Optimal sizing of grid-connected photovoltaic energy system in Saudi Arabia
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Renewable Energy
Abstract
Resource optimization is a major factor in the assessment of the effectiveness of renewable energy
systems. Various methods have been utilized by different researchers in planning and sizing the gridconnected
PV systems. This paper analyzes the optimal photovoltaic (PV) array and inverter sizes for a
grid-connected PV system. Unmet load, excess electricity, fraction of renewable electricity, net present
cost (NPC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions percentage are considered in order to obtain optimal
sizing of the grid-connected PV system. An optimum result, with unmet load and excess electricity of 0%,
for serving electricity in Makkah, Saudi Arabia is achieved with the PV inverter size ratio of R ¼ 1 with
minimized CO2 emissions. However, inverter size can be downsized to 68% of the PV nominal power to
reduce the inverter cost, and hence decrease the total NPC of the system.
Description
Keywords
Grid-connected photovoltaic system, Carbon dioxide emissions, Excess electricity, HOMER Optimization
Citation
Ramli, M. A., Hiendro, A., Sedraoui, K., & Twaha, S. (2015). Optimal sizing of grid-connected photovoltaic energy system in Saudi Arabia. Renewable Energy, 75, 489-495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.028