Canal Top PV, Predicated Upon Thin Film Solar Technology, Can Be Incorporated into Existing Technologies That Are Adaptable and Sustainable!

This is Part Two of an examination of Canal Top PV technologies.? Part One focused upon the Canal Top installations in India and two under construction in the United States with Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Panels.?Part One concluded that these technologies were not sustainable. This piece will examine thin film-based solutions for Canal Top based upon the following characteristics:

1. It is much lighter in weight than mono or polycrystalline pv;

2. It can bend and be rolled into shapes;

3. It is much less sensitive than mono or polycrystalline to increases in temperature; and

4. it is much cheaper than mono or polycrystalline pv.

These qualities enable the adaptation of existing smart devices, capable of shading canals, to open, close and retract in response to changes in weather. Other qualities such as being lightweight and inexpensive enable placement of thin film on artificial flora that create a shading canopy.

I emphasize that unlike the solutions for Part 1, there is no history of carport, pergola or roof canopy or natural canopy being used as Canal Top PV.? Thus, it is our belief that these can be adapted for shading irrigation canals, based upon our understanding of the technologies, their current applications, our knowledge of the characteristic of thin film pv and crystalline and objectives of canal top pv.

Three implicit assumptions of the Canal Top Technologies based upon crystalline technologies are as follows:

1.????? That the availability of PV should be close to 100% at all times when the sun is shining.

2.????? ?the structure supporting PV should be able to withstand the extremities of the weather.

3.????? ?that the structure should be able to support a weight bearing load of heavy snow and rain.

We relax these assumptions for Part 2.? The desire to make the project 100% available drives incremental cost of PV in India up to a range of 15 million to 20 million rupees per megawatt of power. (This is $179,000 to $238,000 at present exchange rates).? To get at this fundamental problem, we will reduce the cost of the modules and structure supporting pv, the cost of installation, availability of project to avoid operating in or near weather extremes. ?We find precedent in the wind industry where there is a cut-out speed, when wind velocity approaches the limit of inertia. The machine is turned off!

We will take project out of service when sun is not shining to avoid exposure of project to weather, but also by local flora, fauna and unauthorized use by humans. ?It is hoped that this extra operating expense incurred in manpower time devoted to monitoring project and the weather will reduce repair and extend the life of the project.

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Compare Thin Film with Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline

Thin Film is less efficient and does not last as long as Crystalline, but performs better in a regime of rising temperatures

Thin film's efficiency ranges from 7% to 12%. while Monocrystalline' is 17% to 23% and Polycrystalline is 14% to17%. Thin film's lifespan is 10 to 20 years. On the other hand Monocrystalline is 25 to 40 years. Polycrystalline is 25 to 35 years.

These efficiency and lifespan disadvantages are significantly reduced when ambient air temperatures are high. Monocrystalline For every degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) increase above 25 degrees (77 Fahrenheit), the module efficiency frequently drops to .5%. While thin film drops .2% per degree increase. The higher temperatures also degrade the crystalline solar modules faster than thin film.

According to ABC News, The summer of 2023 was the hottest in 2000 years. (This summer of 2024 with temperatures in Mid 90's starting in June seems much hotter than last summer) Under these conditions. Crystalline solar is really affected adversely!

Thin film Weighs Less than Crystalline

Thin-film solar panels are generally lighter than monocrystalline solar panels:

·???????? Thin-film:?Typically weigh 15–50 lbs (6–22 kg) per panel, depending on the source

·???????? Monocrystalline:?Typically weigh 50 lbs (22 kg) or more per panel?

The weight of solar panels can vary depending on the manufacturer, model, and materials used.?For example, a 365-watt monocrystalline panel can weigh 45 lbs, while a polycrystalline panel of the same size might weigh 49 lbs.?

The cost of thin-film, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline solar panels can vary depending on the type of technology used, the quality of the panels, and the number installed???????????????

??????????Thin Film Costs Much Less

·???????? Thin-film solar panels

These panels are the most affordable option, costing between $0.50 and $1.50 per watt, but they are also the least efficient.?The total cost of thin-film panels, including installation and materials, can range from $2,000 to $8,800.

·???????? Monocrystalline solar panels

These panels are more efficient and better suited for residential use than polycrystalline panels, but they are also more expensive, costing between $1 and $1.50 per watt.?For example, a 5,000-watt monocrystalline installation could cost up to $7,500.

·???????? Polycrystalline solar panels

These panels are less efficient than monocrystalline panels, but they are also cheaper, costing between $0.90 and $1.50 per watt.?For example, a 5,000-watt polycrystalline installation usually costs no more than $5,000.

?AI Overview Google 2024

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Example of Cantilever Shading Structure Adapted to Shading Irrigation Stream

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This cantilevered solar carport is easily adapted to from shading a car to shading a stream. ?The larger ports have a 20’ x 20 area. Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline modules are generally placed upon carports.? The range power production is 5 to 10 kw. Substituting thin film for crystalline would lessen the power but also lessen construction cost. In the event the project is struck by a calamity, the cost of replacing thin film modules is less than the crystalline modules. The cost ranges from $16,500 for 5 kw to $26,800 according to July 19, 2024 report in Market Watch by Leonardo David.

This version of solar carport would need to incorporate the smart technology used in smart pergolas and canopies in order to respond to weather changes and let all precipitation fall into the canal. Incorporation of the smart technology depends upon the ability of thin film to roll and curve and its property of being lightweight. We later look at carports with identical shading area with no solar modules.

The carports perform well enough in the wind! ?70 mph is the usual stated wind tolerance specification , but the range extends from 30 to 110 mph depending upon carport. ?

The cost of 20 x 20 carports without solar range from $1,500 to $26,000. The low end are made of galvanized steel. This two car port, 20 X 40 would need to be adapted to become a smart solar carport.

The key task of the mechanical and manufacturing engineers is to adapt suitable carports, portable garages or pergolas for solar and smart weather control. With the use of cheaper thin film modules, use of the efficient low cost lamination spray technique of Sinovoltaics, dispensation with the load bearing and wind resistant support used in the crystalline projects, we think this project has a chance to be substantially cheaper and produce more water.

Example of Double Cantilevered Solar Carport

If there is insufficient area on either side of the irrigation canal for a single cantilever, there is double cantilevered carport.? The posts of the cantilever would be placed directly in the canal.

During periods of high winds, heavy rain or snow, the smart controls would open shutters to roof to allow precipitation to fall directly into the canal instead of creating a load of snow or rain. This would preserve the modules. and increase amount of water in the canal.

There may be a question as to how to replace the power lost when thin film was substituted for the crystalline modules.? The first answer is that roof truss can be substituted for the standard carport roof in order to provide more area.

For example ,the truss shape, Dual Pitch, and porch are triangle shapes that offer more surface than equilateral shape typical of many rooves to place more modules.

The second answer is that thin film can be rolled and curved into amazing three-dimensional shapes as stand-alone objects as seen in the next section.

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? Thin Film Can Create a Shade Canopy

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The above photo shows stand-alone solar trees complemented and integrated with natural flora. This artistic expression points to potential integration of solar into a functioning shading canopy as well as a power source.

Thin film solar frees PV from bevy of rectangles and squares on building! It moves the solution into the hands of architects, landscape designers and mechanical and computer engineers. Can’t wait to see the results!

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