Energy Reports (Nov 2022)
Performance assessment of a solar PV module for different climate classifications based on energy, exergy, economic and environmental parameters
Abstract
Today’s energy system and infrastructure need some comprehensive technological and social developments, including taking advantage of renewable energy sources such as the sun as an inexhaustible and clean supply of available energy to tackle the challenges related to climate and environmental changes. The photovoltaic systems are regarded as one of the most often deployed and practical solar energy applications. Furthermore, soon, the photovoltaic systems will undoubtedly be seen as the appropriate, clean, and safe alternatives to fossil fuels. In the present study, a multi-criteria analysis consisting of energy, exergy, economic and environmental analyses was performed on a photovoltaic module to investigate the climate condition influence on the module performance. To this end, six cities with six different climates were chosen from the United States. Based on energy and exergy, Phoenix, with a Bwh climate, has the highest electrical energy production and exergy output with 538.66 and 438.26 kWh. In terms of economy, Phoenix was also selected as the most economical city with the Levelized cost of energy of 0.2312 $/kWh. The environmental impact assessment was performed in two energy and exergy sections. Therefore, the EnergoEnvironmental analysis based on environmental evaluation and the EnergoEnviroEconomic analysis based on environmental-economic evaluation of Portland with its Csb climate returns the 11.2868 kgCO2 and 0.1693$ values per year, which made Portland be selected as the most efficient option for the Photovoltaics module. These analyses were also performed on the axis of exergy, and Portland with its Csb and Chicago with its Dfa climates were recognized for having the most optimized systems inflicting the least environmental harm.
