Methodology for the Evaluation of Solar Thermal Energy Projects’
Abstract
This paper presents a new methodology to evaluate the sustainability of projects which involve any renewable energy equipment that take place in rural areas. By using the Star of Sustainability method we are able to see, visually and efficiently, the process of sustainability of technology projects. The study includes the results of six appropriate technologies and technology transference projects with solar thermic energy done by the GRUPO PUCP during the last five years. These validated technologies refer to the generation of heat through solar energy, such as Parabolic Cookers, Greenhouse-type dryers, Trombe Walls, Scheffler-type concentrators for coffee and cocoa and Hot Air Parabolic Concentrators for black tea drying; all of them using local materials and labor.
Keywords
Sustainability, Evaluation, Qualitative methods, Solar thermal energy, Solar dryers