Tutorial for the examination test on Photovoltaic generators and plants

The main steps for the PV system that supplies some energy requirements are summarized in the
following list:
1. From the "file.txt", in the educational portal, calculate the daily energy consumed (3
families, values in watts) and then the monthly and the annually energy consumed (Yearly
load Energy = 10000 kWh roughly).
2. Choose whether to continue with 3 families, or if you prefer a higher number of families or a
lower number.
3. Through the PVGIS software in the menu "PV calculator you have to choose a site
(location, address) and insert values of tilt and azimuth (orientation 0 means South) and
push the button "Calculate", having set power = 1kWp with crystalline silicon. Monthly and
yearly values of the radiation on the tilt plane (H
d
and H
m
columns of the table) and of the
electrical energies E
d
and E
m
are obtained. The yearly energy is the ratio kWh / kWp = Yf
that means the number of equivalent hours per year at rated power operation (final yield Yf
= 1200 h/year roughly in Turin).
4. The rated power of PV generator that produces the energy consumed in a year is
determined through the ratio Yearly load Energy / Yf.
5. From the PVGIS website, using the menu "Daily irradiance", you have to simulate the daily
production (top right), choosing the month from January to December, you select
"Irradiance on a fixed plane" and "Daily temperature" with "Show graphs" and "Show
horizon". You can use only the global irradiance average or the clear sky radiation (best
condition).
6. Use the produced power formula P
ac
=P
n
*G/1000*(1+*T
c
)*0.92*
dc-ac
. The temperature of
the module is calculated with values provided by PVGIS: T
c
= T
amb
+(NOCT-20)*G/800.
Then, the self-consumed energy, the energy sold to the grid and the energy purchased by
the grid are calculated on daily, monthly and yearly basis.
7. Select the PV module technology in relation to the available area (for example, the south-
west pitch of the roof in a building) and if you prefer only one three-phase inverter or 3
single-phase inverters (use file useful_web_sites.doc; then, you have to determine the
number of modules in series for string and the number of strings in parallel using the Excel
sheet Sizing_PV_inv.xls. Be careful to insert the right values of thermal coefficient of
voltage in (volt/C).
8. Draw the electric scheme of the PV plant.
9. Perform the economic analysis of the investment by using the Net Present Value (NPV)
method (file Excel NPV_PV_feed_in_tariff.xls).