Keynote Speaker

ERDEM CÜCE

Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Engineering and Architecture Faculty Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Presentation Title:

Solar Chimney Power Plants: From Fundamental Concepts to Advanced Performance Strategies

Abstract:

Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPPs) represent a promising technology within the realm of solar thermal energy systems, capable of providing continuous power generation—even during cloudy periods or at night—thanks to their intrinsic thermal storage capacity and greenhouse effect-based operation. Since the initial application in the 1980s, extensive research has been carried out to enhance the performance of SCPPs by optimising their geometrical and design parameters. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the design-performance relationship in SCPPs, focusing on the Manzanares pilot plant. By employing high-resolution 3D CFD models (developed in COMSOL Multiphysics using k–ε and RNG k–ε turbulence models, with DO radiation modelling), the influence of collector slope, chimney divergence angle, chimney height, and collector radius is systematically analysed. Results show that a collector slope of 0.6° and a chimney divergence angle of 1.5° lead to a power output increase of over 4.5 times (reaching 216.853 kW), compared to the baseline 46 kW. Additionally, a sloped absorber surface with a triangular profile further improves performance: at a central height of 1.10 m and absorber radius of 122 m, a 26% increase in airflow velocity and a 34% boost in power output were achieved. The investigation is extended by integrating Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modelling to predict system performance. Using five input parameters and nine hidden neurons, the ANN model exhibits high predictive accuracy (RMSE ≈ 0.0054, R ≈ 1), confirming its viability as a tool for design optimisation. Furthermore, this work addresses hybrid system configurations, including geothermal energy, waste heat utilisation, and photovoltaic integration, as well as the potential for environmental co-benefits such as air pollution mitigation through the incorporation of photocatalytic reactors within SCPP frameworks. The findings highlight not only the technical feasibility but also the ecological relevance of SCPP systems in the context of climate change and urban air quality improvement. This research ultimately contributes to the broader effort of realising sustainable, low-carbon energy systems by offering robust design strategies and intelligent modelling techniques for next-generation solar chimney technologies.

Biography:

Dr. Erdem Cuce received his Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham in 2015 on sustainable energy and building technologies. Following his Ph.D. degree, he has conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Nottingham on innovative greenhouse facade materials, energy storage solutions and heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems. Currently, he is the author or co-author of over 150 scientific papers, notably in high-impact SCI journals. He has edited a considerable number of books/book chapters, notably in the field of energy and sustainability. He is also working as an expert in energy optimisation, energy conservation, and energy management strategies in a consultant role. Dr. Erdem Cuce was awarded “Young Scientist of Turkey” in 2018 by the Science Heroes Association. Moreover, he was awarded “Outstanding Young Scientist” by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) in 2021. Dr. Erdem Cuce is the Head of the Low/Zero Carbon Energy Technologies Lab. He is also a member of the World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies (WSSET), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Dr. Erdem Cuce is Editorial Board Member of respective SCI Journals like Applied Energy, Energy and Buildings, Scientific Reports, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, etc. He is also Editor in Chief of the journals of Sustainable and Clean Buildings, Energy Research Journal, and Green Building and Construction Economics. He is also Associate Editor in ESCI journal International Journal of Ambient Energy. Dr. Erdem Cuce has also edited several special issues so far as Lead Guest Editor and Guest Editor in various SCI journals like Energy and Buildings, Journal of Energy Storage, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Advances in Civil Engineering, International Journal of Photoenergy, Energies, Sustainability, etc. Dr. Erdem Cuce has been shown among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. According to ScholarGPS, Dr. Erdem Cuce is the 562. the most successful scientist in the world in the Energy field (Top 0.03%).

The h-index is an author-level metric that attempts to measure both the productivity and citation impact of the publications of a scientist or scholar. The i10-index represents the number of publications with at least 10 citations. The h-index and the i10-index of Dr. Erdem Cuce are 54 and 145, respectively, as of July 2025. Total citations are reported to be 10665 according to Google Scholar. According to WOS, the h-index and total citations of Dr. Erdem Cuce are 42 and 5939, respectively. According to Scopus, Dr. Erdem Cuce has an h-index of 47, and total citations are 7308.

Mail: : [email protected]