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Solar Energy Resource Analysis and Evaluation of Photovoltaic System Performance in Various Regions of Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Bilal Awan

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

  • Muhammad Zubair

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

  • Praveen R. P.

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

  • Ahmed G. Abokhalil

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
    Electrical Engineering Department, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt)

Abstract

According to Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) plans to harness 9.5 GW of energy from renewable energy sources, which includes a major part of solar PV generation. This massive implementation of solar projects requires an accurate assessment and analysis of solar resource data and PV site selection. This paper presents a detailed analysis of one-year solar radiation data and energy output of 100 kW PV systems at 44 different locations across the K.S.A. Coastal areas have a lower amount of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) as compared to inland areas. Najran University station gives the highest annual electrical output of 172,083 kWh, yield factor of 1721, and capacity utilization factor of 19.6%. Sharurah and Timma TVTC are second and third best with respect to annual PV performance. Similarly, during high load summer season (April–October), Tabuk station is the best location for a PV power plant with an electrical output of 110,250 kWh, yield factor of 1102, and capacity utilization factor of 21.46%. Overall, the northern province of Tabuk is the most feasible region for a solar PV plant. The basic approach presented in this research study compares solar resource pattern and solar PV system output pattern with the load profile of the country. The site selected based on this criterion is recommended to be economically most feasible which can reduce the stress on electricity companies during high load seasons by clipping the peak load during daytime in the hot summer period.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Bilal Awan & Muhammad Zubair & Praveen R. P. & Ahmed G. Abokhalil, 2018. "Solar Energy Resource Analysis and Evaluation of Photovoltaic System Performance in Various Regions of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-27, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1129-:d:140269
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    11. Awan, Ahmed Bilal & Zubair, Muhammad & Chandra Mouli, Kotturu V.V., 2020. "Design, optimization and performance comparison of solar tower and photovoltaic power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    12. Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud & Hassan Zuhair Al-Garni, 2021. "Optimum Configuration of a Renewable Energy System Using Multi-Year Parameters and Advanced Battery Storage Modules: A Case Study in Northern Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, May.
    13. Sofia Spyridonidou & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Dimitra G. Vagiona & Teresa Bertrand, 2022. "Towards a Sustainable Spatial Planning Approach for PV Site Selection in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    14. Mohamed Mohana & Abdelaziz Salah Saidi & Salem Alelyani & Mohammed J. Alshayeb & Suhail Basha & Ali Eisa Anqi, 2021. "Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Prediction for Residential Load in Saudi Arabia Using Machine Learning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    15. Krarti, Moncef & Aldubyan, Mohammad & Williams, Eric, 2020. "Residential building stock model for evaluating energy retrofit programs in Saudi Arabia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    16. Salah Ud-Din Khan & Irfan Wazeer & Zeyad Almutairi, 2023. "Comparative Analysis of SAM and RETScreen Tools for the Case Study of 600 kW Solar PV System Installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    17. Ali S. Alghamdi, 2021. "Performance Enhancement of Roof-Mounted Photovoltaic System: Artificial Neural Network Optimization of Ground Coverage Ratio," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Ahmed Bilal Awan & Mohammed Alghassab & Muhammad Zubair & Abdul Rauf Bhatti & Muhammad Uzair & Ghulam Abbas, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Ground-Mounted vs. Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems Optimized for Interrow Distance between Parallel Arrays," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    19. Yawei Wang & Frauke Urban & Yuan Zhou & Luyi Chen, 2018. "Comparing the Technology Trajectories of Solar PV and Solar Water Heaters in China: Using a Patent Lens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, November.
    20. Rami Alamoudi & Osman Taylan & Mehmet Azmi Aktacir & Enrique Herrera-Viedma, 2021. "Designing a Solar Photovoltaic System for Generating Renewable Energy of a Hospital: Performance Analysis and Adjustment Based on RSM and ANFIS Approaches," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(22), pages 1-24, November.

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