INVESTIGATION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF PV SOLAR POWER PLANT INSTALLED AT THE FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF NIŠ

Abstract

The paper provides basic information on the 2 kWp PV solar power plant with monocrystalline silicon solar modules installed on the roof of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics (FSM), University of Niš, and the equipment for the investigation of its energy efficiency depending on the real climate conditions. Furthermore, results of the simulation and experimental determination of the energy efficiency of the PV solar power plant at FSM in Niš, in the period from July 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014, are given. It was found that in this time period the average values of the experimental and simulation calculated energy efficiencies of the PV solar power plant were 9.52% and 8.44%, respectively. The increase in the ambient temperature caused a decrease in the PV solar power plant energy efficiency; with an increase in ambient temperature by 1 °C, the experimental energy efficiency decreased by 0.22%, and the simulation calculated energy efficiency decreased by 0.07%. The obtained data could be used for the planning and application of PV solar power plants in places with a similar climate.

ISPITIVANJE ENERGETSKE EFIKASNOSTI PV SOLARNE ELEKTRANE NA PRIRODNO-MATEMATIČKOM FAKULTETU UNIVERZITETA U NIŠU

 U radu su date osnovne informacije o PV solarnoj elektrani od 2 kWp, sa solarnim modulima od monokristalnog silicijuma, instaliranoj na krovu Prirodno-matematičkog fakulteta (PMF) Univerziteta u Nišu i opremi za ispitivanje njene energetske efikasnosti u realnim klimatskim uslovima. Dati su rezultati eksperimentalno i simulaciono određene energetske efikasnosti PV solarne elektrane na PMF-u u Nišu u periodu od 1. jula 2013. do 1. januara 2014. godine. U tom periodu prosečno određene vrednosti eksperimentalne i simulacione energetske efikasnosti iznosile su 9,52% i 8,44%, redom. Sa povećanjem temperature okoline za 1 °C dolazilo je do pada za 0,22% eksperimentalne i za 0,07% simulaciono određene energetske efikasnosti PV solarne elektrane. Dobijeni rezultati mogu da se koriste prilikom projektovanja PV solarnih elektrana u mestima sa sličnim klimatskim karakteristikama.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Solar irradiance was assessed for the city of Niš, Serbia;
• The estimation of electricity generation by a 2 kWp on-grid PV system was done;
• The determination of the energy efficiency of an on-grid PV solar plant was achieved;
• The obtained results could be useful for the comparison of an effective energy production of PV solar plants in real climate conditions;
• The presented data could be utilized in the planning and execution of studies aimed at predicting the impact of solar energy on distribution systems.