Feasibility Assessment of Photovoltaic Systems to Save Energy Consumption in Residential Houses with Electric Vehicles in Chile

Abstract

Distributed local generation from photovoltaic (PV) systems are gaining more interest, due to reduced component costs, as well as becoming a great solution for the charging of electric vehicles (EV) and the protection of the electrical grid infrastructure. This work aims to size and analyze the economic feasibility of a PV system to support the energy demand presented by the daily charge of an EV, either with or without a battery energy storage system (BESS), for a residential home in Viña del Mar, Chile. Eight different scenarios are dimensioned, with and without BESS, varying the PV installed power according to the surface available on the roof, and the results are supported by using the PVsyst software to determine the energy generated, self-consumption, and the energy both injected and received from the grid. Five different cases are also dimensioned, varying the storage capacity of the BESS, to analyze how profitability varies in each case. The real data on energy consumption, and prices of electricity both injected and received from the grid, were collected from the electricity bills and the distribution company, respectively. The sizing of both the PV panel array and the BESS was performed based on the highest average daily consumption throughout the year. Meteorological data, such as global irradiation and environmental temperature, are obtained from the Explorador Solar platform. Lastly, PV systems with BESS do not achieve profitability; however, for BESS with lower storage capacities, it would be possible to increase its profitability to acceptable ranges. Photovoltaic systems without BESS present better levels of profitability since a lower capital expenditures is required and the payback is shorter. This work contributes to improve the use of solar energy and provides a guide to extend the work to different regions of Chile.