The Technical and Economic Assessment of a Solar Rooftop Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System for a Dairy Farm

Abstract

This study covers the technical and economic analysis of a grid-connected rooftop 216 kWp photovoltaic (PV) system to meet the average annual energy demand of 45,327 kWh of a dairy farm. According to the results of the analysis, an average of 326,819 kWh/year is received at the output of the panel arrays, while 294,838 kWh/year is supplied to the grid. The amount of energy to be received from the grid was found to be 25,013 kWh/year, and the performance ratio of the system was 0.808. The net present value (NPV) of the system was calculated as $36,463.39, and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was calculated as 0.065 $/kWh. Considering that the annual electricity generation amount of the rooftop PV system evaluated within the scope of the study is 315,152 kWh, it is estimated that 127.419 tCO2 per year of emission release will be prevented annually with the installation of the system.

Keywords

• dairy farm
• solar grid connected system
• performance ratio
• economic analysis
• levelized cost of energy (LCOE)