Energy Loss Savings Using Direct Current Distribution in a Residential Building with Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage

Patrik Ollas (), Torbjörn Thiringer, Mattias Persson and Caroline Markusson
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Patrik Ollas: Department of Energy and Resources, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 504 62 Borås, Sweden
Torbjörn Thiringer: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Mattias Persson: Department of Measurement Science and Technology, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden
Caroline Markusson: Department of Energy and Resources, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 504 62 Borås, Sweden

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: This work presents a comparison of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) distribution systems for a residential building equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery storage. Using measured PV and load data from a residential building in Sweden, the study evaluated the annual losses, PV utilization, and energy savings of the two topologies. The analysis considered the load-dependent efficiency characteristics of power electronic converters (PECs) and battery storage to account for variations in operating conditions. The results show that DC distribution, coupled with PV generation and battery storage, offered significant loss savings due to lower conversion losses than the AC case. Assuming fixed efficiency for conversion gave a 34% yearly loss discrepancy compared with the case of implementing load-dependent losses. The results also highlight the effect on annual system losses of adding PV and battery storage of varying sizes. A yearly loss reduction of 15.8% was achieved with DC operation for the studied residential building when adding PV and battery storage. Additionally, the analysis of daily and seasonal variations in performance revealed under what circumstances DC could outperform AC and how the magnitude of the savings could vary with time.

Keywords: direct current; solar photovoltaic; battery storage; building energy system; energy savings; power electronic converter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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