Multivariant Analysis of Photovoltaic Performance with Consideration of Self-Consumption

Abstract

The presented work contains the comparison of a different photovoltaic system approach, in terms of monthly energy production profiles, with detailed user needs profiles. Two types of investors were taken into account—a company where the yearly energy consumption exceeded 50 MWh and a standard household where the yearly energy consumption was around 6 MWh. Moreover, two different scenarios were considered; the first one was focused on the maximization of the energy production during a year by choosing optimal azimuth and tilt angles, whereas the second PV system was based on the East–West azimuth angles, which usually enables one to have better energy self-consumption, which leads to sustainable energy usage. Energy production profiles, along with users’ energy needs profiles, were analyzed in terms of sustainability, investment payback time, and energy loss in the face of the new Polish Renewable Energy Law. Recent changes in the Renewable Energy Law in Poland, which came into force on the 1 April 2022, have changed the way many investors are thinking about investing in photovoltaic systems. The main difference is how the Energy Distributor is obliged to trade the photovoltaic electrical energy injected into the grid by Prosumers. The so-called “net metering”, which is kind of a barter deal, was changed to “net billing”—selling energy at a wholesale price. Net billing is believed to be less profitable than net metering due to a significant price difference between the bought and sold energy.