A comparison of the performance of mono-Si and poly-Si photovoltaic modules operating under Kosovo climate condition

Abstract

The performance analysis and evaluation of a real grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system operating under the mild continental climate condition of Kosovo are conducted in this paper. The PV system is installed on a flat roof of the laboratory building at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. With fixed monocrystalline silicon (m-Si) and polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) module types with installed capacities of 1.76 kWp and 2.16 kWp respectively, inclined at an angle of 45 °C, facing south and through two solar inverters, the latter feds the low voltage distribution grid with electricity. Performance and meteorological data for each type of module were collected and analyzed for the period between December 2014 and November 2015. The m-Si PV modules have shown higher performance compared to p-Si PV modules. Electricity production during the monitoring period was 1286.57 kWh/kWp from p-Si modules and 1328.21 kWh/kWp from m-Si modules. The annual average daily final yield (Yf), the annual average value of the performance ratio, and system efficiency (ηsys) for the p-Si PV modules were found to be 3.53 kWh/kWp/day, 80%, and 11.67%, respectively. In addition, the corresponding values for the m-Si modules were 3.64 kWh/kWp/day, 84%, and 12.78%, respectively. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the performance of the photovoltaic system under study with other photovoltaic systems installed in various countries worldwide was carefully investigated and presented in this paper.