Present and Future Status of Solar Present and Future Status of Solar Energy in JordanEnergy in Jordan

Ali BadranAli BadranFaculty of Engineering and TechnologyFaculty of Engineering and Technology

University of JordanUniversity of Jordan

Solar Energy Research Works (Since 1990)

System TypeNo. of Works

Thermal

Active Systems

Flat-Plate Collectors10

Evacuated Tube2

Desalination17

Cooling4

Concentrators2

Ponds11

Cookers4

Industrial Applications4

Solar Radiation Models11

Passive Systems3

Photovoltaic7

Total75

Solar Energy Research Works (Since 1990)

13%

3%

23%

5%3%15%

5%

5%

15%

4%

9%Flat-Plate collectors

Evacuated Tube

Desalination

Cooling

Concentrators

Ponds

Cookers

Industrial Applications

Solar Radiation Models

Passive Systems

Photovoltaic

Solar Collector works in Jordan

• 1970: First collector designed and built in the country by the Royal Scientific Society.

• 1973: Two local workshops produced 50 solar water heating systems per year.

• 1986: 12% of Jordanian homes used SWH.• 1992: 20% of Jordanian homes (about 158,700)

used SWH.• 2002: 25 factories and workshops produced

40,000 systems per year (17,000 m2)

Collector system distribution

SizeArea,m2Sector

Small Systems1,085,000Housing

Large Systems30,000Hotels

Large Systems10,000Hospitals

Large Systems10,000 Other (Institutional,

Athletic, Industrial(

Total1,135,000

Solar Collector Problems

Low efficiency, Large area, High Cost,

Intermittent water supply,

Collection of energy for a single use: water heating.

Not integrated with the roof system: Architectural adaptation problems.

Improving the Efficiency

• Improving bond conductance

Thermal contact between tubes and absorber plate is of paramount importance for the conduction of heat from the plate to the working fluid inside the tubes.

Improper Fit Method

Improving the Efficiency, cont’d.

• It was found that bond conductance for locally manufactured collectors is very low (2.3-6.3 W/m.oC), compared with universal value (30 W/m.oC ).

• Improvement in manufacturing techniques can be used to improve, but their effect is limited to 6.3 W/m.oC.

• Improvement in material is a must in order to improve bond conductance.

Integration with Building Roof: Example

The Inverted Trickle Concept

Improvements on Inverted Trickle

Improvement of solar still: Augmentation with solar collector

Improvement with double glazing

Activities and Projects of the RoyalActivities and Projects of the RoyalScientific Society (RSS) and the National Scientific Society (RSS) and the National

Energy Research Center (NERC)Energy Research Center (NERC)

• Basin-type solar stills• Parabolic trough concentrators• Brackish water desalination

Solar refrigeration for a vaccine Solar refrigeration for a vaccine cabinetcabinet

Evacuated Tube Collectors

Evacuated Tube vs. Flat Plate

Solar Ponds

Solar pond project objectivesSolar pond project objectives

• Pond bottom lining system and the possibility of using local clays for lining

• Thermal stability under local weather conditions, including wind and rain.

• Convection cells and the effect of wall slope and surface roughness on stability.

• Effect of using Carnalite salt( Some kind of Dead Sea salt) on stability.

Solar Pond Project Objectives, Solar Pond Project Objectives, Cont’dCont’d..

• Augmentation of pond with flat-plate collectors and the effect of that on stability.

• Use of pond for greenhouse heating.

• Feasibility of using the pond for the generation of electricity.

• Comparison of using the pond vs. flat-plate collectors.

Industrial Applications

RSS and NERC Industrial ProjectsRSS and NERC Industrial Projects• Solar system for water heating for Jordan

Dairy Co.• Solar system for water heating for the

Sweedish Co. for the Handicaped.• Solar system for water heating for the Ibn Al-

Nafees Hospital in Irbid.• Solar space heating system for Princess

Sumayya University (PSUT) building.• Solar swimming pool heating system for a

Jordanian firm.

Solar Cookers, Box Type

Solar Cookers, Concentrator Type

Solar Cookers, Portable Type

Solar Cookers, with Heat Pipe

Solar PV Pumping

Activities of Renewable Energy Office (Now the Energy Center) at the U. of Jordan

in Cooperation with KADDB

Environmental Guest House Project

(Let’s Try)

Institutional ArrangementsInstitutional Arrangements The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Law The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Law (No 64) stipulates the encouragement of the (No 64) stipulates the encouragement of the

utilization of energy alternatives, such as natural utilization of energy alternatives, such as natural gas and renewable energies for electricity gas and renewable energies for electricity generation.generation.

The National Agenda incorporates several The National Agenda incorporates several benchmarksbenchmarks

to achieve this goal, some of which are:to achieve this goal, some of which are: - 80% of residences should be using hot water solar - 80% of residences should be using hot water solar

collectors by 2015.collectors by 2015. - The percentage of renewable energy share of the - The percentage of renewable energy share of the

national consumption should be increased from the national consumption should be increased from the present 1% to 3% by 2015.present 1% to 3% by 2015.

Institutional Red TapeInstitutional Red Tape

Energy saving devices and material were Energy saving devices and material were exempted from customs, but material of exempted from customs, but material of dual use, such as steel sheets, steel pipes dual use, such as steel sheets, steel pipes and glazing were not.and glazing were not.

This ended up by having some of the This ended up by having some of the imported evacuated tube collectorsimported evacuated tube collectors in in some cases cheaper than the locally-made some cases cheaper than the locally-made flat-plate collectors.flat-plate collectors.

Future ProspectsFuture Prospects

The stipulations of the National Agenda The stipulations of the National Agenda should be re-established based on the should be re-established based on the current prices of oil. It is expected that:current prices of oil. It is expected that:

All conventional, Diesel fuel-based All conventional, Diesel fuel-based central heating systems will be central heating systems will be redundant. Solar energy-based central redundant. Solar energy-based central heating systems will be a serious heating systems will be a serious competitor.competitor.

Domestic hot water solar heaters will Domestic hot water solar heaters will prevail in almost 100% of residences.prevail in almost 100% of residences.

Wish ListWish List

Flat-plate collectorsFlat-plate collectors

- Development of new material that is - Development of new material that is cheap, non-corrosive, durable and highly cheap, non-corrosive, durable and highly conductive to improve bond conductive to improve bond conductance.conductance.

- Application of press-fit techniques in the - Application of press-fit techniques in the manufacturing of fin-tube absorber plate.manufacturing of fin-tube absorber plate.

- Integration of solar collectors with - Integration of solar collectors with building architecturebuilding architecture

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Evacuated Tube collectorsEvacuated Tube collectors

-The use of evacuated tube collectors -The use of evacuated tube collectors at the right temperature level, for at the right temperature level, for example, in central heating, cooking, example, in central heating, cooking, laundry, air conditioning…etc.laundry, air conditioning…etc.

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Solar DesalinationSolar Desalination

-Integration of solar desalination with -Integration of solar desalination with solar collectors to make use of the area solar collectors to make use of the area of collectors for more than one purpose.of collectors for more than one purpose.

-Development of a pilot-plant installation-Development of a pilot-plant installation

that uses multi-grade desalinated that uses multi-grade desalinated water for several purposes (drinking water for several purposes (drinking and agriculture) and agriculture)

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Solar Concentrators:Solar Concentrators:

- Making use of satellite dish technology to- Making use of satellite dish technology to

obtain high optical concentrator obtain high optical concentrator efficiency.efficiency.

- Improving concentrators will have a - Improving concentrators will have a substantial effect on solar cooling and substantial effect on solar cooling and refrigeration, which will affect quality of refrigeration, which will affect quality of food and vaccine storage in rural and food and vaccine storage in rural and remote areas.remote areas.

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Solar PondsSolar Ponds - Research should be made to cover - Research should be made to cover

missing topics in solar ponds, mainly missing topics in solar ponds, mainly desalination, power generation and desalination, power generation and district heating.district heating.

Solar CookingSolar Cooking - Concentration should be made on - Concentration should be made on

solar cookers that use heat pipes. This solar cookers that use heat pipes. This would enable cooking while staying would enable cooking while staying indoors.indoors.

Wish List, cont’d.Wish List, cont’d.

PhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaics

Integration of PV and thermal systems Integration of PV and thermal systems should be investigated to obtain better should be investigated to obtain better efficiency. PV cells of 20% efficiency, efficiency. PV cells of 20% efficiency, for example may be combined with a for example may be combined with a thermal solar collector whose thermal solar collector whose efficiency is 60% to obtain 68% total efficiency is 60% to obtain 68% total efficiency for the system. efficiency for the system.

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Solar radiation predictionSolar radiation prediction

Existing models do not take into Existing models do not take into account environmental factors such account environmental factors such as land plantation cover and climate as land plantation cover and climate type. Finding those factors is crucial type. Finding those factors is crucial to enable the use of solar radiation to enable the use of solar radiation prediction models such as the prediction models such as the Angstrom-type regression method.Angstrom-type regression method.

Wish List, cont’dWish List, cont’d..

Institutional MeasuresInstitutional Measures

- Granting tax incentives to solar - Granting tax incentives to solar system users.system users.

- Finding financing tools for large solar - Finding financing tools for large solar systems.systems.

- Enabling solar PV users to sell - Enabling solar PV users to sell electricity to the grid.electricity to the grid.

- Training technicians.- Training technicians.

Thank You