Solar energy systems, particularly photovoltaic (PV) technology, still require some improvement based on weather data to effectively tackle challenges related to the energy crisis, costs, climate, and environmental changes. Algeria enjoys high solar intensity and ideal weather conditions throughout the day, but they are not effectively exploited yet. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of solar PV systems under the climatic conditions of different regions in Algeria including Ghardaïa, Djelfa, and Algiers. These regions represent the different climatic conditions of Algeria because of their different climate and geographical location. Results showed that the maximum power output from the PV system was obtained in June for tested regions Algiers, Djelfa, and Ghardaïa with 14.64, 14.80, and 14.81 kW/month, respectively. In addition, Ghardaïa has the lowest unit cost of energy (0.24 USD/kWh), followed by Djelfa (0.2582 USD/kWh) and then Algiers (0.2587 USD/kWh) with rates of 7.58 and 7.79%, respectively. The minimum CO2 emissions were obtained during December, reaching 0.18, 0.16, and 0.20 kg CO2 in Ghardaïa, Djelfa, and Algiers, respectively. Finally, the analysis demonstrated that solar PV systems rare economically feasible, profitable, and environmentally friendly in Algeria, especially in the Ghardaïa region.
Read full abstract