Module 4 – Understanding Data with wind and Solar(ED)

Introduction

In this module you will be making informed energy decisions using data that is collects Australia wide.

Getting the most out of the modules

When you are completing the modules there are different activities that will require you to work in groups, have discussions as a class, research + more.

Before starting have your teacher help with setting up the groups. This might be groups of 3, pairs, have a full class discussion or even discuss with the person next to you.

Here are the icons you will see:

Activity | Group | Whole Class | Discussion | Research

You may see multiple icons together. For example is a Group Research

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Question 1 of 12

1. Question
Solar Energy

Have a look at the daily solar exposure maps below for each of the seasons, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring:

Discuss the following topics /
- What factors could influence the amount of solar exposure across the different seasons?
- Which states of Australia do you think would be the best candidates for using solar energy? Why?
Write some discussion notes below:
This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
Question 2 of 12

2. Question
Solar Farms

Take a look at this map of large-Scale Solar farms in Australia:

Large Scale Solar Farm Map of Australia | RenewEconomy

Solar Farms & where they are

Discuss the following topic:
- Are the locations and quantity of large scale solar farms where you predicted they would be based on the solar exposure maps? Take notes below.
This response will be awarded full points automatically, but it will be reviewed and possibly adjusted after submission.
Question 3 of 12

3. Question
Peak sun hours

Read of the following information below:

Peak sun hours refer to the period of time when sunlight is most intense and available for conversion into electricity. Daylight hours are the hours between sunrise and sunset.

Peak sun hours are useful when determining the size and capacity of solar panels that will meet your energy demands. Higher hours per day mean there is higher potential energy generation which allows for smaller panels to be used or for the surplus to go into energy storage or grid exportation.

Scientists measure a peak sun hour as the timeframe when the sun’s intensity is 1000 W/m² (Watts per square meter) or higher.

Peak sun hours can be calculated by adding up solar irradiance of entire day and expressing it in terms of the equivalent number of hours in 1000 W/m² ie, A peak sun hour is the equivalent of 1000 W/m² of sunlight for an hour. A peak sun hour represents a lot of sunlight. This information is necessary to determine what solar panel kits or portable solar generators will work the best in your location.

Class Discussion

As a class, work through the following calculation example together
- If a place receives 6650 W/m² of sunlight energy in one day, it would equate to peak sun hours:
- If total solar irradiance is 6650 W/m2 then the peak sun hours is

Question 4 of 12

4. Question

STRUT dashboard Activity

Here is the video tutorial you completed in module 3 to refresh.
Username / email: weatherstation@geelongtechschool.vic.edu.au
Password: $trutgeelong

Open the STRUT weather station dashboard and click through to explore the solar radiation data. Open Strut – Strut Systems Dashboard
Select yesterday as the data sample range
Select Sum in the Aggregation drop down

Fill out the table below

You’ll notice the STRUT weather station measures solar input in Lux Level. We’ll need to convert those values to W/m2 by multiplying the Lux level by 0.0079.

Fill in the left column with times from the first non-zero reading to the last non-zero reading in the data on the dashboard.
Add up all the readings in the solar radiation column and fill in the space labelled ‘Total Solar Irradiation’


Time	Lux Level (From STRUT)	Solar Radiation (W/m2) (Lux level x 0.0079)











Total Solar Irradiation

Divide the total Solar Irradiation for the day by 1000 to find the peak sun hours for the day.

The peak sun hours for yesterday was

*write down your peak sun hours for yesterday as you will be using this number again.

Question 5 of 12

5. Question

School Comparison

Victoria, along with Tasmania, has the least amount of peak sun hours on average, with Melbourne being the least sunny major city in Australia. Melbourne only has about 2,200 hours of peak sunlight annually, which averages to between 3 – 8 hours a day.

Seasons drastically affect the amount of peak sunlight experienced per day, with winter averaging 2-3 hours a day and summer 4-6 hours.

There are three major factors that contribute to a state’s peak sunlight hours. These are the distance from the Equator, climate zone and shape.

Comparing the peak sun hours from yesterday to the information above, is the number of hours you would expect given your schools location and current season?

This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
Question 6 of 12

6. Question
Daily Energy Output Calculations

You can calculate the daily energy output using the equation below, where efficiency can be assumed as 20%

Daily Energy Output = Output Power (W) x Peak Sun Hours (hrs) x Efficiency

Class activity

Work through this example as a class

Calculate the Daily Energy Output using the below data.
- Output Power = 100W
- Peak Sun Hours = 3.21 hrs
- Efficiency = 20%
Using the peak sun hours you previously found for yesterday, calculate yesterday’s Daily Energy Output.

Yesterday’s Daily Energy Output was Wh
Question 7 of 12

7. Question

Electricity Comparison

Using this website https://www.solartap.com/blogs/solar-101/electrical-appliances-power-consumption-chart or the data compiled from your classroom energy audit, discuss what appliances the solar panel could power and for how long.

The solar panel could power a for minutes.

Question 8 of 12

8. Question

Wind Energy

Exploring an interactive wind map activity (https://earth.nullschool.net/)

Press the earth text to open the globe in it’s own window

Find Australia and zoom in to see the wind patterns across the country.
Click to select a different point for each of the states, noting its longitude and latitude in the left-hand corner and write the current wind speed into the table below.

*TIP: to change the units from km/hr to the required m/s, click the “km/hr” in the bottom left hand corner and scroll through until m/s.


State	Geographic coordinate location Longitude & Latitude	Wind Speed (m/s)
Example	38.19S , 144.40 E	115 @ 1.7
WA	S , E	@ m/s
NT	S , E	@ m/s
QLD	S , E	@ m/s
NSW	S , E	@ m/s
ACT	S , E	@ m/s
VIC	S , E	@ m/s
TAS	S , E	@ m/s
SA	S , E	@ m/s

Class Discussion

As a class, discuss the following questions and write down your answers below:

Which location is currently the windiest?
Which location has the least amount of wind?
What things might influence the wind at these two locations?

Question 9 of 12

9. Question

Victoria’s Wind map

Let’s zoom in closer and focus on just Victoria.

Exploring an interactive wind map activity (https://earth.nullschool.net/)

Press the earth text to open the globe in it’s own window

Pick 4 different locations in Victoria, in each direction North, East South West and fill out the table below.


State	Geographic coordinate location Longitude & Latitude	Wind Speed (m/s)
North VIC	S , E	@ m/s
East VIC	S , E	@ m/s
South VIC	S , E	@ m/s
WEST VIC	S , E	@ m/s

Victoria Wind

As a class, discuss the following questions and write down your answers below:

Which area of Victoria is currently the windiest?
Which are of Victoria has the least amount of wind?
What geographical factors might influence wind speeds and patterns across Victoria?
If a large wind turbine needs at least 5.8 m/s of wind, where would you put a large turbine in Victoria to get the most energy output?

Where is my school?

Find the longitudinal and latitudinal positions for your school and type them into the address bar of the interactive map – replacing the values already there. HINT: West and South locations are denoted with a minus number ie 38.2567^◦ S = -38.2567

What is the current wind speed at your school’s location?
Is it high enough for a small or large turbine?
TIP: Small turbines need winds of at least 4 m/s, large at least 5.8 m/s

Question 10 of 12

10. Question

Wind farm construction

Click on the link below to have a look at where there are operating and in construction large scale wind farms in Australia:

https://reneweconomy.com.au/large-scale-wind-farm-map-of-australia/

Wind farm size & locations

As a class, discuss if the locations and size of these wind farms in Australia match with your predictions from the previous activities. Take note below

This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
Question 11 of 12

11. Question
Comparing Map, BOM and STRUT weather station data

We will be jumping back into the wind map (https://earth.nullschool.net/)
- Click on the earth button in the bottom left of the interactive wind map to bring up some additional settings
- You can change the date of the data by clicking the calendar icon
- The time can also be changed by clicking the forward or back arrows
- Use the calendar and the arrows to pick a time from yesterday (same school location) and record the wind speed in the first column of the table at the bottom.
Now visit Victoria Weather – Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au)
- Type in the suburb of your school in the location finder
  On the right hand side, click ‘Current and Past Weather’
- Find the right day by scrolling down the page and fill out the second column in your table at the bottom with the wind speed at your selected time in m/s.
Open the STRUT weather station dashboard and click through to explore the wind speed data.
TIP A tutorial for navigating the dashboard is in Module 3 if you need help.
- Select your chosen date as the data sample range.
- Select Average in the Aggregation drop down.
Find the time you need in the graph and use it to finish filling out the last column in your table.

Date and Time:

Interactive Map Wind Speed (m/s) BOM Wind Speed (m/s) STRUT Weather station wind speed (m/s)
Question 12 of 12

12. Question
Class Discussion
1. Does the data from each of the three sources match each other?
2. What data do you place more trust in and why?
3. What could be some factors for the discrepancies if there were any?
This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.

Module 4 – Understanding Data with wind and Solar(ED)

Introduction

Getting the most out of the modules

Quiz Summary

Information

Results

Results

Categories

1. Question

Solar Energy

Discuss the following topics /

2. Question

Solar Farms

Solar Farms & where they are

3. Question

Peak sun hours

Class Discussion

4. Question

STRUT dashboard Activity

5. Question

School Comparison

6. Question

Daily Energy Output Calculations

Class activity

7. Question

Electricity Comparison

8. Question

Wind Energy

Class Discussion

9. Question

Victoria’s Wind map

Victoria Wind

Where is my school?

10. Question

Wind farm construction

Wind farm size & locations

11. Question

Comparing Map, BOM and STRUT weather station data

12. Question

Class Discussion