IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v80y2017icp827-839.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance and economic comparison of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems in Jordan

Author

Listed:
  • Hammad, Bashar
  • Al-Sardeah, Ali
  • Al-Abed, Mohammad
  • Nijmeh, Salem
  • Al-Ghandoor, Ahmed

Abstract

This study aims at comparing the experimental performance and economic parameters of fixed and double–axis open–loop tracking PV grid–connected systems installed at the Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. Both systems, having a nameplate capacity of 7.98kWp each, monitored for one full year from February 9, 2014 to February 8, 2015. The performance analysis was conducted in terms of final yield and conversion efficiency, while the economic analysis investigates the payback period and internal rate of return, in addition to the electricity cost. The actual performance results show that the annual production of the tracking system is 31.29% higher than that of the fixed system. The annual conversion efficiency of the fixed system is 13.83%, while it is 13.85% for the tracking system. Although the temperature of modules is higher for the tracking system, this close match is contributed to the accumulation of dust on the fixed system, whereas the motion of the tracking system cleans out dust continuously. While the double-axis tracking system generates more energy than does the fixed system, the feasibility study over 20 years shows that the fixed PV system is more feasible in Jordan. The economic analysis of payback period, internal rate of return and electricity cost disclose that these parameters are in support of investment in fixed PV systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Hammad, Bashar & Al-Sardeah, Ali & Al-Abed, Mohammad & Nijmeh, Salem & Al-Ghandoor, Ahmed, 2017. "Performance and economic comparison of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems in Jordan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 827-839.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:80:y:2017:i:c:p:827-839
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.241
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117308936
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.241?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abu-Khader, Mazen M. & Badran, Omar O. & Abdallah, Salah, 2008. "Evaluating multi-axes sun-tracking system at different modes of operation in Jordan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 864-873, April.
    2. Sumathi, Vijayan & Jayapragash, R. & Bakshi, Abhinav & Kumar Akella, Praveen, 2017. "Solar tracking methods to maximize PV system output – A review of the methods adopted in recent decade," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 130-138.
    3. Lubitz, William David, 2011. "Effect of manual tilt adjustments on incident irradiance on fixed and tracking solar panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1710-1719, May.
    4. Njoku, H.O., 2016. "Upper-limit solar photovoltaic power generation: Estimates for 2-axis tracking collectors in Nigeria," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 504-516.
    5. Adinoyi, Muhammed J. & Said, Syed A.M., 2013. "Effect of dust accumulation on the power outputs of solar photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 633-636.
    6. Obi, Manasseh & Bass, Robert, 2016. "Trends and challenges of grid-connected photovoltaic systems – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1082-1094.
    7. Maatallah, Taher & El Alimi, Souheil & Nassrallah, Sassi Ben, 2011. "Performance modeling and investigation of fixed, single and dual-axis tracking photovoltaic panel in Monastir city, Tunisia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 4053-4066.
    8. Koussa, M. & Cheknane, A. & Hadji, S. & Haddadi, M. & Noureddine, S., 2011. "Measured and modelled improvement in solar energy yield from flat plate photovoltaic systems utilizing different tracking systems and under a range of environmental conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1756-1771, May.
    9. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Atikol, Ugur, 2016. "The effect of latitude on the performance of different solar trackers in Europe and Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 896-906.
    10. Şenpinar, Ahmet & Cebeci, Mehmet, 2012. "Evaluation of power output for fixed and two-axis tracking PVarrays," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 677-685.
    11. Shouman, Enas R. & El Shenawy, E.T. & Khattab, N.M., 2016. "Market financial analysis and cost performance for photovoltaic technology through international and national perspective with case study for Egypt," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 540-549.
    12. Enas Shouman, 2018. "Financial Analysis and Cost Performance for Photovoltaic Technology," Chapters, in: Soner Gokten & Guray Kucukkocaoglu (ed.), Energy Management for Sustainable Development, IntechOpen.
    13. Bai, Attila & Popp, József & Balogh, Péter & Gabnai, Zoltán & Pályi, Béla & Farkas, István & Pintér, Gábor & Zsiborács, Henrik, 2016. "Technical and economic effects of cooling of monocrystalline photovoltaic modules under Hungarian conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1086-1099.
    14. Eldin, S.A. Sharaf & Abd-Elhady, M.S. & Kandil, H.A., 2016. "Feasibility of solar tracking systems for PV panels in hot and cold regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 228-233.
    15. Aaron Lamoureux & Kyusang Lee & Matthew Shlian & Stephen R. Forrest & Max Shtein, 2015. "Dynamic kirigami structures for integrated solar tracking," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, November.
    16. Yao, Yingxue & Hu, Yeguang & Gao, Shengdong & Yang, Gang & Du, Jinguang, 2014. "A multipurpose dual-axis solar tracker with two tracking strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 88-98.
    17. Yilmaz, Saban & Riza Ozcalik, Hasan & Dogmus, Osman & Dincer, Furkan & Akgol, Oguzhan & Karaaslan, Muharrem, 2015. "Design of two axes sun tracking controller with analytically solar radiation calculations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 997-1005.
    18. Fathabadi, Hassan, 2016. "Novel high efficient offline sensorless dual-axis solar tracker for using in photovoltaic systems and solar concentrators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 485-494.
    19. Bakhshi, Reza & Sadeh, Javad, 2016. "A comprehensive economic analysis method for selecting the PV array structure in grid–connected photovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 524-536.
    20. Lin, Chih-Kuang & Dai, Chen-Yu & Wu, Jiunn-Chi, 2013. "Analysis of structural deformation and deformation-induced solar radiation misalignment in a tracking photovoltaic system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 65-74.
    21. Mousazadeh, Hossein & Keyhani, Alireza & Javadi, Arzhang & Mobli, Hossein & Abrinia, Karen & Sharifi, Ahmad, 2009. "A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 1800-1818, October.
    22. Vieira, R.G. & Guerra, F.K.O.M.V. & Vale, M.R.B.G. & Araújo, M.M., 2016. "Comparative performance analysis between static solar panels and single-axis tracking system on a hot climate region near to the equator," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 672-681.
    23. Bianchini, Augusto & Gambuti, Michele & Pellegrini, Marco & Saccani, Cesare, 2016. "Performance analysis and economic assessment of different photovoltaic technologies based on experimental measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1-11.
    24. Rustemli, Sabir & Dincer, Furkan & Unal, Emin & Karaaslan, Muharrem & Sabah, Cumali, 2013. "The analysis on sun tracking and cooling systems for photovoltaic panels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 598-603.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka, 2018. "The performance and ranking pattern of PV systems incorporated with solar trackers in the northern hemisphere," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 138-151.
    2. Seme, Sebastijan & Sredenšek, Klemen & Praunseis, Zdravko & Štumberger, Bojan & Hadžiselimović, Miralem, 2018. "Optimal price of electricity of solar power plants and small hydro power plants – Technical and economical part of investments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 87-95.
    3. Hua, Zhengcao & Ma, Chao & Lian, Jijian & Pang, Xiulan & Yang, Weichao, 2019. "Optimal capacity allocation of multiple solar trackers and storage capacity for utility-scale photovoltaic plants considering output characteristics and complementary demand," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 721-733.
    4. Ahmed, Eihab E.E. & Demirci, Alpaslan & Tercan, Said Mirza, 2023. "Optimal sizing and techno-enviro-economic feasibility assessment of solar tracker-based hybrid energy systems for rural electrification in Sudan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1057-1070.
    5. Rômulo de Oliveira Azevêdo & Paulo Rotela Junior & Luiz Célio Souza Rocha & Gianfranco Chicco & Giancarlo Aquila & Rogério Santana Peruchi, 2020. "Identification and Analysis of Impact Factors on the Economic Feasibility of Photovoltaic Energy Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-40, September.
    6. Hélio Henrique Cunha Pinheiro & Neilton Fidélis da Silva & David Alves Castelo Branco & Márcio Giannini Pereira, 2020. "Photovoltaic Solar Systems in Multi-Headquarter Institutions: A Technical Implementation in Northeastern Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, May.
    7. Shabani, Masoume & Mahmoudimehr, Javad, 2018. "Techno-economic role of PV tracking technology in a hybrid PV-hydroelectric standalone power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 84-108.
    8. Singh, Rajesh & Kumar, Suresh & Gehlot, Anita & Pachauri, Rupendra, 2018. "An imperative role of sun trackers in photovoltaic technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3263-3278.
    9. Akbar Maleki & Zahra Eskandar Filabi & Mohammad Alhuyi Nazari, 2022. "Techno-Economic Analysis and Optimization of an Off-Grid Hybrid Photovoltaic–Diesel–Battery System: Effect of Solar Tracker," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Gönül, Ömer & Yazar, Fatih & Duman, A. Can & Güler, Önder, 2022. "A comparative techno-economic assessment of manually adjustable tilt mechanisms and automatic solar trackers for behind-the-meter PV applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Harry D. Kambezidis & Konstantinos Mimidis & Kosmas A. Kavadias, 2023. "The Solar Energy Potential of Greece for Flat-Plate Solar Panels Mounted on Double-Axis Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-28, June.
    12. Chikh, Madjid & Berkane, Smain & Mahrane, Achour & Sellami, Rabah & Yassaa, Noureddine, 2021. "Performance assessment of a 400 kWp multi- technology photovoltaic grid-connected pilot plant in arid region of Algeria," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 488-501.
    13. Makhdoomi, Sina & Askarzadeh, Alireza, 2021. "Impact of solar tracker and energy storage system on sizing of hybrid energy systems: A comparison between diesel/PV/PHS and diesel/PV/FC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    14. Talavera, D.L. & Muñoz-Cerón, Emilio & Ferrer-Rodríguez, J.P. & Pérez-Higueras, Pedro J., 2019. "Assessment of cost-competitiveness and profitability of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems: The case of five specific sites," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 902-913.
    15. Vaziri Rad, Mohammad Amin & Toopshekan, Ashkan & Rahdan, Parisa & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Mahian, Omid, 2020. "A comprehensive study of techno-economic and environmental features of different solar tracking systems for residential photovoltaic installations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    16. Pinheiro, E. & Bandeiras, F. & Gomes, M. & Coelho, P. & Fernandes, J., 2019. "Performance analysis of wind generators and PV systems in industrial small-scale applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 392-401.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nsengiyumva, Walter & Chen, Shi Guo & Hu, Lihua & Chen, Xueyong, 2018. "Recent advancements and challenges in Solar Tracking Systems (STS): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 250-279.
    2. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka, 2018. "The performance and ranking pattern of PV systems incorporated with solar trackers in the northern hemisphere," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 138-151.
    3. Singh, Rajesh & Kumar, Suresh & Gehlot, Anita & Pachauri, Rupendra, 2018. "An imperative role of sun trackers in photovoltaic technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3263-3278.
    4. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Atikol, Ugur, 2017. "Technical and economic assessment of fixed, single and dual-axis tracking PV panels in low latitude countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 563-579.
    5. Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Bahrami, Arian & Atikol, Ugur, 2018. "Evaluating the solar resource potential on different tracking surfaces in Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1569-1581.
    6. Shabani, Masoume & Mahmoudimehr, Javad, 2018. "Techno-economic role of PV tracking technology in a hybrid PV-hydroelectric standalone power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 84-108.
    7. Zhu, Yongqiang & Liu, Jiahao & Yang, Xiaohua, 2020. "Design and performance analysis of a solar tracking system with a novel single-axis tracking structure to maximize energy collection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    8. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Atikol, Ugur, 2016. "The effect of latitude on the performance of different solar trackers in Europe and Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 896-906.
    9. Salgado-Conrado, Lizbeth, 2018. "A review on sun position sensors used in solar applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2128-2146.
    10. Skouri, Safa & Ben Haj Ali, Abdessalem & Bouadila, Salwa & Ben Salah, Mohieddine & Ben Nasrallah, Sassi, 2016. "Design and construction of sun tracking systems for solar parabolic concentrator displacement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1419-1429.
    11. Hafez, A.Z. & Yousef, A.M. & Harag, N.M., 2018. "Solar tracking systems: Technologies and trackers drive types – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 754-782.
    12. Talavera, D.L. & Muñoz-Cerón, Emilio & Ferrer-Rodríguez, J.P. & Pérez-Higueras, Pedro J., 2019. "Assessment of cost-competitiveness and profitability of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems: The case of five specific sites," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 902-913.
    13. Nurzhigit Kuttybay & Ahmet Saymbetov & Saad Mekhilef & Madiyar Nurgaliyev & Didar Tukymbekov & Gulbakhar Dosymbetova & Aibolat Meiirkhanov & Yeldos Svanbayev, 2020. "Optimized Single-Axis Schedule Solar Tracker in Different Weather Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, October.
    14. Yilmaz, Saban & Riza Ozcalik, Hasan & Dogmus, Osman & Dincer, Furkan & Akgol, Oguzhan & Karaaslan, Muharrem, 2015. "Design of two axes sun tracking controller with analytically solar radiation calculations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 997-1005.
    15. Hua, Zhengcao & Ma, Chao & Lian, Jijian & Pang, Xiulan & Yang, Weichao, 2019. "Optimal capacity allocation of multiple solar trackers and storage capacity for utility-scale photovoltaic plants considering output characteristics and complementary demand," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 721-733.
    16. Muñoz-Cerón, E. & Lomas, J.C. & Aguilera, J. & de la Casa, J., 2018. "Influence of Operation and Maintenance expenditures in the feasibility of photovoltaic projects: The case of a tracking pv plant in Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 506-518.
    17. Mohammadi, Kasra & Khorasanizadeh, Hossein, 2015. "A review of solar radiation on vertically mounted solar surfaces and proper azimuth angles in six Iranian major cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 504-518.
    18. Kafka, Jennifer & Miller, Mark A., 2020. "The dual angle solar harvest (DASH) method: An alternative method for organizing large solar panel arrays that optimizes incident solar energy in conjunction with land use," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 531-546.
    19. Sumathi, Vijayan & Jayapragash, R. & Bakshi, Abhinav & Kumar Akella, Praveen, 2017. "Solar tracking methods to maximize PV system output – A review of the methods adopted in recent decade," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 130-138.
    20. Xuan Cuong Ngo & Thi Hong Nguyen & Nhu Y Do & Duc Minh Nguyen & Dai-Viet N. Vo & Su Shiung Lam & Doyeon Heo & Mohammadreza Shokouhimehr & Van-Huy Nguyen & Rajender S. Varma & Soo Young Kim & Quyet Van, 2020. "Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems with Single-Axis Sun Tracker: Case Study for Central Vietnam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:80:y:2017:i:c:p:827-839. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.