Comparative study of photovoltaic solar systems connected to the grid: Performance evaluation and economic analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study targets the performance analysis and the economic evaluation of two photovoltaic systems connected to the grid of 4.08 KWp, located in the same place in the roof of the research building at the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies Mohammedia, Morocco. This plant is composed of two types (mc-Si and pc-Si) of PV crystalline technology. The experimental data has been recorded over one-year period (2015). The assessed parameters of the PV systems include the total energy generated, final yield, reference yield, performance ratio, capacity factor and monthly system efficiency. The economic evaluation of the tow systems is calculated using capital budgeting methods to determine economic profitability in terms of the economic return of electricity generation. The highest values in terms of daily final yield (YF =5.26h/day), performance ratio (PR=82%), capacity factor (CF=21.93%), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE=0.068€/kWh) and payback time (PB=12), have been recorded by pc-Si solar module. Therefore, this PV system technology could be recommended, as well, in the future research projects in Morocco.