D1 - Knowledge and comprehension skills. The student will have to know the structure of the electricity supply system and the technologies involved in it. In particular, he must know and understand the operation that govern the materials, devices and the systems (current and under development) for photovoltaic generation, and electricity storage and management. D2 - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. The student must be able to draft the design of a microgrid, including the selection and rough sizing of the various components. He must be able to identify and quantify the main figures of merit for the photovoltaic and storage devices on the basis of the data available for example in the datasheets. D3 - Autonomy of judgment. The student must be able to identify the most suitable photovoltaic technologies, as well as the right storage and management of energy systems for different applications. D4 - Communication skills. The student must be able to present, clearly and using technical language, the various technologies and the functioning of the photovoltaic and electricity storage devices, their role in the electrical systems, the methods for selecting and sizing the devices. D5 - Learning skills. The student must be able to identify, procure, understand and critically discuss relevant and reliable information regarding photovoltaic and storage technologies other than those presented in the course, as well as to formulate sound hypotheses regarding the performance and functioning of such technologies.

Basic knowledge of Matlab

PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS. Fundamentals: overview of solid-state physics (energy bands, doping, transport). Physics of photovoltaic conversion. The P-N junction. Physical origin of energy conversion efficiency and other performance indicators. Limits to conversion efficiency. Overcoming the limits: advanced, new, and emerging technologies (new silicon-based technologies; thin films; organic photovoltaics and DSSC; photovoltaic technologies based on nanotechnologies; perovskite solar cells). ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS. Focus on electrochemical storage: fundamentals; performance indicators and their physical limits; current electrochemical storage technologies; emerging electrochemical storage technologies. PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. The role of photovoltaics in the energy transition. Classification of photovoltaic systems: domestic, commercial/industrial, utility scale; grid-connected and isolated. Photovoltaic modules, inverter and photovoltaic generator. Introduction to the electrical and empirical models of the photovoltaic cell, electrical characteristics. Inverter-photovoltaic generator design. Solar radiation and yield of a photovoltaic system: solar paths, clinometric profile, parallel rows of photovoltaic modules, performance ratio. Economic analysis: levelized cost of energy, grid and fuel parity, net present value. STORAGE SYSTEMS AND DEVICES. The role of storage systems in the energy transition. Power applications: peak shaving and time shift. Storage types: mechanical, electrical, chemical and thermal. Definitions of basic parameters, Introduction to the electrical modeling of the cell. Batteries and cells: types, formats, and principle of operation. Definition of basic parameters, electrical characteristics and charging curves. Electrical modeling of the cell. - Degradation processes of electrochemical storage systems - Main mechanisms of degradation; concepts of capacitance and energy fading; cause-and-effect relationships and factors related to electrode degradation. - Methods of measuring and analyzing the internal impedance of batteries - Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): reasons for use, measurement techniques; Bode and Nyquist diagram of individual components and individual cells; Lissajous curves; description of typical diagrams and correlation with ongoing chemical behavior; diagram variation as a function of state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH). Extraction of model parameters and curve fitting. - Suitable tools and techniques for battery characterization-Types of charge/discharge profiles, types of standard tests (HPPC, GITT, etc.), driving cycles. The importance of temperature and its effects. Cyclers for cells, modules and battery packs and their operation; Potentiostats/galvanostats; climate chamber, sensors, integration between different measurement devices; laboratory safety. - Laboratory experience - estimation of electrical circuit model parameters through electrical measurement; EIS measurement and related typical problems; evaluation and analysis of results. ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. The case study of the nanogrid of the University of Trieste. Energy Management Systems and energy flow optimization. Rule-based vs optimization-based EMS. Applications, objectives and constraints. Energetic, economic and environmental (3E) optimization. Emission factors and carbon intensity. Grid support and ancillary services such as peak shaving, load leveling and time shift. Optimization algorithms: Linear, Quadratic and Mixed-Integer problems. Non-linear optimization problem with heuristics. Model predictive control. Examples and optimization solutions in Matlab.

V. Bearzi. Manuale di Energia Solare, Tecniche Nuove. Photovoltaic Solar Energy: From Fundamentals to Applications Volume 2, Wiley 2024. E. Barsoukov and J. R. Macdonald, Eds., Impedance Spectroscopy: Theory, Experiment, and Applications, 1st ed. Wiley, 2018. - A. Lasia, ‘Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and its Applications’, in Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry, B. E. Conway, J. O. Bockris, and R. E. White, Eds., in Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry. , Boston, MA: Springer US, 2002, pp. 143–248. doi: 10.1007/0-306-46916-2_2. - S. Wang, Battery system modeling. Amsterdam, Netherlands ; Cambridge, MA: Elsevier, 2021. - G. L. Plett, Battery management systems, Volume II: Equivalent-Circuit Methods. in Artech House Power engineering series. Boston: Artech house, 2016.

PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS. Fundamentals: overview of solid-state physics (energy bands, doping, transport). Physics of photovoltaic conversion. The P-N junction. Physical origin of energy conversion efficiency and other performance indicators. Limits to conversion efficiency. Overcoming the limits: advanced, new, and emerging technologies (new silicon-based technologies; thin films; organic photovoltaics and DSSC; photovoltaic technologies based on nanotechnologies; perovskite solar cells). ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS. Focus on electrochemical storage: fundamentals; performance indicators and their physical limits; current electrochemical storage technologies; emerging electrochemical storage technologies. PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. The role of photovoltaics in the energy transition. Classification of photovoltaic systems: domestic, commercial/industrial, utility scale; grid-connected and isolated. Photovoltaic modules, inverter and photovoltaic generator. Introduction to the electrical and empirical models of the photovoltaic cell, electrical characteristics. Inverter-photovoltaic generator design. Solar radiation and yield of a photovoltaic system: solar paths, clinometric profile, parallel rows of photovoltaic modules, performance ratio. Economic analysis: levelized cost of energy, grid and fuel parity, net present value. STORAGE SYSTEMS AND DEVICES. The role of storage systems in the energy transition. Power applications: peak shaving and time shift. Storage types: mechanical, electrical, chemical and thermal. Definitions of basic parameters, Introduction to the electrical modeling of the cell. Batteries and cells: types, formats, and principle of operation. Definition of basic parameters, electrical characteristics and charging curves. Electrical modeling of the cell. - Degradation processes of electrochemical storage systems - Main mechanisms of degradation; concepts of capacitance and energy fading; cause-and-effect relationships and factors related to electrode degradation. - Methods of measuring and analyzing the internal impedance of batteries - Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): reasons for use, measurement techniques; Bode and Nyquist diagram of individual components and individual cells; Lissajous curves; description of typical diagrams and correlation with ongoing chemical behavior; diagram variation as a function of state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH). Extraction of model parameters and curve fitting. - Suitable tools and techniques for battery characterization-Types of charge/discharge profiles, types of standard tests (HPPC, GITT, etc.), driving cycles. The importance of temperature and its effects. Cyclers for cells, modules and battery packs and their operation; Potentiostats/galvanostats; climate chamber, sensors, integration between different measurement devices; laboratory safety. - Laboratory experience - estimation of electrical circuit model parameters through electrical measurement; EIS measurement and related typical problems; evaluation and analysis of results. ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. The case study of the nanogrid of the University of Trieste. Energy Management Systems and energy flow optimization. Rule-based vs optimization-based EMS. Applications, objectives and constraints. Energetic, economic and environmental (3E) optimization. Emission factors and carbon intensity. Grid support and ancillary services such as peak shaving, load leveling and time shift. Optimization algorithms: Linear, Quadratic and Mixed-Integer problems. Non-linear optimization problem with heuristics. Model predictive control. Examples and optimization solutions in Matlab.

Lessons and exercises also using Matlab. Part of the materials is provided using the Moodle platform. Photovoltaic and storage laboratory.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)