Solar energy is both elegantly simple and fiendishly complex. On the surface it looks as easy as placing photovoltaic (PV) panels in the sun, wiring them up and enjoying endless electricity. But in reality it takes highly trained experts to design and build solar systems, and there are hundreds of technologies and products from which to choose.
Testing Alternative Energy in Qatar
Chevron is testing solar technologies and teaching energy efficiency in Qatar to help the nation prepare to host a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in 2022.
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In addition, a PV panel's efficiency is influenced by the local climate. Even modest solar power plants can cost tens of millions of dollars, so planners must be certain that a panel will perform well in real-world conditions.
This is especially important in the Middle East. Most PV panels are designed and installed in places with mild climates, such as Europe, Japan and the United States. But in countries like Qatar, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 110º F (43º C) and can reach as high as 135º F (57º C), there is scant rain to wash off the dust from the panels, and counterintuitively, PV cells actually perform worse as they get hotter.
As part of Chevron's five-year commitment to the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), the company is investing $10 million in the Center for Sustainable Energy Efficiency (CSEE), which opened in March 2011. Chevron also is establishing a solar test facility at QSTP in collaboration with GreenGulf Inc., a Qatari clean technology and renewable energy company. The $20 million facility, in which Chevron and GreenGulf are investing up to $10 million each, is planned on a 9-acre (3.5-ha) site equipped to test dozens of solar technologies from all over the world.
The technologies being studied include photovoltaic solar, by which semiconductors convert sunlight directly to electricity, and concentrated solar and solar thermal, which capture and use the heat of the sun's rays.
The results of the tests here can help determine the most appropriate solar technologies for the region.
Tidu Maini, Ph.D., executive chairman of QSTP, said that environmental factors, such as high humidity, high heat and excessive dust, are the main challenges that affect performance. For example, dust accumulated on photovoltaic panels after six months in the Middle East can reduce their effectiveness by 40 percent.
In addition to solar power, Chevron expects to identify commercially available and near-to-market technologies in solar air conditioning, solar desalination and energy-efficient lighting that work well in the region's desert climate.
In Qatar, air conditioning can account for more than 60 percent of electricity use. Solar could be used at peak times in summer when the energy load for air conditioning is highest. At QSTP, Chevron plans to operate and study a state-of-the-art solar air conditioning system that uses the sun's heat rather than electricity to drive a refrigeration cycle.
Guiding these activities is Chevron Energy Solutions, among the largest installers of solar energy and energy efficiency solutions for school districts, universities and other public sector institutions in the United States Through its technology development partnerships, Chevron Energy Solutions is at the forefront of energy-efficient lighting technology and its commercialization, and the company stands out for its unique ability to deliver comprehensive, economic solutions that provide long-term savings for its customers. Company experts have been working onsite at the CSEE, lending their extensive knowledge of solar and efficiency systems to help establish the new facilities in Qatar.
"The test facility in Qatar is an exciting opportunity to apply the broad and deep understanding of solar energy that our company is known for in the United States," said Chevron Energy Solutions President Jim Davis. "Our experience in engineering and building solar systems gives us a distinct advantage in completing the QSTP project."
Carl Atallah, Chevron's country manager in Qatar, said, "The solar test facility in Qatar complements similar Chevron facilities in California and New Mexico, providing us with the opportunity to test the performance of various solar technologies in widely different environments. We are proud to take a lead technical role in this study on sustainable energy."
The Energy Efficiency Experience
Another highlight of Chevron's CSEE is the visitors' center, where guests, through interactive displays, can learn about and experience next-generation lighting, solar technologies and energy efficiency.
Along with the goal of identifying solar power, solar air conditioning and low-energy lighting technologies best suited for Qatar's climate, the Chevron CSEE conducts seminars and workshops on sustainable energy designed for a variety of audiences, including industry professionals, researchers and students, and the general public.
Students and the public can visit the education center to learn about solar power and ways to reduce energy consumption. Engineering students are receiving training and internships. And municipal planners, property developers, engineers and architects can obtain detailed information on the performance of solar and efficiency technologies and consider implementing these green building technologies in their construction.