Fundamentals of Renewable Energies

202037698

Phase 4:

Practical Component

Students:
Anderson Cardona Gomez C.C. 1.013.641.638
Fabio Andrés Zamora Real C.C. 1.123.513.148
Andres Leonardo Lopez Roldan C.C. 1.116.546.573
Juan Diego Trujillo Cerquera C.C. 1.118.573.757

Group: 21

Tutor:
Jairo Luis Gutiérrez

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA UNAD

ESCUELA DE CIENCIAS BÁSICAS, TECNOLOGÍA E INGENIERÍA- ECBTI
NOVIEMBRE
2024
 Table of contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3

Electrical diagram ..................................................................................................................... 4

Evidence of the use of the selected tool and the results obtained in the simulation ................ 5

Energy Capacity Study of the Municipality of Uribia ............................................................. 7

Bibliographic References........................................................................................................... 9
 Introduction

This project is developed as part of the Fundamentals of Renewable Energies course,

which aims to design a sustainable solution to power a school in the municipality of Uribia, La

Guajira, Colombia. This region is characterized by extreme climatic conditions but has a high

solar potential that enables the use of photovoltaic energy as the primary source of electricity

generation.

The team, composed of three members, utilized various online tools to analyze the

technical and economic feasibility of different energy options. After evaluating factors such as

the school’s average energy consumption, the availability of energy resources, and associated

costs, the optimal solution was determined to be a standalone photovoltaic system consisting of 4

solar panels, 3 batteries, a regulator, and an inverter. This system ensures a constant energy

supply, suitable for the institution's needs.

The project development included a collaborative analysis based on specific calculations,

climate data, and simulation tools, which were shared and discussed through internal messaging

platforms and WhatsApp. This approach strengthened teamwork and facilitated well-informed

decision-making.
 Electrical diagram

Figure 1. Electrical diagram

The electrical diagram presented describes the basic operation of a solar energy generation
system. Here's a brief explanation:

1. Solar Panels: Shown at the top, these capture sunlight and convert it into direct current
(DC) electricity.

2. Regulator: Regulates the current and voltage generated by the solar panels to protect and
optimize the system's battery charging process.

3. Battery Stack: Stores the electrical energy generated by the solar panels for later use,
ensuring power availability even when there is no sunlight.

4. Inverter: Converts the direct current stored in the batteries into alternating current (AC),
which can be used to power standard electrical devices.

5. Output Load (Out Charge): Represents the devices or systems that use the generated
and stored energy.
 Evidence of the use of the selected tool and the results obtained in the simulation

Figure 2. Software use CESAL S.A.S

The screenshot displays a table summarizing the energy consumption of various devices in a
system, along with calculated totals. Here's a breakdown of the results:

Devices Listed:

• Air Conditioner: Consumes 900 W, used 8 hours/day for 5 days/week, with a weekly
energy consumption of 36,000 Wh.
• Desktop Computers: 9 units consuming 200 W each, used 5 hours/day for 5 days/week,
with a total weekly consumption of 54,000 Wh.
• External Lighting: 2 units consuming 30 W each, used 11 hours/day for 7 days/week,
with a total weekly consumption of 4,620 Wh.
• Internal Lighting: 6 units consuming 15 W each, used 5 hours/day for 5 days/week, with
a weekly consumption of 2,700 Wh.
• Laptops: 2 units consuming 100 W each, used 6 hours/day for 5 days/week, with a
weekly consumption of 6,000 Wh.
Summary of Totals:

• Total AC Energy Consumption (Weekly): 103,320 Wh.

• Total AC Energy Consumption (Daily): 14,760 Wh.
• Total DC Energy Consumption: None (0 Wh), as all devices in the table are AC-
powered.

Combined Consumption (AC + DC):

Weekly: 103,320 Wh.

Daily: 14,760 Wh.

After entering all the data in the other tabs of the CESAL simulator, the following report was
finally obtained:

Figure 3. Results CESAL S.A.S

 Energy Capacity Study of the Municipality of Uribia

Figure 4, Base data in Uribia

The solar monitoring results reveal a clear seasonality in production, directly related to the
variation in daily sunlight hours. While losses of 15.01% were observed, the system demonstrated
an average generation capacity of 6.08 peak sun hours per day, achieving an estimated annual
production of 1885.62 kWh per kWp installed. These findings highlight the importance of
considering local climatic factors when designing and evaluating solar photovoltaic systems.
 Conclusions

The implementation of a standalone photovoltaic system at the school in Uribia, La

Guajira, represents a sustainable and efficient solution that maximizes the natural resources of the

region, where solar radiation is abundant and consistent.

The cost-benefit analysis conducted using online tools demonstrated that a hybrid system

(solar-wind) is not suitable for the area due to the low incidence of usable winds.

Calculations performed with tools such as CESAL’s Off-Grid Photovoltaic System

Calculator were essential in determining the appropriate number of solar panels, batteries, and

system components, ensuring a design tailored to the school’s energy needs.

This work highlights the importance of planning and leveraging technological tools to

design energy solutions that promote sustainability and autonomy in rural communities with

limited access to the power grid.

The collaboration among team members enabled a comprehensive approach to the

challenges of designing and implementing the project, ensuring a thorough analysis and effective

results.
 Bibliographic References

Calculadora Sistema Fotovoltaico Aislado. (s/f). Com.co. Recuperado el 25 de noviembre de

2024, de https ://cesalsas .com .co /sistema -fotovoltaico -autonomo

Datos climáticos y meteorológicos históricos simulados para Uribia. (s/f). meteoazul. Recuperado
el 25 de noviembre de 2024, de https ://www .meteoblue .com /es /tiempo /historyclimate
/climatemodelled /uribia_colombia_3666409

Resultados. (s/f). Tulider.net. Recuperado el 25 de noviembre de 2024, de https ://renovables

.tulider .net /pv /hsp /resultados .php ?&tilt =10 &azimuth =0 &perdidas =3 &latit
=11.713397687219416 &longit =-72.27137438773111 &country =0 &select_inc =1
&estruc_fixed =1 &cubierta =5