Investigation into the Feasibility of Using Solar-Powered Household Air Conditioner in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

The extensive use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and the release of toxic metals into the environ - ment, resulting in climate change in some regions. It has been estimated that cooling buildings accounts for about 20% of global electricity consumption and this figure continues to grow. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the feasibility of using an air conditioning unit for cooling a residential building, powered by solar energy in the conditions of Iraqi Kurdistan. Such an assessment is required for the sustainable development of the region. The study location is Erbil city in Iraq (latitude: 36.1911 °N, longitude: 44.00917 °E). The PVsyst software tool was used for modeling because it is characterized by great versatility in the field of modeling solar energy systems. The specified solar panel power (kW) was a constant parameter. Variable parameters were height of solar panels, albedo reflector, tracker system. In the current study, three simulations were performed in which the variable parameter was height and four simulations in which the variable parameter was the solar panel› angle. An average of 3.5 kWh was produced throughout the day, and an average of 3.3 kWh was produced during working hours. Only 0.2 kWh was produced outside of working hours, meaning that almost all of the electricity produced is available during working hours. This is useful in countries without high feed-in tariffs where only a small feed into the grid is needed. Also with the lowest calculated values (of all the options under study) the energy produced is 2264 kW/h/year or 2.264 MW/h/year (month – January, panel installation height – 0.5 m, inclination – 20°, azimuth – 0°), greenhouse gas emissions of at least 604.3 kg CO 2 per year are eliminated. At the same time, an additional measure to increase the efficiency of using a solar panel to power an air conditioner is to place reflective material in which the reflection rate or reflection coefficient is different under the solar panels. However, as men - tioned earlier, this is an expensive solution. In the future, it will be beneficial to develop smart control technologies to improve performance and evaluate the impact of a solar air conditioning.