Performance investigation and estimation of the 1 kWp photovoltaic array for an isolated hilly area in India

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents the assessment of solar resources, investigation of performance, and estimation of normalized performance indices of a 1 kWp Solar PV system in India's climatology of an isolated hilly area. The monthly and yearly mean normalized performance indices are estimated. The annual mean values of the daylight hours, cell temperature, and ambient temperature are 12.7 h/d, 10.89°C, and 1.25°C, respectively. The yearly mean values and corresponding ranges of monthly mean values of capacity factor, performance ratio, array yield, reference yield, final yield, array capture loss and system loss are obtained as 23.60%, 59.82%, 2.83 h/d, 4.63 h/d, 2.69 h/d, 1.8 h/d, 0.14 h/d and (17.56–29.07)%, (47.93–75.55)%, (2.24–3.42) h/d, (2.85–6.1) h/d, (2.13–3.25) h/d, (0.60–2.99) h/d and (0.11–0.17) h/d, respectively. The Levelized Cost of energy is reduced to 85% and 68.22% by using the proposed solar PV/ battery system compared to DG and DG/Battery systems. A saving of 14.8 kl of diesel and the corresponding reduction of emissions of carbon monoxide (244.22 kilograms), unburned hydrocarbons (10.66 kg), particulates (1.48 kg), and nitrogen Oxides (229.42 kg) have also been achieved per year. These findings effectively provide optimal power solution strategies for policymakers in the concerned area.