2020 4th International Conference on Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering (ELTICOM)

Optimization Design and Simulating Solar PV

System Using PVSyst Software
Yulianta Siregar*, Youki Hutahuruk, Suherman
Departement of Electrical Engineering
Universitas Sumatera Utara
Medan, Indonesia
*julianta_srg@usu.ac.id

Abstract— Renewable energy is now increasingly popular to

be installed slowly on a large-scale. Indonesia is targeting 23%
of renewable energy in 2025 of the total power generated, and
this will be a consideration to conduct further research related
to the potentials that exist in Indonesia. Solar photovoltaic
(PV) is one alternative that has broad potential for Indonesia
due to Indonesia's climate and weather conditions there are
very supportive in utilizing this technology. Design
optimization studies and solar PV system simulation will be
presented in this paper with a case study on Artificial Lake at
the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) by utilizing an area of
600 m2 as a solar PV placement area. The result found that the
optimal design by using Si-Mono 310 Wp, 27 V with
orientation 5o, and energy produced is 144.21 MWh/year.

Keywords—Renewable energy, Solar PV, PVSyst Software,

Universitas Sumatera Utara

I. INTRODUCTION
The Government of Indonesia has targeted the total
Renewable Energy to be 23% of the total power generated.
This is the biggest challenge for researchers to re-analyze
the natural potentials that can be developed as renewable
energy power plants. Based on the press release from the
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, No. 692.Pers /
04 / SJI / 2019, 4 December 2019, the projected investment
of renewable energy power plant is US$ 36.95 Billion and
this proves the seriousness of the Government of Indonesia
towards Renewable Energy.
The solar photovoltaic is increasing for use in
electrical energy sources because it has advantages
including environmentally friendly, low maintenance costs
with abundant and free energy. Therefore, compared to the
use of fossil fuels, the use of PV will be more profitable in
the long run as alternative energy in Indonesia because of
the high availability of solar energy radiation
Alternative energy through Solar PV will be able to
reduce the operational costs of consumers who use them,
especially consumers who need large power in their daily
activities.
Regarding the above problems, the utilization of
energy through solar PV must use an optimal design to
obtain maximum results as well. In this paper, we have
discussed the optimization of solar PV design by using
PVSyst software [1-3] with a case study of design planning
in an artificial lake at Universitas Sumatera Utara. The total
area of an artificial lake at Universitas Sumatera Utara is
600 m2, as seen in Fig. 1. Placement at this point is due to an
increase of around 16% in solar PV efficiency through
passive cooling. This paper is not discussed.
Fig 1. Satellite view of artificial lake at Universitas Sumatera Utara
II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
A. Photovoltaic System
The solar cell semiconductor is exposed to light, photons
are absorbed by electrons. The incoming energy will break
the electron bonds so that the released electrons are drawn
through the electric field to the n-region. The holes that are
formed due to the transfer of electrons move in opposite
directions to the p-region. This process, as a whole, is called
the photovoltaic effect.
The spread of the charge carrier to an electrical contact
causes a voltage to arise in the solar cell. The no load, an
open circuit voltage arises in the solar cell. Meanwhile, the
electrical circuit is closed, an electric current flow [5].
B. The Factor of Solar Cell Operation
The maximum work of solar cells is influenced by many
factors. These factors have a big enough influence and there
is also a small influence. The factors that influence the
maximum work of solar cells are as follows:
1) Temperature: A solar cell can operate maximally if
the temperature of the cell remains at normal (at 2500C), an
increase in temperature higher than the normal temperature
in the PV cell will weaken Voc. Each temperature increase of
100C Solar Cells (from 2500C) will reduce about 0.4% of the
total energy produced or will weaken 2 times to increase the
temperature of cells per 1000C [6]. The characteristic curves
of solar cells due to the effects of temperature variations as
shown in Fig. 2.

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 2020 4th International Conference on Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering (ELTICOM)

Fig 3. The solar of irradiance variations [5].

Fig 2. The characteristic curves of solar cells with temperature variations
[6].

2) Solar Irradiance: If the light intensity weakens, the

amount of voltage and electric current produced has
decreased. The decrease in voltage is relatively smaller than
the decrease in electric current. In this case, 1 sun = 1000
W/m2 can be seen in Fig.3 Solar Irradiance Variations [5].
3) Wind Speed: The wind blowing speed around the
location of the PV array can reduce heat from the surface
temperature of the PV array glass [5].
4) Earth's Atmosphere Condition: Earth's atmosphere
conditions such as cloudy, air dust particles, smoke, fog, and
pollution have determined the maximum electrical current
from PV [6].
5) The position of the solar cell: Maintaining sunlight
falling onto a PV panel surface perpendicular will get
maximum energy of 1000 W/m2 or 1 kW/m2. If the sun's rays
with the PV field are not perpendicular, and then the
extended area of the PV panel area is needed (the PV panel
field to the sun latitude that changes every hour of the day).
Solar Panel PV on the Equator (latitude 00) with placed
horizontally has to produce maximum energy, while for
locations with different latitude must be found the optimum
tilt angle (maximum)
III. METHODOLOGY
In this research, PVSyst software version 6.8.1 is used to
analyze the potential for generating electricity from solar PV.
Fig. 4 shows about flowchart simulation. PVSyst for the
learning process, measurement (sizing), and data analysis for
the solar system. The PVSyst divided into grid-connected
systems, stand-alone systems, pumping systems, and direct Fig 4. Flowchart simulation
current networks for public transportation (DC-grid). PVSyst
also features a database extensive and diverse meteorological The geographic and climatic conditions our location used
data sources, as well as solar system component data [7]. Meteonorm. The feature of PVSyst presents monthly weather
The design of solar power plants depends on several characteristics such as including wind speed, temperature,
factors with explained on a theoretical basis, such as the global horizontal irradiation, and diffuse horizontal
choice of geographic location, PV modules, inverter quality, irradiation. Table 1. discussion about the results of the
and solar panel orientation [8-11]. In this simulation, monthly weather conditions from Meteonorm.
PVSyst calculates by these factors. B. PV Arrays & Inverters
A. Climatic and Geographic Resource To get the maximum output in this study, we already
In this study, we chose a location on an artificial lake at simulate several types of modules to get the right PV array,
Universitas Sumatra Utara (Latitude 3.5598°N, Longitude including:
98.6567°E) with the solar path conditions, as shown in Fig.5

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 2020 4th International Conference on Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering (ELTICOM)

Fig 5. The solar paths of artificial lake at Universitas Sumatera Utara. Fig 6. The characteristics of irradiation effect by PV Si-Mono 290 Wp, 27V

TABLE I. MONTHLY WEATHER FROM METEONORM

1) Si-Mono 290 Wp, 27 V: As depicted in Fig.6, the

amount of solar radiation give maximum power. The solar
panels by 1000 W/m2 have produced a maximum power of
266.9 W with a maximum current value of 9.12 A and a Fig 7. The characteristics of irradiation effect by PV Si-Mono 300 Wp, 28V
maximum voltage value of 31.8 V.
2) Si-Mono 300 Wp, 28 V: As depicted in Fig.7, the
amount of solar radiation give maximum power. The solar
panels by 1000 W/m2 have produced a maximum power of
277 W with a maximum current value of 9.16 A and a
maximum voltage value of 32.8 V.
3) Si-Mono, 310Wp, 27V: As depicted in Fig.8, the
amount of solar radiation give maximum power. The solar
panels by 1000 W/m2 have produced a maximum power of
285.40 W with a maximum current value of 9.51 A and a
maximum voltage value of 32.6 V.
4) Si-Poly, 320 Wp, 31V: As depicted in Fig.9, the
amount of solar radiation give maximum power. The solar
panels by 1000 W/m2 have produced a maximum power of
294.40 W with a maximum current value of 8.63 A and a
maximum voltage value of 37.1 V.
5) Si-Poly, 330 Wp, 31V: As depicted in Fig.10, the Fig 8. The characteristics of irradiation effect by PV Si-Mono 310 Wp, 27V
amount of solar radiation give maximum power. The solar
panels by 1000 W/m2 have produced a maximum power of C. System Orientation
303.60 W with a maximum current value of 8.63 A and a
maximum voltage value of 37.1 V. To get the right and optimal selection of Solar PV
In this case study, we use an inverter with a capacity of devices, simulations are performed with several different
power is 30 kW, frequency is 50 Hz, input voltage range solar PV devices models so that the results can be seen with
between 450-700 V and maximum efficiency is 94%, as different PV orientation variants 0o, 5o, 10o, 20o, and 30o, as
shown in Fig.11. shown in Fig.12.

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 2020 4th International Conference on Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering (ELTICOM)
Fig 9. The characteristics of irradiation effect by PV Si-Poly 320Wp, 31 V.
Fig 10. The characteristics of irradiation effect by PV Si-Poly 330 Wp, 31
V.
Fig 11. Efficiency profile vs input power
Fig 12. Fixed tilt plane.
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D. Solar PV System in Grid-Connected
Effective utilization of solar PV connected to the
network has some equipment as explained above including
PV arrays and inverters that will be simulated through
PVSyst software with a circuit like the following Fig.13:
Fig 13. The scheme of grid connected solar PV system.
IV. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Based on the simulation obtained using the conditions
described through the flowchart and also by ignoring the
shading factor through the PVSyst 6.8.1 software, the
following results are obtained as seen in Table 2. The
optimal design by utilizing an artificial lake area of 600 m2
at Universitas Sumatera Utara using the Si-Mono 310 Wp,
27 V as shown in the 12th simulation. The energy produced
144.21 MWh/Year with an orientation of 50 is applied to
Solar PV. Furthermore, the orientation value for applied to
each of the Solar PV at the location of the artificial lake at
Universitas Sumatera Utara is 500. Meanwhile, the detailed
simulation results of energy production by PVSyst
simulation by using the Si-Mono Model 310 Wp, 27 V in
the solar PV 50 orientation as shown in Table 3.
Furthermore, electrical energy has a fluctuating
production of electricity every month. The largest electricity
production in March and the lowest in December, it can be
seen in Fig.14. In this system, based on the results of the
simulation, it has a performance ratio of 78.5% can be seen
in Fig 15.
V. CONCLUSIONS
Based on the analysis and simulation results using
PVSyst 6.8.1 software, the optimal design by utilizing an
artificial lake area of 600 m2 at Universitas Sumatera Utara
using the Si-Mono 310 Wp, 27 V with the number of
modules is 361. The energy produced by solar cells is
144.21 MWh/Year with an orientation of 500.
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 2020 4th International Conference on Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering (ELTICOM)

TABLE II. SIMULATION RESULTS WITH PV MODULE VARIANTS

Fig 15. Performance ratio.

TABLE III. PVSYST 6.8.1 SIMULATION RESULTS FOR 300 WP SI-MONO PV REFERENCES
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