Efficiency enhancement in energy production of photovoltaic modules through green roof installation under tropical climates

Abstract

This study is aimed to assess the performance of green roof-PV system; and determine the optimum installation height of green roof. In this study, two units PV panels of 1 kW each were setup at building rooftop level. Modular green roofs were established at three different heights of 0.3 m, 0.6 m and 0.9 m from rooftop floor level, respectively. The effects of each green roof height on the PV module temperature, ambient temperature and daily power yield were monitored for 6 months’ period. The results showed that green roof-PV system exhibited lower ambient and PV module temperatures of 3.36% and 17% compared to bare roof-PV system. Other than that, green roof enhanced the power generation efficiency averagely by 1.6%. It is found that green roof installed at 0.3 m has increased the power generation performance by 3% and 11% compared to that of 0.6 m and 0.9 m, respectively.

Keywords

• Building rooftop
• Green roof
• Solar photovoltaic
• Tropical climate