Grid connected PV- home systems in Palestine: A review on technical performance, effects and economic feasibility

Abstract Utilizing of grid connected PV systems on roofs of residential houses started to spread in Palestine since six years due to decreasing the PV price and creation of governmental regulations supporting the use of renewable energy. A number of schools, municipality buildings and private firms have also built such PV systems. Three of these PV home systems, have been operating since three years ago, were selected for technical and economical evaluation. Each of these PV is rated at 5 kW. Analyzing the measurements of these systems for two years of operation, has resulted an average daily yield of 4.81 kWh/kWp which corresponds to an annual yield of 1756 kWh/kWp. The results of economic analyses are encouraging to intensify the use of such PV home systems since the payback period of such a system is 4.9 years, the cost of kWh produced is 0.43 NIS (0.115 US $) and the internal rate of return is 25%. Besides these results, this paper presents also the impacts of PV home systems on the electric grid represented in decreasing the losses, raising the voltage level and decreasing the power factor. It presents also the effect of PV systems on the environment and a simulation supported method for improving the annual energy production of such PV home systems at no additional cost.

[1]  Vjollca Komoni,et al.  Performance analysis of 3.9 kW grid connected photovoltaic systems in Kosova , 2014, 2014 5th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC).

[2]  Marwan M. Mahmoud,et al.  Techno-economic feasibility of energy supply of remote villages in Palestine by PV-systems, diesel generators and electric grid , 2006 .

[3]  M. Y. Hassan,et al.  Effect of losses resistances, module temperature variation, and partial shading on PV output power , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon).

[4]  K. M. Muttaqi,et al.  A comprehensive assessment tool for solar PV impacts on low voltage three phase distribution networks , 2012, 2nd International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy Technology (ICDRET 2012).

[5]  Chin Kim Gan,et al.  Role of losses in design of DC cable for solar PV applications , 2014, 2014 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC).

[6]  Claudius Holdermann,et al.  Distributed photovoltaic generation in Brazil: An economic viability analysis of small-scale photovoltaic systems in the residential and commercial sectors , 2014 .

[7]  Andreas Poullikkas,et al.  A comparative assessment of net metering and feed in tariff schemes for residential PV systems , 2013 .

[8]  Afif Akel,et al.  Renewable energy assessment for Palestine : (solar and wind) , 1996 .

[9]  R.A. Prata.  Impact of distributed generation connection with distribution grids - two case-studies , 2006, 2006 IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting.

[10]  M. Z. Hussin,et al.  First year performance monitoring of amorphous-Silicon Grid-Connected Photovoltaic system , 2013, 2013 IEEE 4th Control and System Graduate Research Colloquium.