Technoeconomic Assessment of Various Configurations Photovoltaic Systems for Energy and Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) system grid integration is becoming more global to minimize carbon emissions from traditional power systems. However, alternative solution investigation for maximum technical and economic benefits is often neglected when integrating PV systems. This study utilizes a methodology for evaluating the lifecycle energy generation and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of PV systems with various configurations using a holistic approach that considers PV system expenditures from installation to the end-of-life PV system operation. In addition, this work focuses on finding a better configuration with different PV modules (monofacial or bifacial) and structure types (mounted or single-axis) for three different utility scale PV sizes (300 kW, 500 kW, and 1000 kW) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with the maximum power generation and minimal energy losses. Furthermore, the best suitable configuration was identified to be the configuration with a single-axis tracking structure and bifacial PV modules based on their technical and economic performance for the location with two different surface albedo, 0.2 and 0.8. We also study the PV system’s connection in a standalone off-grid solar-electrolyzer combination to produce green hydrogen. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and levelized cost of hydrogen production (LCOH) are calculated, and results show that such PV systems can be used to generate electricity and produce hydrogen at competitive costs that can reach as low as 2.1 cent/kWh and $2.53/kg-H2 for LCOE and LCOH, respectively. Such a low cost is very competitive and can be used to attract new investments in green hydrogen technology in the United Arab Emirates.