Photovoltaic System In Malaysia Research Articles

Energy and environmental impacts of a 37.57 MW dc ground-mounted large-scale photovoltaic system in Malaysia: A life-cycle approach

This paper estimated the environmental performance and primary energy consumption of a newly installed large-scale solar photovoltaic system of 37.57 MW dc in Bidor, Malaysia using the process-based life-cycle assessment approach. The mid-point and end-point impact categories were evaluated, and seven relevant indicators related to energy and global warming were determined. The global warming impact and energy payback time obtained were 30.95 g CO2-eq/kWh and 3.43 years, respectively. Furthermore, the global warming impact mitigation potential attained was 811 kilo metric tonne (ktonne) CO2-eq throughout the system lifetime. Analyses of contribution, sensitivity and uncertainty were performed to i) identify photovoltaic system components that substantially consumed primary energy and impacted the environment, ii) evaluate the effect of four key parameters, namely irradiation, performance ratio, system lifetime and electricity mix on the energy and global warming-related indicators, and iii) estimate the uncertainty range of the evaluated indicators. The results highlighted that the main contributor to the indicators is the photovoltaic module. Other significant contributors are the civil work and operational and maintenance but the contribution from these components is much lower than the photovoltaic module. Besides that, the cumulative energy demand, energy return on investment, global warming impact and global warming impact mitigation potential showed an improvement when extending system lifetime from 15 to 40 years, i.e. from 0.8136 to 0.3677 MJ, 4.61 to 11.25, 55.37 to 24.99 g CO2-eq/kWh and 407.36 to 1055.78 g CO2-eq respectively, except for energy payback time and global warming payback time, i.e. from 3.26 to 3.55 years and 1.42 to 1.71 years respectively.

Life-cycle assessment of residential-scale grid-connected photovoltaic system in Malaysia based on monocrystalline silicon modules

<p>Even though PV systems have been promoted as a green form of electrification, such systems are still contributing to environmental impacts after considering life-cycle impact during material extraction, manufacturing processes of its components, installation, operation, and maintenance. This paper presents a life-cycle assessment to quantify the environmental impact of residential-scale grid-connected PV systems in Malaysia using monocrystalline silicon PV module. LCA had been carried out by using OpenLCA 1.8 software, Ecoinvent 3.5 database, and impact assessment method of IMPACT2002+ and CED. The influence of varying system capacity from 3 to 12 kWp, system lifetime of 21, 25 and 30 years, and solar irradiation of 1560.8, 1651.8, & 1935.5 kWh/m<sup>2</sup>/yr, were investigated. The results revealed that the greenhouse gas emissions rate, cumulative energy demand, and energy payback time of residential-scale grid-connected PV systems in Malaysia ranged from 37.97 to 67.26 g CO<sub>2</sub>-eq/kWh, 4387.10 to 4699.99 MJ/m<sup>2</sup>, and 6.37 to 7.90 years, respectively. This study also evaluated indicators of energy return on investment. The overall finding implies that the installation of residential-scale grid-connected PV systems in Malaysia offers significant potential for GHG emissions reduction in the country.</p>

Quantification of Voltage Profiles Intermittency for Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic System under Different Loading Conditions

The recent rapid uptake of solar photovoltaic system in Malaysia has introduced new challenges to the operation of the power grid, particularly on the voltage profile of distribution networks. An intermittent nature of the voltage fluctuation that caused by solar output remain as important topic as how these rapid voltage changes will affect the operation of the network. Hence, this paper presents a quantification of voltage profiles intermittency for small-scale solar photovoltaic system under different loading conditions. Actual field measurements have been performed for both high and low loading conditions. Mainly two parameters have been analysed for this work, namely voltage profile and solar power output. An intermittency quantity of voltage profile during solar generation for day time is higher than night time, which indicates high intermittent in solar irradiance causing rapid fluctuation in solar generation. Furthermore, increased voltage magnitude was observed during the low load condition. The high voltage intermittency caused by rapid fluctuation of solar output and voltage rise during low load giving a negative effect on distribution network. It is expected that grid-connected battery energy storage system could serve as the potential solution to alleviate both solar intermittency and voltage raise issues.

Study on Premature Failure of PV Systems in Malaysia using FMEA and Integrated ISM Approaches

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has the potential of supplying infinite electricity from renewable energy to rural areas around Malaysia. Various preterm failures happening frequently on the system lead to its drop in efficiency and breakdown. Lack of studies on the system in Malaysia hinders the development in terms of operation and maintenance. There is no proper documentation relevant to the premature failure of the system in Malaysia. The main objective of this project is to study the nature of premature failure of stand-alone solar photovoltaic system in Malaysia in order to improve the operation and maintenance of the system. The present study would provide reference for proper planning on operation and maintenance of the PV system. The study was conducted base on expert’s input and extensive literature survey. FMEA method and ISM approach are applied to analyze the data collected. Poor cooling system have the highest risk priority number. Poor workmanship is the least depending factor for premature failure to happen thus requires most attention. Highest driving force of premature failure is poor monitoring and maintenance. More focus should be given to these premature failure during the planning for operation and maintenance due to its severity and impact.

Performance and financial evaluation of various photovoltaic vertical facades on high-rise building in Malaysia

Photovoltaic (PV) façade on building envelope in an urban area can potentially produce clean electricity to meet the energy demand of the buildings and also provide weather protection. In order to assess the potential of PV application on building façade, energy generated and cost related to the PV installation, it must be analysed during the design process so that it can provide enough information to the designer, investor, and end user to make a decision in implementing renewable technologies. This paper focus on performance and financial evaluation using System Advisor Model (SAM) developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate the potential of vertical photovoltaic façade system on a high-rise building in Malaysia based on 5 possible design scenario using Heterojunction Intrinsic Thin-film module (HIT-Si) with the nominal efficiency of 15.6%. The annual energy generated through the vertical photovoltaic system is between 400–700MWh meanwhile roof system generate about 240MWh annually. The payback period for the vertical photovoltaic system in Malaysia is about 12 years. Although the installation of photovoltaic vertical façade in the tropical region can be quite challenging especially in urban area, but with proper studies and carefully design approach, its can open new opportunities in Malaysian built environment.

Monitoring results of Malaysian Building Integrated PV Project in Grid-connected Photovoltaic system in Malaysia

This paper presents the current status of the grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) system installed in Malaysia. There are 113 sites with total PV capacity power, of 1008.73 kWp GCPV systems are monitored by the Photovoltaic Sys- tem Monitoring Centre (PVSMC). This paper focus on the PV system performances under Malaysian Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MBIPV) project which relates the performance of the system failures due to technical and environmental factors. Both factors will contribute to the reduction of the PV system performances in terms of final yield. It would later lead to energy inefficiency as the energy harvested from PV array will be wasted which later cause the time taken for en- ergy payback period of the system to be lengthen. Proper and sufficient practical knowledge in designing a GCPV system is needed in order to achieve maximum energy production. A database with minimum period of 4 years was selected as the benchmark for problem identification at PVs site in hot and humid climate. All issues affecting the system performances and BOS component of the GCPV system for optimization purpose.

Optimally sizing of solar array and battery in a standalone photovoltaic system in Malaysia

Size optimization of solar array and battery in a standalone photovoltaic (SPV) system is investigated. Based on the energy efficiency model, the loss of power supply probability (LPSP) of the SPV system is calculated for different size combinations of solar array and battery. For the desired LPSP at the given load demand, the optimal size combination is obtained at the minimum system cost. One case study is given to show the application of the method in Malaysian weather conditions.

Predicting average energy conversion of photovoltaic system in Malaysia using a simplified method

This paper is about predicting the average conventional energy conversion by a photovoltaic system in Malaysia. The calculation is based on average number of days in a month. Average hourly energy flows are estimated based on knowledge of array test parameters, monthly average of hourly ambient temperature and monthly average of daily hemispherical radiation. The monthly average of diffuse component of radiation can be predicted based on hemispherical radiation, by using an appropriate empirical correlation related to the monthly average of diffuse fraction to monthly average of clearness index. The values of hourly average radiation are estimated based on a statistical model.