Expansion of photovoltaic systems in multicampi higher education institutions: evaluation and guidelines

Abstract

Considering the multicampi organizational structure of higher education institutions (HEIs), the expansion of photovoltaic (PV) systems previously installed in the facilities, the great potential for PV generation in Brazil, and the 2030 Agenda, the general goal of this research study is to evaluate and promote the expansion of the aforementioned PV systems. For this purpose, the PV system installed at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Piauí comprising a future expansion is characterized by a thorough literature and documentary research. The solar resource available at the campuses of the institution was estimated using the second version of the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy. The technical–economic viability of the system expansion is assessed through the average parameters and minimum performance indexes required by the institution. Thus, it is possible to prove the effectiveness of the methodology to identify investment priorities and guide the construction and expansion of other PV systems, confirming that this process is technically and economically feasible as associated with strategic adherence, also bringing several environmental benefits.

Driving factors for the installation of mini and micro rural distributed generation systems: economic analysis – a case study in Piauí, Brazil

“…The Brazilian Northeast region, which comprises the state of Piauí, has the country's greatest solar potential for energy generation (ALMEIDA; ALMEIDA, 2022;MEDEIROS et al, 2021). Piauí is no different, especially in the case of municipalities of the Southeast region (PEREIRA et al, 2017;SILVA et al, 2021). With a daily average solar irradiance of 5.71 kWh/m², that is, 4% higher than the Brazilian Northeast region's average (PEREIRA et al, 2017), all mini and micro DG systems in the state consist of photovoltaic systems.…”