Life cycle cost and energy assessment of a 3.4 kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system in India

Abstract

In this paper, the life cycle assessment of a 3.4 kWp roof top Standalone photovoltaic system (SAPV) installed in the roof top of E-block, Institute of Technical Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, India is done to evaluate the life cycle cost and energy analysis by the present value method and embodied energy basis, respectively. The calculated results of the existing SAPV system have been represented and were compared with a grid connected PV system. It was found that the NPV and cost of energy decrease with the increase in discount rate. The IRR of the SAPV system was 2.02% with life cycle cost of energy INR 5.40/kWh, benefit cost ratio of 0.57 and energy payback time of 4.61 years. For the grid connected PV system IRR, LCOE, BCR and EPT are 13.42%, INR 3.17/kWh, 1.11 and 3.78 years, respectively.