Abstract: 

Climate change and energy sustainability are global concerns, and research and development efforts are directed towards the development of sustainable energy solutions (SES). Renewables, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are two major technologies that can lead the global transformation towards an eco-friendly energy future. The thesis focuses on both solar and LIBs and addresses various key research challenges, each detailed in individual chapters.

Firstly, the thesis investigates the impact of environmental conditions on the performance of various PV technologies, particularly in diverse climates (i.e., South Asia). This section provides a comprehensive techno-economic comparison, considering regional environmental factors like varying temperature and solar irradiance. It examines electricity production by multiple technologies, performance ratios, and energy cost analysis to identify viable options for broad implementation. The findings suggest enhanced energy production and cost savings for both homeowners and investors. The second part of the thesis evaluates capacity degradation in various LIB chemistries during storage, a phenomenon known as calendar aging. The research develops an aging model, identifies optimal storage conditions to mitigate calendar aging, and compares six LIB chemistries to ascertain the most suitable for critical applications. The results aid system designers in selecting LIBs for long-term applications where frequent battery replacement is not feasible. The final section pivots to the sustainable management of LIBs at their end-of-life. It evaluates current and emerging preprocessing and recycling techniques. This evaluation aims to identify the most effective and sustainable methods for recycling LIBs, considering factors such as element recovery rates, environmental impact, cost-efficiency, and scalability. This analysis underlines the necessity for comprehensive recycling legislation, highlighting the importance of government mandates in enhancing recycling efficiency and environmental protection.

Overall, this thesis advances the knowledge base in sustainable energy technologies, with a focus on solar PV systems and LIBs, highlighting the interplay between technology and sustainable practices. This work is essential in shaping environmental sustainability strategies, establishing a foundation for informed decision-making that is crucial for an eco-friendly future.

Final Thesis Defense Committee:   

1. Dr. Nauman Zafar Butt (Associate Professor, Thesis Committee Member), Department of Electrical Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan 

2. Dr. Ijaz Haider Naqvi (Associate Professor, Thesis Committee Member), Department of Electrical Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan 

3. Dr. Ammar Ahmed Khan (Assistant Professor, Thesis Committee Member), Department of Physics, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan 

4. Prof. Dr. Abdul Sattar Malik (Professor, External Examiner), Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan 

5. Dr. Hassan Abbas Khan (Associate Professor, PhD Supervisor), Department of Electrical Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan 

List of Publications: 

Journal Papers:

1. H. Ali, H. A. Khan, and M. Pecht, "Evaluation of in-service smartphone battery drainage profile for video calling feature in major apps," Scientific Reports, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 11699, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38859-3

2. H. Ali, H. Beltran, N. J. Lindsey, and M. Pecht, "Assessment of the calendar aging of lithium-ion batteries for a long-term—Space missions," Frontiers in Energy Research, vol. 11, p. 1108269, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1108269

3. H. Ali, H. A. Khan, and M. Pecht, "Preprocessing of spent lithium-ion batteries for recycling: Need, methods, and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 168, p. 112809, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112809

4. H. Ali, H. A. Khan, and M. G. Pecht, "Circular economy of Li Batteries: Technologies and trends," Journal of Energy Storage, vol. 40, p. 102690, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2021.102690

5. H. Ali and H. A. Khan, "Techno-economic evaluation of two 42 kWp polycrystalline-Si and CIS thin-film based PV rooftop systems in Pakistan," Renewable Energy, vol. 152, pp. 347-357, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.144

6. H. Ali, H. A. Khan, and M. G. Pecht, "Evaluation of Li-Based Battery Current, Voltage, and Temperature Profiles for In-Service Mobile Phones," IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 73665-73676, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2988728

7. H. Ali and H. A. Khan, "Analysis on inverter selection for domestic rooftop solar photovoltaic system deployment," International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems, vol. 30, no. 5, p. e12351, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/2050-7038.12351

8. H. Ali, H. A. Khan, and M. Pecht, " Evaluation of Manufacturer’s Low-Temperature Storage and Operation Specifications for Lithium-Ion Batteries," Under Revision in Journal of Energy Storage.

9. H. Ali and H. A. Khan, " Evaluating the Performance of Silicon and Thin-film Solar Module Technologies in the South Asian Region," in Preparation for a Journal Submission.

Conference Papers:

1. H. Ali and H. A. Khan, "Comparative Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Module Technologies in Diverse Environmental Conditions in Pakistan," in 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), 2023: IEEE, pp. 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC56179.2023.10354714

2. H. Ali, S. Hussain, H. A. Khan, N. Arshad, and I. A. Khan, "Economic and Environmental Impact of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Integration in an Intermittent Utility Grid," in 2020 2nd International Conference on Smart Power & Internet Energy Systems (SPIES), 2020: IEEE, pp. 345-349. https://doi.org/10.1109/SPIES48661.2020.9242992

3. H. Ali and H. A. Khan, "Evaluation of low-voltage loss under partial shading conditions in solar photovoltaic systems," in 2018 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), 2018: IEEE, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2018.8558269