Sizing of photovoltaic systems for self-consumption without surpluses through on-site measurements: Case study of the Dominican Republic

Abstract

The photovoltaic systems with surpluses have contributed significantly to distributed generation in the last decade, however, its growth is affected by new regulations in several countries. With the aim of promoting self-consumption, this research evaluates the profitability of self-consumption without surpluses, considering self-consumption without an anti-dump system. The sizing methodology includes the use of geographic information systems tools as well as on-site measurements with an electrical network analyzer and irradiance meter, contributing with real data of the solar resource. A techno-economic model is applied to a case study in the residential sector of the Dominican Republic, with an average demand of 393 kWh/month, from which results are inferred for other levels of consumption. The results show that self-consumption without anti-dump is profitable, with payback time (PBT) of 4.57 years, internal rate of return (IRR) of 23.4% and self-sufficiency rate (SSR) of 5%. The deployment of this type of self-consumption is not viable for customers with consumption < 252 kWh/month. In the case study with the anti-dump system the inversion is profitable, with IRR=21.7%, SSR = 20% and PBT= 4.84 years. These results indicate the profitability conditions for two types of self-consumption without surpluses, presenting an alternative to self-consumption with surpluses.