Integration of solar energy in Small-scale Industries: Application to microbreweries

Abstract

The integration of solar energy to achieve decarbonization in the industry is still incipient. The few reported cases of solar thermal and photovoltaic integration in industrial brewing processes belong to medium-sized and large breweries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine if solar energy integration can also be profitable for small industries under the current market conditions. A monitoring campaign was conducted to characterize the consumption profile of a microbrewery located in southern Spain, which revealed a significant difference in specific energy consumption between micro- and large breweries. In addition, performance curves of small-scale components for cold supply were adjusted under real operation conditions. Consequently, a simulation tool was created in TRNSYS to calculate energy consumption. Its results were compared with measurement data and electricity consumption bills. Furthermore, a techno-economic analysis carried out in Spain revealed that under the current market conditions a photovoltaic system would always be profitable compared to buying all energy from the grid. The cost of energy for cooling and heating supply can be reduced up to 39.9% for the best conditions of solar radiation and market prices. However, in a more moderate scenario the reduction in the cost of energy can vary between 3.63% and 11.23%. In addition, payback periods range from 4.3 to 6.6 years in the favorable scenario and from 14 to 24.9 years in the conservative scenario; depending mainly on the level of solar radiation, conventional energy prices, and the size of the photovoltaic system.