A Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Tree Solution for Small-Scale Industries

With the increase in population and the growing demands of industrialization, carbon emissions across the globe are increasing exponentially. Furthermore, the demand for clean energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, etc.) is growing at an unparalleled rate to fight against the climate change caused by these increased carbon emissions. However, at present, it is very difficult for small-scale industries in urban areas to install solar power systems due to constraints around the operation area and on rooftops. Therefore, these small-scale industries are not able to install any solar plants and, thus, are not able to reduce their carbon emissions. In the context of this problem regarding the generation of cleaner energy and reducing carbon emissions by small-scale industries in urban areas, a model of a rooftop solar photovoltaic tree (SPVT) has been proposed that may be considered by small-scale industries in the place of a conventional rooftop solar photovoltaic (SPV) system. It is also noted that various models of SPVT systems are commercially available on the market, each with their own unique features. However, no new SPVT model has been designed or provided in this paper, which simply presents simulation studies comparing a conventional rooftop SPV system and an SPVT system. The results show that a 9.12 kWp SPVT system can be installed in just 6 Sq.mt, while a 3.8 kWp conventional SPV system requires 40 Sq.mt of rooftop area. Consequently, an SPVT generates around 128% more electricity than a conventional SPV, leading to greater reductions in carbon emissions. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify the most suitable option for small-scale industries in densely populated urban areas to generate electricity and maximize carbon emission reduction.