Operational performance of megawatt-scale grid integrated rooftop solar PV system in tropical wet and dry climates of India

Sandhya Thotakura; Sri Chandan Kondamudi; J. Francis Xavier; Ma Quanjin; Guduru Ramakrishna Reddy; Pavan Gangwar; Sri Lakshmi Davuluri

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering (Apr 2020)

Operational performance of megawatt-scale grid integrated rooftop solar PV system in tropical wet and dry climates of India

Sandhya Thotakura,
Sri Chandan Kondamudi,
J. Francis Xavier,
Ma Quanjin,
Guduru Ramakrishna Reddy,
Pavan Gangwar,
Sri Lakshmi Davuluri

Affiliations

Sandhya Thotakura: Department of Electrical Electronics and Communication Engineering, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, 530045, Andhra Pradesh, India; Corresponding author.
Sri Chandan Kondamudi: Department of Electrical Electronics and Communication Engineering, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, 530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
J. Francis Xavier: School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT Bhopal University, Bhopal, 466114, Madhya Pradesh, India
Ma Quanjin: Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
Guduru Ramakrishna Reddy: Institute of Mechatronics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, Kaunas University of Technology, K. Donelaicio g. 73, Kaunas, 44249, Lithuania
Pavan Gangwar: Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, 211015, Uttar Pradesh, India; Corresponding author.
Sri Lakshmi Davuluri: Department of Electrical Electronics and Communication Engineering, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, 530045, Andhra Pradesh, India; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology & Sciences, Visakhapatnam, 531162, Andhra Pradesh, India

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18

Abstract

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This case study presents the performance of a megawatt-scale grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant installed on the building rooftops of an educational institute (GITAM Deemed to be University) located in coastal regions (longitude 83° 23' 6.54'' E and latitude 17° 48' 8.208'' N) of Andhra Pradesh. A framework is proposed to validate the existing simulation models that are used for PV project modeling. The validation is done by comparing the simulated performance with the real-time monitored performance. The studied PV plant consists of 3078 solar panels and 23 inverters. For the analysis, we recorded the PV plant operational data for 12 months from 1st October 2018 to 30th September 2019. Based on the monitored data and by following the proposed framework, performance analysis is carried out. The results include the estimated parameters like energy outputs, yield factor, capacity factor, performance ratio, and the error matrices. The solar PV plant supplied energy of 1325.42 MWh to the grid during the monitored period. The expected outcomes of the solar PV plant are assessed using PVGIS, PV Watts, and PV Syst simulation tools. We observed an average mean bias error (MBE) of 5.33% (PVGIS), 12.33% (PV Watts) and 30.64% (PV Syst) and average normalized mean bias error (NMBE) of 2.954% (PVGIS), 7.88% (PV watts) and 22.75% (PV Syst). Overall, it is observed that there is a deviation between the simulated and monitored energy performance. Keywords: Solar PV plants, PV performance, PVGIS, PV watts, PV Syst, Simulation tools

Published in Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

ISSN: 2214-157X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/case-studies-in-thermal-engineering/

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