PV systems design optimization as function of the climatic conditions

Abstract

The present work evaluates some of the weaknesses affecting the solar photovoltaic energy deployment in the frame of the Sustainable Developing Goals (SDG) of the UN. As one of the most promising renewable energy sources due to its resource availability, modularity and competitive costs, the rapid growth of the PV in terms of new designs and module technologies needs to be assessed. An adequate analysis of these developments requires not only the energy production to be evaluated, also technologic lifecycle, including economic and environmental costs, must be considered.

To that end, an analysis of the photovoltaic systems designs, adequate technology selection and sizing methods is done as function of the climatic conditions. The suitability of installing solar trackers compared to fixed tilt racking designs is assessed as function of the diffuse fraction including the economic and energetic costs. This analysis is extrapolated to a worldwide extent as function of the Köppen climate classification. Besides, the behaviour of the different PV modules commercial technologies is evaluated as function of the climate. Finally, the limitations of the most frequent sizing methods for stand-alone PV systems are evaluated in terms of user consumption regimes and the climatic conditions. A simple algorithm allows to optimize the PV system sizing in terms of the economic and energetic costs.