone oils: they are stable and of good quality products. They have the advantages that they are not toxic and that they are not flammable, but current high prices mean they are not widely used.

All you need is Sun. All you need is Sopelia.

Solar Energy

Solar Energy Wherever You Are

Leave a comment

Many times the purpose of incorporating solar energy to our professional skills, scope of business or personal life has hovered in our head.

We have almost always run into the same barrier: time.

We are working or studying and we find it very difficult to have even a few hours a week.

It is rare to find training offerings that are not too short (few hours workshops) or too long (one or more years) and which in turn have an affordable price.

If we add the difficulty of having to move, because most are taught in presence way, finally we ended up postponing again and again this purpose.

In 2014 Sopelia gave, in collaboration with the Technology National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina), the Technical – Commercial Solar Energy Course in tele-learning (distance + presence) methodology.

In 2016 Sopelia updated and divided that training action in 2 specific courses:

* Technical – Commercial Solar Thermal Energy

* Technical – Commercial Photovoltaic Solar Energy

2016-08-03 (1)

Sopelia rode them on a Moodle 3.1 platform and the result is 2 courses in e-learning methodology.

This means you can receive Solar Energy training with the best market value wherever you are.

You only need a computer, smartphone or mobile device and Internet.

Being the 1st edition there is a 50% off list price.

These two courses provide technical and commercial training in solar energy domestic applications with the aim of spreading the technology and develop human resources for incorporation into work and business world.

You will identify the most relevant aspects of solar energy within the current energy landscape.

You will define, describe and analyze the most important features of solar energy.

You will know the composition, understand the operation, design and maintenance of facilities to implement thermal and photovoltaic solar energy projects.

2016-08-03

It is a training aimed at students and technical careers graduates, technical schools graduates, engineers, architects, professionals and installers of related sectors (air conditioning, electricity, rural), people with experience in renewable energies, environmental professionals and individuals interested in incorporating solar energy into their lives.

The 2016 edition starts on September 19th and ends on November 25th.

You can register until 16 September inclusive in www.energiasrenovables.lat

If you are under 30 years old and live in Latin America, with the course completed, you can apply to be Sopelia Country Manager in your country of residence.

And if you are under 25 and live in Latin America, you can get a 50% scholarship and finished the course, apply to become Sopelia Trainee.

If you speak Spanish you have no excuses, Solar Energy wherever you are with Sopelia.