Abstract
A knowledge gap exists about the actual behavior of PV grid-connected systems (PVGCS) using various PV technologies in Peru. This paper presents the results of an over three-year-long performance evaluation of a 3.3-kWp monocrystalline silicon (sc-Si) PVGCS located in Arequipa, a 3.3-kWp sc-Si PVGCS located in Tacna, and a 3-kWp policrystalline (mc-Si) PVGCS located in Lima. An assessment of the performance of a 3.5-kWp amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon hetero-junction (a-Si/µc-Si) PVGCS during over one and a half years of being in Lima is also presented. The annual final yields obtained lie within 1770–1992 kWh/kW, 1505–1540 kWh/kW, and 736–833 kWh/kW for Arequipa, Tacna, and Lima, respectively, while the annual PV array energy yield achieved by a-Si/µc-Si is 1338 kWh/kW. The annual performance ratio stays in the vicinity of 0.83 for sc-Si in Arequipa and Tacna while this parameter ranges from 0.70 to 0.77 for mc-Si in Lima. An outstanding DC annual performance ratio of 0.97 is found for a-Si/µc-Si in the latter site. The use of sc-Si and presumably, mc-Si PV modules in desert climates, such as that of Arequipa and Tacna, is encouraged. However, sc-Si and presumably, mc-Si-technologies experience remarkable temperature and low irradiance losses in Lima. By contrast, a-Si/µc-Si PV modules perform much better in the latter site thanks to being less influenced by both temperature and low light levels.
Highlights
The cumulative photovoltaic (PV) power on the planet at the end of 2017 was around 415 GW while the compound annual growth rate of PV installations reached 24% during the period of2010–2017 [1]
Most monitoring data corresponding to PV grid-connected systems (PVGCS) #1 and #4 gleaned in June–July
The analysis presented here is put in a broader perspective
Summary
The cumulative photovoltaic (PV) power on the planet at the end of 2017 was around 415 GW while the compound annual growth rate of PV installations reached 24% during the period of2010–2017 [1]. PV will turn into a major source of clean energy within the few years since PV systems have proven durable, reliable, and cost-competitive. It is a well-known fact that PV system outdoor behavior depends on the solar resource in conjunction with a suitable PV technology, quality of balance-of-system components, and proper designs. PV performance is influenced by a wide variety of site-related environmental parameters, such as temperature, spectral effects, angular losses, partial shading, low irradiance levels, and soiling losses. PV performance has already been widely addressed for sites located in countries with temperate climates [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]
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