Low-cost integration of on-site PV for large-scale industrial heat supply

This project is focussed on re-design and optimisation of PV-driven industrial heat supply. Major savings in Balance of System costs can be realised by re-thinking the way on-site PV is integrated for process heat supply. Power electronics for PV maximum-power-point tracking (MPPT) and heating control can be greatly simplified when the stringent AC-waveform requirements for grid-connection are avoided. No multi-stage converter is needed, and furthermore, transformers and transmission lines are eliminated. Thermal energy storage, 812 cheaper than battery/pumped-hydro, is integrated via novel PV direct electrical heating.