This paper presents an analysis of sound pressure levels through theoretical modeling and experimental validation in a 1 kW small wind turbine. The models used in the theoretical analysis are BPM (Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini) and BM (Brooks and Marcolini), where wind turbine blades are divided in sections, and each section has its own contribution with respect to the total emitted sound pressure level. The noise propagation study and its experimental validation were accomplished within the requirements of the standard IEC 61400-11 Ed.3 and the standard NOM-081-SEMARNAT-1994. The comparative study of theoretical and experimental results showed that the BPM and BM methods have a maximum error of 5.5% corresponding to the rated wind speed of 10 m/s. However, at low wind speeds, the theoretical models fit well to experimental data, for example, in the range from 5 to 8 m/s. The experimental data showed that the rotor’s aerodynamic noise is more evident at low wind speed, because under these conditions, environmental noise is much less than wind turbine noise. Finally, to prevent possible negative effects on people’s health, there is a recommended minimum and suitable distance between small wind turbine installations and buildings.
Rapid urban growth poses distinct energy and environmental challenges in various regions of the world. This study evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of a grid-connected photovoltaic system in Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, using Homer Pro software, version 3.14.2, to simulate realistic scenarios. The analysis incorporated local climate data, residential load profiles, and updated economic parameters for 2024. System optimization resulted in an installed capacity of 173 kW of solar panels and 113 kW of inverters, yielding a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of MXN 1.43/kWh, a return on investment (ROI) of 5.3%, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 8%, and a simple payback period of 10 years. The projected annual energy output was 281,175 kWh, covering 36% of the local energy demand. These results highlight the potential for integrating renewable energy into urban contexts, offering significant economic and environmental benefits. The integration of public policy with urban planning can enhance energy resilience and sustainability in intermediate cities. This study also supports the application of tools such as Homer Pro in designing energy solutions tailored to local conditions and contributes to a fair and decentralized energy transition.
Agrivoltaic systems integrate solar electricity generation with agricultural production on the same land and have emerged as a promising strategy to address land-use conflicts between food and energy systems. This PRISMA-based systematic review synthesizes evidence from 249 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025, applying an integrated three-dimensional framework that simultaneously examines technical efficiency, environmental sustainability, and institutional governance. The results show that agrivoltaic systems consistently achieve superior land-use performance, with Land Equivalent Ratio values typically ranging between 1.2 and 1.8, indicating 20–80% greater territorial efficiency than separate agricultural and photovoltaic systems. In water-stressed regions, reported improvements in water-use efficiency commonly reach 15–30%, while life-cycle assessments indicate substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. The integrated analysis also reveals important design-dependent trade-offs related to panel density, crop selection, and local agroclimatic conditions. Despite their demonstrated technical and environmental maturity, the large-scale deployment of agrivoltaic systems remains constrained by institutional barriers, including the lack of dedicated regulatory frameworks, fragmented agricultural and energy policies, and the strong geographical concentration of research in the Global North, with limited evidence from Latin America and other regions of the Global South. Overall, the findings indicate that agrivoltaic systems represent a credible component of integrated land-use and energy transition strategies, but their responsible scaling will depend primarily on advances in governance, policy alignment, and context-specific system design.
18 November 2020 in Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
This study analyzes the impact of geometric variations induced by the manufacturing process on the aerodynamic efficiency of an airfoil used in the design of a 3 kW wind turbine blade. For this purpose, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was implemented, and the results were compared with those obtained using QBlade software. After blade fabrication, experimental evaluation was performed using the laser triangulation technique, enabling the reconstruction of the deformed airfoils and their comparison with the original geometry. Additional CFD simulations were carried out on the manufactured airfoil to quantify the loss of aerodynamic efficiency due to geometrical deformations. The results show that the geometric deviations significantly affect the aerodynamic coefficients, generating a decrease in the lift coefficient and an increase in the drag coefficient, which negatively impacts the airfoil aerodynamic efficiency. A 14.9% reduction in the rotor power coefficient was observed with the deformed airfoils compared to the original design. This study emphasizes the importance of quality control in wind turbine blade manufacturing processes and its impact on turbine power performance. In addition, the findings can contribute to the development of design compensation strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of geometric imperfections on the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines.
This article assesses the use of solar photovoltaic radiation as a renewable resource for a region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, where a 163.2 kW grid-connected photovoltaic system is located. The study aims to understand the system’s performance under the specific location conditions and to demonstrate the feasibility of installing photovoltaic systems in the Isthmus region. System monitoring was conducted for one year, with monthly and daily averages of normalized performance parameters determined. A three-month study of the power quality was conducted to assess compliance with interconnection and power quality requirements for power plants with a rated power Pn ≤ 500 kW. Results show higher energy production in the spring–summer months (138.946 MWh) than in autumn–winter (136.500 MWh), while the best overall performance occurred in autumn–winter (PR = 85% vs. 79.5% in spring–summer), probably due to cooler photovoltaic module temperatures. The final yield and PR indicate stable and predictable operation, even without maintenance, with PR = 82.3%. This supports the feasibility of photovoltaic installations in the southwestern region of Mexico. The present work is particularly relevant as it advances understanding of photovoltaic performance in understudied regions with substantial solar potential, such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where policy prioritizes wind resource exploitation over solar energy.