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Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/R042233/1
Title The development and demonstration of a unique low cost scalable PV technology for international development.
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 100%;
Research Types Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields SOCIAL SCIENCES (Development Studies) 25%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 50%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 80%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 10%;
Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 10%;
Principal Investigator Dr M Royapoor
No email address given
Sch of Engineering
Newcastle University
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 March 2018
End Date 31 August 2020
Duration 30 months
Total Grant Value £76,090
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region North East
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr M Royapoor , Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Professor A P Roskilly , Sir Joseph Swan Institute, Newcastle University (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Big Solar Limited (BSL) is developing Power Roll (PR) that is a ground breaking, ultra-low cost and ultra-lightweight solarphotovoltaic (PV) solution. The design of PR represents a breakthrough in the challenge of generating renewable energyat a cost cheaper than hydrocarbons and 40% lower than silicon PV. This is a disruptive technology with the potential totransform the lives of 1.2 billion people without access to electricity as well helping the UK in delivering its carbon reductiontargets.Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research at Newcastle University aims to deploy this ground-breaking solar PV in Sub-Saharan Africa. A two stage deployment of first generation Power Roll product will address the needs of rural off-gridcommunities in African markets. Many of these communities are still without electrical power and the limited Electric PowerInfrastructure within these countries offers a dim outlook for immediate delivery of grid-based power to these communities.This makes off-grid electricity supply and storage solutions an invaluable transitional solution that could have an immediateimpact on the quality of life of these communities. The proposed deployment of first generation PV rolls will integrate asmall and subsequently medium size Power Roll to enable solar electricity generation aimed at operating portable orirrigation water pumping duties, or the processing of harvested crops (for instance drying) to eliminate post-harvest foodlosses which is of great concern and a major cause of hunger and poverty in SSA rural communities. The project willcontinue to monitor system performance and compiled data will be analysed to characterise system performance, allow PVdeployment system design and facilitate product roll-outs across under-developed rural communities.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 21/02/19