Forecasting Interruptions in Power Supply Using Photovoltaics in Poland - Case Study of Safe Pedestrian Crossing

W. Marańda, P. Marciniak, R. Kotas, B. Sakowicz (Lodz Univ. of Techn., Poland), A. Tylman (Univ. of Lodz, Poland), P. Sztoch, M. Drozd (LTC Ltd, Poland)

Power supply for autonomous systems is commonly provided by photovoltaics (PV), especially for civil engineering applications, where seamless integration of PV with landscape is a valuable asset. The design rules for autonomous systems are always highly climate and application dependent. In the engineering practice, the systems are commonly over-sized or under-sized, and largely fail to meet the expectations in terms of economy or supply-autonomy. This paper investigates the application of PV for powering the safe pedestrian crossing, with all-night illumination, using detailed solar irradiance data for Polish climate. The results show the realistic forecast of energy deficits and give the design rules for optimal system size.