Considerations are held about the specificationin whichthe PV plants have to fulfill so that they can be installed on marine vessels. Initially, a brief description of the typical electrical grid of ships is presented, distinguishing the main parts, reporting the typical electrical magnitudes, and choosing the most preferable installation areas. The technical specifications,in whichthe PV plants have to be compatible with, are fully described. They are determined by the special marine environmental conditions, taking into consideration parameters like wind, humidity, shading, corrosion, and limited installation area. The work is carried out with the presentation of the most popular trends in the field of solar cell types and PV system technologies and their ability to keep up with the aforementioned specifications. 1. Introduction Without doubt the last decade was the golden age of the photovoltaic systems. The large number of technological breakthroughs on the research areas of power electronics, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and microgrids made the use of PV panels feasible to numerous applications of modern life. The PV systems of today generate electric power that ranges from W to MW. Small solar chargers for portable devices such as laptops, cell phones, and calculators are very popular. Single or arrays of PV panels produce electric power for street lights, advertising signs, isolated agricultural electric pumps, even small houses not connected to the utility grid. In addition, PV systems, wind power systems, batteries, fuel cell generators, and other renewable energy systems work together and organize reliable microgrids [1–4]. But the most common PV applications are the grid-tied ones, where single PV panels or large scale PV plants apply auxiliary electric power to the grid [4–7]. Despite their extended use at mainland applications, the PV systems presence in modern marine technology remains limited, mainly working as suppliers to small lighthouses, buoys, and chargers for the batteries of small sailing yachts [8, 9]. The rising transport expenses due to the fuel prices, the increasing restrictions of CO2 and nitric oxides emission due to new ecological policies, and generally the need for more eco-friendly transportation were the reasons that forced the marine companies to reexamine the systematic use of PV systems on large vessels [10–12]. The photovoltaic technology can indeed be a really cost-effective solution for ships. PV systems can act as ideal subsidiary power sources, independent from the vessel electromechanical settlement because they
References
[1]
D. Georgakis, S. Papathanassiou, N. Hatziargyriou, A. Engler, and C. Hardt, “Operation of a prototype microgrid system based on micro-sources equipped with fast-acting power electronics interfaces,” in Proceedings of the IEEE 35th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (PESC '04), vol. 4, pp. 2521–2526, June 2004.
[2]
J. Lee and B. Han, “Operational characteristic analysis of DC micro-grid using detailed model of distributed generation,” in Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, pp. 1–8, New Orleans, La, USA, April 2010.
[3]
F. D. Kanellos, A. I. Tsouchnikas, and N. D. Hatziargyriou, “Micro-grid simulation during grid-connected and Islanded modes of operation,” in Proceedings of the International Conference on Power Systems Transients (IPST '05), Paper No. IPST05-113, Montreal, Canada, June 2005.
[4]
F. Katiraei, K. Mauch, and L. S. Dignard-Baley, “integration of photovoltaic power systems in high-penetration clusters for distribution networks and mini-grids,” International Journal of Distributed Energy Sources, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 203–223, 2007.
[5]
Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants, http://www.sunenergysite.eu/download/AnnualReview_FreeEdition.pdf.
[6]
M. Calais, V. G. Agelidis, and M. Meinhardt, “Multilevel converters for single-phase grid connected photovoltaic systems: an overview,” Solar Energy, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 325–335, 1999.
[7]
S. B. Kjaer, J. K. Pedersen, and F. Blaabjerg, “A review of single-phase grid-connected inverters for photovoltaic modules,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 1292–1306, 2005.
[8]
E. Behrouzian, A. Tabesh, F. Bahrainian, and A. Zamani, “Power electronics for photovoltaic energy system of an oceanographic buoy,” in Proceedings of the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Colloquium (IAPEC '11), pp. 1–4, April 2011.
[9]
J. A. Clarke, C. M. Johnstone, I. A. Macdonald et al., “The deployment of photovoltaic components within the lighthouse building in glasgow,” http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/Documents/LH-PV.pdf.
[10]
G. S. Spagnolo, D. Papalilo, and A. Martocchia, “Eco friendly electric propulsion boat,” in Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering (EEEIC '11), pp. 1–4, May 2011.
[11]
J. S. Park, T. Katagi, S. Yamamoto, and T. Hashimoto, “Operation control of photovoltaic/diesel hybrid generating system considering fluctuation of solar radiation,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 67, no. 1–4, pp. 535–542, 2001.
[12]
T. Katagi, Y. Fugii, E. Nishikawa, T. Hashimoto, and K. Ishida, “Photovoltaic generating system on ships to reduce fossil fuel dependence,” http://www.jime.jp/publication/bulletin/english/pdf/mv24n021996p70.pdf.
[13]
C. Kagkarakis, Photovoltaic Technology, Simmetria, Athens, Greece, (Greek), 1992.
[14]
T. Zacharias, Renewable Energy II, University of Patras, Patras, Greece, (Greek), 2003.
[15]
J. Coello, “Degradation of crystalline silicon modules: a case study on 785 samples after two years under operationn,” in Proceedings of the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC '11), pp. 3500–3503, Hamburg, Germany, September 2011.
[16]
Rolls-Royce, “Hybrid shaft generator propulsion system upgrade,” http://www.rolls-royce.com/Images/hsg_brochure_tcm92-26884.pdf.
[17]
MAN B&W, Shaft Generators for the MC and ME Engines, http://www.mandieselturbo.de/files/news/filesof5478/Shaft_generators.pdf.
[18]
MAN B&W, Installation Aspects of MAN B&W Main and Auxiliary Engines, http://www.mandieselturbo.de/files/news/filesof1810/037.pdf.
[19]
A. K. Adnanes, Electrical Installations and Diesel Electric Propulsion, ABB Technical Publication, New York, NY, USA, 2003.
[20]
X. Feng, T. Zourntos, K. L. Butler-Purry, and S. Mashayekh, “Dynamic load management for NG IPS ships,” in Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PES '10), pp. 1–8, July 2010.
[21]
M. Weiming, “Development of vessel integrated power system,” in Proceedings of the International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS '11), pp. 1–12, August 2011.
The German Energy Society (DGS LV), Planning & Installing Photovoltaic Systems, ch. 1: pp. 24–27, 42-43, ch. 2: pp. 70, 90–93, ch. 6: pp. 210-211, Earthscan, London, UK, 2nd edition, 2008.
A. Kyritsis, Optimum design of a high-frequency single-phase inverter for connecting low power PV panels to the utility grid [Ph.D. dissertation], University of Patras, Patras, Greece, (Greek), 2005.
[27]
S. B. Kjaer, “State of the art analysis for the “SolcelleInverter” project,” http://130.226.56.153/rispubl/NEI/nei-dk-4508.pdf.
[28]
I. Kobougias, A. Kyritsis, A. Nanakos, and E. Tatakis, “Present trends in photovoltaic systems for distributed generation,” in Proceedings of the TCG Symposium: Power Electronics, ElectroMotion Systems and Industrial Applications, pp. 5–6, Athens, Greece, (Greek), April 2006.
[29]
A. C. Kyritsis, I. C. Kobougias, N. P. Papanikolaou, E. C. Tatakis, and P. C. Staurou, “Analysis of the operational characteristics of single-phase inverters for the direct connection of photovoltaic generators at the urban territories low level utility grid,” in Proceedings of the 8th National Conference for the Renewable Energy Resources, pp. 29–32, Thessaloniki, Greece, (Greek), March 2006.
