Abstract

This study aims to investigate the utilizability of Photovoltaic (PV) application by qualitative and quantitative examination of hurdles on the rooftops of university buildings. The rooftops of university buildings were investigated with the help of remote sensing technique. Site surveys were also conducted to validate data. Utilizable rooftop area, available for PV application was determined by identifying restrictions, their respective coefficients and utilization factors. PV∗SOL software was utilized to simulate the rooftop PV application on university buildings and it was found that university buildings have the potential to generate 5389.2 MWh/year with an annual specific yield of 1336.6 kWh/kWp. Environmental analysis was also conducted whose results revealed that PV utilization can save 63,727.05 tons of CO2, 1.89 tons of CH4, 0.27 tons of N2O, 970.05 tons of SO2 and 590.12 tons of NO emissions in 25 years. Economic assessment was also carried out in which levelized cost of electricity, discounted payback period, benefit to cost ratio, net present value and internal rate of return were determined as 0.05 USD/kWh, 11.17 years, 1.4, USD 2,682,508.01 and 11.81%, respectively. This research can benefit public and private sectors to capitalize their buildings’ rooftops for reducing energy and environmental challenges.

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