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A Techno-Economic Optimization and Performance Assessment of a 10 kW P Photovoltaic Grid-Connected System

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  • Abraham Alem Kebede

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia)

  • Maitane Berecibar

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Thierry Coosemans

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Maarten Messagie

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Towfik Jemal

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia)

  • Henok Ayele Behabtu

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia)

  • Joeri Van Mierlo

    (Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

The system under consideration in this paper consists of a photovoltaic (PV) array, described as having a 10 kWp capacity, battery storage, and connection to the grid via a university grid network. It is stated that the system meets a local load of 4–5 kVA. The system is in Ethiopia, and the authors give details of the location and solar resource to provide information to assess its performance. However, the performance assessment will be specific to the details of the installation and the operational rules, including the variable nature of the load profile, charging and discharging the battery storage, and importing from and exporting to the university grid. The nearby load is mostly supplied from PV and grid sources, and hence the battery installed is found to be idle, showing that the PV together with storage battery system was not utilized in an efficient and optimized way. This in turn resulted in inefficient utilization of sources, increased dependency of the load on the grid, and hence unnecessary operational expenses. Therefore, to alleviate these problems, this paper proposes a means for techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of an existing photovoltaic grid-connected system (PVGCS) by using collected data from a plant data logger for one year (2018) with a model-based Matlab/Simulink simulation and a hybrid optimization model for electric renewables (HOMER) software. According to the simulation result, the PVGCS with 5 kWp PV array optimized system was recommended, which provides a net present cost (NPC) of 5770 (€/kWh), and a cost of energy (COE) of 0.087 (€/kWh) compared to an existing 10 kWp PV system, which results in a NPC value of 6047 (€/kWh) and COE of 0.098 (€/kWh). Therefore, the resulting 5 kWp PV system connected with a storage battery was found to be more efficient and techno-economically viable as compared to the existing 10 kWp PVGCS plant.

Suggested Citation

  • Abraham Alem Kebede & Maitane Berecibar & Thierry Coosemans & Maarten Messagie & Towfik Jemal & Henok Ayele Behabtu & Joeri Van Mierlo, 2020. "A Techno-Economic Optimization and Performance Assessment of a 10 kW P Photovoltaic Grid-Connected System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-29, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7648-:d:414419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Paend Bakht & Zainal Salam & Mehr Gul & Waqas Anjum & Mohamad Anuar Kamaruddin & Nuzhat Khan & Abba Lawan Bukar, 2022. "The Potential Role of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Grid Intermittency Problem: A Techno-Economic Optimisation and Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Henok Ayele Behabtu & Maarten Messagie & Thierry Coosemans & Maitane Berecibar & Kinde Anlay Fante & Abraham Alem Kebede & Joeri Van Mierlo, 2020. "A Review of Energy Storage Technologies’ Application Potentials in Renewable Energy Sources Grid Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Henok Ayele Behabtu & Thierry Coosemans & Maitane Berecibar & Kinde Anlay Fante & Abraham Alem Kebede & Joeri Van Mierlo & Maarten Messagie, 2021. "Performance Evaluation of Grid-Connected Wind Turbine Generators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.

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