Development of a Recreational Bench with a Solar Power Generation System: Promoting Energy Sustainability at Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí
Original Article
Authors
-
Adrián Patricio Medranda Vera
Master's Degree in Electronics and Automation, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena. La Libertad, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2832-0456
-
Bremnen Marino Véliz Noboa
Dept. of Electronic and Automation Engineering, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena. La Libertad, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4691-6829
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33936/riemat.v11i1.7868Keywords:
solar bench, clear energy, energy sustainbility, universityAbstract
This study describes the development and validation of a recreational bench with a standalone solar power system at ULEAM, Pedernales campus. The initiative arises from the need for sustainable infrastructure in open spaces, seeking to promote energy sustainability and strengthen students' practical training. To validate the proposal, a system with a 450 Wp panel and 2.4 kWh storage was installed. Technical validation was verified through 14 days of real-time monitoring and PVWatts simulations. Results showed an average generation of 1215 Wh/day, exceeding the estimated consumption of 1060 Wh/day. Although efficiency was reduced by 15% due to environmental factors such as heat and coastal salinity, the state of charge (SOC) remained stable above 95%, guaranteeing a projected autonomy of 1.13 days. Finally, the social study revealed a 95% acceptance rate among students, highlighting that 85% of users used the system for laptop charging, confirming the prototype's viability as a sustainable academic infrastructure solution.
Downloads
References
Coloma Erazo, C. A., & Sislema Cajilema, F. J. (2017). Diseño e implementación de un sistema de energía solar en el laboratorio de energía renovable de la Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, para el estudio de los regímenes de captación y almacenamiento de energía renovable. http://repositorio.utc.edu.ec/handle/27000/4468
Forest Stewardship Council. (2023, September 7). FSC standards. https://fsc.org/en/standards
García, J. L., Jurado, F., & Larco, V. (2019). Review and resource assessment, solar energy in different region in Ecuador. E3S Web of Conferences, 80, 01003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20198001003
Gielen, D., Boshell, F., Saygin, D., Bazilian, M. D., Wagner, N., & Gorini, R. (2019). The role of renewable energy in the global energy transformation. Energy Strategy Reviews, 24, 38-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.01.006
Global Solar Atlas. (2025). Global Solar Atlas. https://globalsolaratlas.info/map
International Electrotechnical Commission. (2023). IEC 62548-1:2023. https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64171
IEEE Standards Association. (2007). IEEE Std 1562-2007: Guide for Array and Battery Sizing in Stand-Alone Photovoltaic (PV) Systems. https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/1562/2300/?utm_source
Jager-Waldau, A. (2024). Snapshot of photovoltaics. EPJ Photovoltaics. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2024018
Kango, R., Hadiyanto, H., & Pongtuluran, E. H. (2021). Design and Implementation of Smart Bench Integrated Solar Cell for Public Space Electricity Saving. International Journal Papier Advance and Scientific Review, 2(2), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.47667/ijpasr.v2i2.121
Khelfa, I. eddine, & Khelifa, F. (2025). Overview on the role of intelligent urban furniture in improving the energy and environmental quality of public spaces. MAP Social Sciences, 5, 111-121. https://doi.org/10.53880/2744-2454.2025.5.111
Mantuano. (2025). Implementación de un banco de panel solar como energía alternativa para el desarrollo de prácticas en el laboratorio electrónico y robótica de la carrera de tecnologías de la información.
Menegatto, M., Bobbio, A., Freschi, G., & Zamperini, A. (2025). The Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Communities: The Role of Socio-Political Control and Impure Altruism. Climate, 13(3), 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13030055
Mogrovejo-Narvaez, M., Barragán-Escandón, A., Zalamea-León, E., & Serrano-Guerrero, X. (2024a). Barriers to the Implementation of On-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in Ecuador. Sustainability, 16(21), 9466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219466
Mogrovejo-Narvaez, M., Barragán-Escandón, A., Zalamea-León, E., & Serrano-Guerrero, X. (2024b). Barriers to the Implementation of On-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in Ecuador. Sustainability, 16(21), 9466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219466
Rajaee, M., & Jalali, M. (2023). Construction and Analysis of Smart Solar Bench with the Optimal Angle in Four Central Cities of Iran. Journal of Solar Energy Research, 8(1), 1345-1356. https://doi.org/10.22059/jser.2023.349600.1261
Saad, B., Ramah, K., Awad, M., & Aminu, Y. (2023). (PDF) Integrating Renewable-Based Solar Energy into Sustainable and Resilient Urban Furniture Coupled with a Logical Multi-Comparison Study of Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102887
Thakur, K., Parab, Omkar Shirodkar, Rohan Jangale, & Prachi. (2022). Smart solar bench. IRJET. https://www.academia.edu/81078287/SMART_SOLAR_BENCH
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Adrián Patricio Medranda Vera, Bremnen Marino Véliz Noboa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
