A mathematical technique for choosing the very best PV technology in hot, dry locations

Feb 3, 2020 12:57 PM ET
  • The proposed model is said to perform better at energy forecast than software tools such as PVWatts, PVSyst or RetScreen. The technique was confirmed on two 5 MW PV plants in the very same district of the Indian state of Rajasthan.
A mathematical technique for choosing the very best PV technology in hot, dry locations
Image: Engin Akyurt/Pixabay

Scientists from India’& rsquo; s Madanapalle Institute of Technology & & Science have actually proposed a new mathematical technique to assist solar job developers pick the best suited PV technology for plants in hot and dry climatic conditions.

The scientists declare their technique provides a simpler method of anticipating PV plant output than rival software application tools such as PVWatts, PVSyst and RetScreen.

The brand-new field performance-based forecast model is based upon meteorological information and laboratory-tested solar module specifications and features 24 inputs and one output. The Andhra Pradesh-based researchers experimented to identify the PV module-related input criterion required for their design. They then examined 24 input meteorological specifications for hot and dry climatic conditions and carried out a formula to compute the last energy generation from a ground-mounted solar plant.

Design recognition

The model was evaluated on 2 5 MW solar plants in the district of Naguar in the Indian state of Rajasthan. One of the plants featured cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar modules and the other polycrystalline panels.

At both installations the modules were set up at a repaired tilt angle of 27 degrees, with maximum worldwide horizontal insolation of 7.22 kWh/m2/day observed in May and a minimum, during January, of 4.15 kWh/m2/day. The research team found temperature levels varied from 16.18 to 37.46 degrees Celsius.

Typical yearly clearness index and humidity figures were computed as 0.61 and 44.4%, respectively, with a minimum clearness index of 0.58 in October and maximum humidity in August of 72%.

Much better energy prediction

The outcomes obtained were compared with those accomplished utilizing PVWatts software application, which the scientists thought about the most modern and accurate forecast tool readily available, as it likewise thinks about daytime temperature level.

“ & ldquo; [The] regression co-efficient between the energy forecast of [the] proposed model and real output is 0.9516, whereas the exact same [was] only 0.44 using [PVWatts] for [the] multi C-si-based PV power plant,” & rdquo; the scientists wrote. For the CdTe center, the very first value was 0.97 and the second 0.37. “& ldquo; So [the] proposed design is in better confidence than the model used in [PVWatts] in anticipating the energy output for hot and dry climatic [conditions] thinking about both multi C-si and CdTe-based PV power [plants],” & rdquo; the scientists included.

The mistake consider energy prediction with the new design for the CdTe project differed from 0.14 to 5.52%, while that of the PVWatts software application varied from 1.38 to 22.21%. At the multicrystalline facility, the error factor for yearly energy generation was 0.1%, compared to 4.2% with PVWatts.

The analysis also revealed, the scientists added, CdTe innovation carries out much better than polycrystalline in hot and dry conditions.

The model is described in the paper Reputable energy prediction technique for grid connected photovoltaic power plants positioned in hot and dry weather condition, released in SN Applied Sciences.


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