Solar PV Powered Air Conditioner Analysis for an Office/Classroom in a Tropical Climate

This thesis focuses on using photovoltaic produced electricity to power air conditioners in a tropical climate. The study takes place in Surabaya, Indonesia at two different locations the classroom, located at the UBAYA campus and the home office, 10 km away. Indonesia has an average solar irradiation of about 4.8 kWh/m²/day (PWC Indonesia, 2013) which is for ideal conditions for these tests. At the home office, tests were conducted on different photovoltaic systems. A series of measuring devices recorded the performance of the 800 W PV system and the consumption of the 1.35 kW air conditioner (cooling capacity). To have an off grid system many of the components need to be oversized. The inverter has to be oversized to meet the startup load of the air conditioner, which can be 3 to 8 times the operating power (Rozenblat, 2013). High energy consumption of the air conditioner would require a large battery storage to provide one day of autonomy. The PV systems output must at least match the consumption of the air conditioner. A grid connect system provides a much better solution with the 800 W PV system providing 80 % of the 3.5 kWh load of the air conditioner, the other 20 % coming from the grid during periods of low irradiation. In this system the startup load is provided by the grid so the inverter does not need to be oversized. With the grid-connected system, the PV panel’s production does not need to match the consumption of the air conditioner, although a smaller PV array will mean a smaller percentage of the load will be covered by PV. Using the results from the home office tests and results from measurements made in the classroom. Two different PV systems (8 kW and 12 kW) were simulated to power both the current air conditioners (COP 2.78) and new air conditioners (COP 4.0). The payback period of the systems can vary greatly depending on if a feed in tariff is awarded or not. If the feed in tariff is awarded the best system is the 12 kW system, with a payback period of 4.3 years and a levelized cost of energy at -3,334 IDR/kWh. If the feed in tariff is not granted then the 8 kW system is the best choice with a lower payback period and lower levelized cost of energy than the 12 kW system under the same conditions.

What determines the use of capital budgeting methods? : Evidence from Swedish listed companies

Purpose: This paper aims to extend and contribute to prior research on the association between company characteristics and choice of capital budgeting methods (CBMs). Design/methodology/approach: A multivariate regression analysis on questionnaire data from 2005 and 2008 is used to study which factors determine the choice of CBMs in Swedish listed companies. Findings: Our results supported hypotheses that Swedish listed companies have become more sophisticated over the years (or at least less unsophisticated) which indicates a closing of the theory-practice gap; that companies with greater leverage used payback more often; and that companies with stricter debt targets and less management ownership employed accounting rate of return more frequent. Moreover, larger companies used CBMs more often. Originality/value: The paper contributes to prior research within this field by being the first Swedish study to examine the association between use of CBMs and as many as twelve independent variables, including changes over time, by using multivariate regression analysis. The results are compared to a US and a continental European study.

Net Energy Analysis of Double Glazing for Residential Buildings in Temperate Climates

Energy used in buildings is a major contributor to Australia’s energy consumption and associated environmental impacts. The advent of complex glazing systems such as double glazing, particularly in northern America and Europe, has partially closed a weak thermal link in the building envelope. In milder climates, however, building envelope features may not be as effective in life cycle energy terms, i.e. including the embodied energy of their manufacture. A net energy analysis compares the savings in operational energy to the additional requirements for embodied energy, in terms of the energy payback period and energy return on investment. The effectiveness of double glazing is determined for an Australian residential building. A wide range of building operation regimes was simulated. These results support the principle of installing double glazing in residential buildings in Melbourne, Australia, at least in terms of net primary energy savings.

Comparative greenhouse emissions anayalsis of domestic solar hot water systems

It is commonly assumed that solar hot water systems save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions relative to conventional fossil fuel-powered systems. Very rarely has the life-cycle greenhouse emissions (including the embodied greenhouse emissions of manufacture) of solar hot water systems been analysed. The extent to which solar hot water systems can reduce emissions compared with conventional systems can be shown through a comparative life-cycle greenhouse emissions analysis. This method determined the time it takes for these net greenhouse emissions savings to occur, or the 'emissions payback period'. This paper presents the results of a life-cycle greenhouse emissions analysis of solar hot water systems in comparison with conventional hot water systems for a southern (Melbourne) and a northern (Brisbane) Australian city.

Life-cycle energy analysis of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BiPVs) with heat recovery unit

Building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) systems generate electricity, but also heat, which is typically wasted and also reduces the efficiency of generation. A heat recovery unit can be combined with a BiPV system to take advantage of this waste heat, thus providing cogeneration. Two different photovoltaic (PV) cell types were combined with a heat recovery unit and analysed in terms of their life-cycle energy consumption to determine the energy payback period. A net energy analysis of these PV systems has previously been performed, but recent improvements in the data used for this study allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the combined energy used throughout the entire life-cycle of these systems to be performed. Energy payback periods between 4 and 16.5 years were found, depending on the BiPV system. The energy embodied in PV systems is significant, emphasised here due to the innovative use of national average input–output (I–O) data to fill gaps in traditional life-cycle inventories, i.e. hybrid analysis. These findings provide an insight into the net energy savings that are possible with a well-designed and managed BiPV system.

Embodied energy analysis of the refurbishment of a small detached building

Energy efficient design principles and the minimisation of operational energy requirements have been demonstrated in the refurbishment of a small existing residential building. Significant thought has been given to these areas, together with an emphasis on the minimisation of resource consumption and material wastage. However, less consideration has been given to the embodied energy of the additional materials, components and systems required to meet these aims. The additional embodied energy may reduce the advantages of minimising the operational energy consumption by extending the energy payback period beyond the life of the building. In general, the embodied energy of buildings and their products has been found to be significant, when national average input-output data is used to fill gaps in traditional life-cycle assessment inventories. Through the use of an input-outputbased hybrid embodied energy analysis, the embodied energy of this refurbished building has increased by 63% compared to the existing building, showing the impact that filling the gaps in traditional inventories can have on energy payback periods.

Seasonal storage for solar thermal systems in Australia?

Seasonal storage systems have been operating in various European countries since 1985. Combined with solar collectors, these systems are known as ‘central solar heating plants with seasonal storage’ (CSHPSS). While these systems have been shown to be technically feasible, their cost is still too high to make them competitive with fossil fuels.

In Australia, we have quite different conditions to those countries where CSHPSS have been trialled. In general, we experience higher radiation levels, ambient temperatures and cooling loads. Our heating loads and energy prices are also usually lower. As a result, any evaluation of CSPSS operating in a European context may not be valid for Australian conditions. To the authors’ knowledge, no evaluation of these systems has been carried out for Australia.

This paper therefore attempts an initial assessment of these systems and their viability for Australia. The paper first describes the various types of CSHPSS and then reviews their current status. The performance of one type of CSHPSS operating in several locations of Australia has been predicted using a TRNSYS model. The simulations indicated that the design guidelines for Europe are inappropriate for Australia and would result in greatly over-sized systems.

An indication of the financial viability of the system was determined by calculating a simple payback period for a variety of fossil fuels. This type of seasonal storage systems appears to be financially attractive in areas of southern Australia where the solar system is displacing LPG.

Solar versus fossil fuels : A net energy analysis of domestic solar hot water systems in Australia

It is commonly assumed that solar hot water systems save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional electric and gas hot water systems. Very rarely has the life-cycle energy requirements (including the embodied energy of manufacture) of solar hot water systems been analysed. The extent to which solar hot water systems can save energy compared to conventional electric or gas hot water systems can be shown through a comparative net energy analysis. This method determines the ‘energy payback period’, including consideration of the difference in operational energy savings and energy embodied in the devices relative to a base case. Dr Robert Crawford, Deakin University, Australia presents the results of a net energy analysis that compared solar and conventional hot water systems for a southern (Melbourne) and a northern (Brisbane) Australian climate.

A greener house : the sustainable property investor's guide to buying, building and renovating

Sustainability is now an integral part of society and the built environment. Unfortunately many home owners and home-buyers are unaware of the relationship between sustainability and value, especially with regard to the potential added value to their home. Payback periods can be different depending on factors such as the initial capital outlay and the levels of depreciation and obsolescence, as well as savings made (if any) to the running costs of the home

Evaluation of a heat pump system for greenhouse heating

Greenhouse heating costs for some commercial growers in southern Australia are now a significant production cost. This is particularly the case for those operators who installed heating systems using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) when this fuel was relatively inexpensive. Heat pump systems used in various configurations have been suggested as an option for reducing energy use and costs for greenhouse heating, particularly if off-peak electricity is used. This paper investigates the financial and environmental viability of an air-to-water heat pump system for a 4000 m2 greenhouse, located 120 km north of Melbourne, Victoria. The simulation software, TRNSYS, was used to predict the performance of the system. The heat pump system was found to have a simple payback period of approximately six years and reduce LPG consumption by 16%. Greenhouse gas emissions were 3% higher using the heat pump system, compared to the existing LPG boiler.

Re-framing the riot : journalism, creative non-fiction and telling the story of Australia's black history

On 19 November 2004, an Aboriginal man was arrested on Palm Island, off the coast of Townsville in northern Queensland. He was taken to the local watch house on a drunk and disorderly charge. An hour later, he lay dead on a cell floor. His liver, an autopsy showed, had been split in half and his spleen ruptured. But when that autopsy report also found that Mulrunji Doomadgee’s severe injuries were not caused by force, the Palm Island Indigenous community, enraged and grief-stricken, went looking for payback.

The Palm Island “riots” ensured that this Aboriginal death in custody made international news headlines where others barely got a mention, if at all (Hollinsworth, 2005). The ensuing Coronial Inquest and criminal prosecution of the arresting Queensland police officer, Chris Hurley, also were covered consistently by the news media. Senior Sergeant Hurley has, however, so far escaped punishment and the Queensland media’s most recent report of the case was to tell how the Qld Police Union now funds a legal bid to clear his name. Meanwhile, little is heard in the news media of the Doomadgee family, the Palm Island community, or of other deaths in custody occurring steadily through the 18 years since the Royal Commission that was supposed to implement a raft of preventative recommendations.

While the news media’s framing of these issues has most often followed historically predictable and ultimately racist lines, a work of creative non-fiction tells the story with warranted complexity and power. Chloe Hooper’s The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island documents Cameron Doomadgee’s death, the riots, and the ensuing legal farce from the front row. Hooper, in the tradition of Truman Capote, arrived at Palm Island as a white writer from a big city. But by “walking the talk” – being with the Doomadgee family and their community through the hearings and after, Hooper was given extraordinary access to community, history, and significant cultural nuance barely identified by, let alone understood by, non-Indigenous readers.

By focussing on Hooper’s experience with sources and court reporting, compared with some print media coverage, this paper will consider the comparative roles of journalism and creative non-fiction in re-framing the Palm Island “riot”. It will suggest that Hooper’s work subverts some dominant (and racist) news media representations of Australian Indigenous peoples through its use of source relationships in an extended narrative structure.

Raw materials and process chemical recovery in industrial wastewater pollution control

This article illustrates the different methods employed to recover raw materials and process chemicals in various industries. Although only a few industries such as car painting, metal cutting, electroplating, textile, abattoir and pesticide formulation have been illustrated in case studies, almost all the industries can recover raw materials and process chemicals from their waste streams. The case studies show that the investments on new processes or systems used to recover raw materials and process chemicals have a short payback period and hence bring huge savings to those industries. Thus, each industry should try to recover raw material and process chemicals from waste streams.

Defining and developing an energy retrofitting approach

This paper identifies the dilemma faced by the stakeholders of existing buildings in regards to a decision making process for energy retrofitting. This paper also identifies the missing stage viewed as the “integrity audit “which can lead to substantial savings in the area of building operation. The methodology is centered on identifying energy waste first, reducing the overall peak electrical demand and then retrofitting for energy-efficiency. A proposed “integrity audit” leads to the classification of three main energy culprits: the identification of waste, missed opportunities, and rescheduling the operation of equipment use. A case study indicating the financial advantages of applying this methodology for a commercial building are presented. The energy retrofitting strategy is divided into two main categories, namely building control improvements and building component implementation. The payback periods are often within months if not immediate.

Decisão de investimentos : critérios de avaliação e a consideração de aspectos estratégicos nas empresas industriais de médios e grande porte da Região Noroeste - RS

Esta dissertação estuda os procedimentos de tomada de decisão de investimentos em ativos, utilizados pelas empresas industriais de médio e grande porte da região noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, investigadas em termos de critérios de avaliação e a consideração de aspectos estratégicos na decisão de investimento. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, realizada em trinta empresas, que procurou investigar o comportamento das mesmas em matéria de critérios de decisão, consideração do risco, timing e ciclo econômico, incorporação de novas tecnologias e a avaliação do desempenho do investimento. A seguir, procede-se à análise comparativa de alguns resultados da presente pesquisa com a pesquisa de Saul (1990/1991), realizada nas grandes empresas industriais e prestadoras de serviços públicos básicos do país. Finalmente é apresentado o estudo de caso múltiplo, que teve como base a pesquisa survey realizada nas trinta empresas, das quais foram selecionadas três empresas uma do setor agropecuário e duas do setor metal-mecânica que mais se assemelham quanto às práticas de seleção e avaliação de investimentos constantes na teoria. Esse estudo teve por objetivo examinar os procedimentos adotados no processo de tomada de decisão, bem como a consideração de ativos intangíveis na decisão de investimento. Nas conclusões, geral e parcial, são apresentados os comportamentos das empresas investigadas e analisadas e suas diferenças com as recomendações constantes na teoria financeira, no que se refere a critérios de avaliação e decisão de investimento. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram uma aproximação das práticas empresariais com as descritas na teoria financeira, já que a maioria das empresas utiliza técnicas formais para avaliar, selecionar e controlar os seus projetos de investimentos; verificou-se que as empresas utilizam uma estimativa de rentabilidade para “todos” ou para a “maioria” de seus projetos. Através do estudo, a pesquisa confirmou que as empresas da região noroeste utilizam a taxa interna de retorno (TIR) como critério principal de rentabilidade na análise de investimento. Também, constatou-se que o payback , nas modalidades sem e com atualização é usado como critério secundário. Outro aspecto constatado na investigação mostra que a maioria das empresas avaliam o risco de maneira subjetiva, vindo a contrariar a teoria financeira pelo não uso dos métodos de mensuração existentes. No que se refere `a comparação dos resultados da presente pesquisa com os resultados da pesquisa de Saul (1990), evidenciou-se que as empresas da região noroeste diferem em alguns procedimentos, principalmente em termos de mensuração do risco, pois em 1990 às empresas utilizavam um método quantitativo para medir o risco, nos demais procedimentos são semelhantes aos utilizados pelas empresas nacionais. Assim, conclui-se, que a análise de investimento vem influenciando a maneira das empresas decidirem e agirem, mostrando que os empresários não estão explorando ao máximo as técnicas de análise de investimento oferecidas pela teoria financeira, embora as empresas busquem constantemente a modernização tecnológica, adaptando-as ao seu ambiente, de acordo com as necessidades que o mercado exige, oportunizando o crescimento e o desenvolvimento de seus negócios.

Análise econômica das políticas de incentivos à cultura no Brasil

O Brasil conta hoje com uma legislação que o coloca seguramente entre os melhores países, senão o melhor, para se realizar projetos culturais. Ao menos na teoria. Essa dissertação tem como objetivo trilhar o caminho das leis de incentivo, desde a sua criação, com a Lei Sarney até a Lei Rouanet, analisando inclusive as leis estaduais e municipais, que também surgiram como respostas a descontinuidades no processo. O mercado cultural brasileiro é caracterizado por externalidades que dificultam sua viabilidade, fazendo necessária a intervenção governamental. A política cultural brasileira tem como principal instrumento as leis de incentivo à cultura, que utilizam a renúncia fiscal para atrair o capital privado. São formalizadas parcerias onde as empresas privadas patrocinam projetos de interesse do governo e, como contrapartida, recebem o direito de deduzir esse valor, integral ou parcialmente, de seus impostos. Contudo, esse modelo de contrato de parceria é mal formulado, e traz perdas para a sociedade. O risco é assumido integralmente pelo Estado, o que acarreta problemas sérios de Moral Hazard. Além disso, devido às diferentes características dos projetos, o modelo acaba também por gerar problemas de Seleção Adversa. Para uma melhor comparação e análise da política cultural brasileira, foram levantados casos internacionais - Estados Unidos, Inglaterra, Portugal e Espanha. Levando-se em conta as análises e críticas levantadas, serão sugeridas alternativas para o modelo de contrato adotado pelo governo para incentivo à cultura, e formas alternativas de financiamento ao setor cultural, de forma a assegurar um melhor retorno para a sociedade sem deixar de cumprir o papel de fomentar o setor e corrigir as externalidades presentes.