Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources

Volume 5 Issue 1

Challenges and Opportunities of Rooftop Solar PV Penetration to

National Grid: Bangladesh Perspective
1
Mohammad Ismail Hossain, 2Md. Rakib Ahsan, 3Raja Rashidul Hasan
1,2
B.Sc. Student, 3Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Email: 1ismailhossainnoyon@gmail.com,2Rakibahsanmd@gmail.com,3hemal@aiub.edu

Abstract
The electricity consumption in Bangladesh is higher than ever. A large number of people are
still deprived of electricity and demand is rapidly increasing. In this scenario self-powering,
our houses will be a great idea which will meet our daily demand. Here, we have discussed
the challenges and opportunities of a bi-directional grid-connected rooftop solar power
generation system which utilizes the enormous natural resources of solar. We have
considered the free rooftop of our housing for power generation. Solar photovoltaicmodules
areplaces upon the rooftop free space where sunlight is converted to electricitywhenmade fall
on solar PV moduled. This generated electricity is used for self-powering houses and
surpassed power will be delivered to the grid company. This system comes with numerous
challenges, for example, designing an MPPT for maximizing the solar panel output, grid-tied
inverter, investment security and many more. A Transformerless grid tie inverteris proposed
which employs a new techniquecalled Dual-Stage Switch for Buck-Boost conversion. It swells
the efficiency of the inverter up to 95%. A constant voltage based algorithm is designed to
minimize conversion losses. The simulation results are analyzed through PSIM, PROTEUS,
MATLAB software. The simulation results show that the rooftop solar energy system has the
potential to meet the challenges of the power crises in Bangladesh where land and resources
are limited.

Keywords: Solar PV modules, SPWM, Dual-Stage Boost converter, Dual stage Buck
converter, GTI

INTRODUCTION consumer will have to pay and if it is

A grid-connected rooftop solar energy
generation system is a compact system that
generates electrical power using solar PV
system. Firstly, the requirements to make
grid-tied solar PV system possible,
challenges are found out. Afterward,
pragmatic approaches are taken to tackle
these obstacles which include Net Meter
concept; Constant Voltage based MPPT
design, Transformer-less grid-tied inverter.
A net Meter is placed between the grid and
the load, which does the calculation. When
the load is consuming more power than
that it is producing, the meter moves
forward and when the produced power is
higher than the load, the meter runs the
reverse way. If it is positive then the
negative the power company will pay the
consumer. A 2.5KW transformer-less grid-
tie inverter using new sinusoidal pulse
width modulation along with immittance
conversion topology and dual stage boost
converter and dual stage buck converter
has been presented. A constant voltage
based maximum power point tracker is
also designed for extracting maximum
power by PV panels. The financial
feasibility and environment outcome are
analyzed by RET Screen software.
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The system design is divided into two
parts. First, it is calculated how much free
roof space we have and how many panels

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 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
are needed, Secondly designing a grid-tied
Figure 1: A Proposed Block Diagram of a Grid-tied Rooftop Solar PV System.
Here we have taken 16 panels of 250 watts
each solar panel which requires 280 square
feet roof space and this is far enough for a
four-person family's power demand in
Bangladesh. This calculation is done taking
the average per capita power consumption
which was 310 kWh/y in Bangladesh [1].
The generated DC voltage is inverted by an
inverter which is tied with the grid. Two
kinds of grid inverter are designed for
inversion purpose. The AC power is sent to a
distribution panel which selects the direction
of power flow. The NET Meter calculates the
incoming and outgoing power and gives the
resultant value at the end of the month.
MPPT TECHNOLOGY
Maximum Power Point Tracker is an
essential element in the Solar PV system.
Maximum Power Point Technologies are
used in grid-connected inverters, an
important part of the system, to maintain
the output efficiency as high as possible
[2]. There are various types of MPP
technologies. A constant voltage based
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Volume 5 Issue 1
inverter.
algorithm, the most simple type of MPPT
technology, is designed which constantly
matches the voltage with the reference
voltage to magnify the efficiency in
various environmental condition.
For simulation purpose, we have chosen a
250Watt solar panel in one parallel string
and eight series connected modules per
string where a single panel gives 30.7 V at
maximum power point (Vmp), and 8.15A
of current at maximum power point (Imp).
According to these values, this solar panel
will give 2001.64 Watts (30.7*8*8.15) at
the output which is denoted by the yellow
line in figure 4, when no MPPT has not
used the power delivered to the load is only
1200watts as shown in the above figure by
a blue line. After implementing the
proposed MPPT technology it can be
increased up to 1.8-1.9 KW as shown in
the figure through a pink line. From the
simulation result, it can find out that, the
output power delivered to the load is
approximately 1900Watts which is close to
 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
Volume 5 Issue 1

the calculated maximum output power (2000Watts).

Figure 2: Constant Voltage Based Algorithm.

A block is created to find out the necessity of MPPT technology.

Figure 3: Schematic Diagram for Power Output MPPT and Without MPPT Using MATLAB.

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 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
Volume 5 Issue 1

Figure 4: PV Panel Output with MPPT without MPPT Algorithm.

GRID-TIED INVERTER due to this dual technique which makes

Grid-Tied Inverter without
Transformer
A single phase inverter is designed which
uses a buck and a boost converter instead
of a transformer to step down and step up
the voltage. A new technique called dual
stage switching is used in designing the
converters, which is efficient, cost
effective, and endurable.
them more reliable and robust. It also
eliminates the use of a transformer which
is costlier, heavier and dangerous [3-4].
The values of inductor and capacitor are
selected using the below formulas:
,

A DUAL STAGE BOOST CONVERTER Where,

The dual stage boost converter is used for Vin = input voltage
converting the 40V to 220V. This Vout = output voltage
converter firstly converts 40V to 112V and fs= minimum switching frequency of the
in the second stage in 220V. The power converter
MOSFET gets less voltage stress on them = estimated inductor ripple

Figure 5: Dual Stage Boost Converter using PSIM Software.

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 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
Volume 5 Issue 1

Dual-Stage Buck Converter converter, we convert the AC grid voltage

A dual stage buck converter is used to
eliminate the transformer to step down the
line voltage. It is connected with the grid
in order to take a sample of frequency and
voltage from the grid. This buck converter
helps to synchronize the voltage and
frequency of the inverter with the
connected grid. In this dual stage buck
by two stages. In the first stage, we
convert 220V into 33V and in the second
stage into 5V [3-4].
Following formulas are used for inductor
and capacitor calculation:
,

Figure 6: Dual Stage Buck Converter via PSIM Software.

Figure 7: Transformer-less Grid-tied Inverter.

Figure 8: Output Voltage of Transformer-less Inverter.

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 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
Volume 5 Issue 1

The inverter inverted the input DC voltage which is the same as the grid voltage. The
into AC output voltage. Figure 7 tells us output current also goes with grid current
the inverted AC voltage is around 220V which is 12 A shown in Figure 8.

Figure 9: Output Current for Single Phase Transformer-less Inverter.

Table 1: Inverter Data for Graphical Representation.

Load (ohm) Pin(W) Pout(W) Efficiency (%)
25 2189 2070 94.5
30 2215 2017 91
35 2245 2000 90
40 2277 1986 87.5
45 2309 1988 86
50 238 1995 85.5
55 2363 2066 85
60 2389 2019 84.5

Figure 10: Graphical Representation of Inverter Efficiency with LCL Filter.

From the above graph, it is seen that the 94%. The efficiency is decreasing with the
inverter is efficient for a lower load. While pace of load. For higher load, the filter
the load is 25ohm its efficiency is around needs to be changed.

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 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
GRID SYNCHRONIZATION
In a GTI concern function are divided into
two major parts: grid synchronization,
power transmitting. A sample of the sine
wave is taken from the utility grid.
Afterward, it experienced a rectification
and then went through a dual-stage power
converter. The resultant of the buck
converter is compared with a high-
frequency triangle wave in order to build
Figure 11: Zero Crossing Detection of Voltage (grid voltage).
The grid synchronization is matched
through by the following stages:
As buck input is sampled from grid and
buck output is building SPWM for gate
signal of H-bridge inverter. Therefore
inverter output signal frequency is as same
as grid frequency. For zero crossing phase
detection square wave combination is used
with the gate signal. Hence phase detection
of inverter output is ensured through zero
crossing detection. To make the
transformer-less inverter boost converter is
used which output is 312V and the voltage
is used as input of Inverter. As a result, the
inverter output gives the same value which
is 312V. The root means the square value
will be 220V similar to the grid. Finally,
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Volume 5 Issue 1
SPWM, and thus it ensures the same
frequency. To match same phase SPWM
sets with phase-shift to zero. The SPWM
and square wave generates four separate
signals with the help of two AND gate
operation for switching the inverter. Only
zero crossing detection is used as the
frequency and amplitude are the same [5-
6]. The zero crossing detection is shown in
Figure 10.
the phase, frequency, and amplitude of the
inverter output will become similar to the
national grid. This will allow power
transmission from the inverter to grid
utility.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
As mentioned earlier that the whole system
is designed for a 4 kW on grid rooftop
solar PV system. The analysis is done
using RET Screen software. In this case, it
is designed to generate 4KWH solar
rooftop system. Yingli Solar array is used
for designing and the estimated initial
setup cost is considered BDT 500000.
Electricity export to the grid is calculated
taking 8.5 Tk/unit.
 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
Figure 12: Financial Analysis in RET Screen Software.
The above calculation is done considering
real actual values. The inflation rate, the
interest rate, project life all the parameters
are considered based on Bangladesh recent
status. For this calculation, the inflation
rate is taken by 7%. The debt ratio is
around 50% and the debt interest is taken
7%. The above statistic shows that we
could be able to sell electricity for BDT
35,741 whereas our debt payment would
be BDT 23,598. It means that we will be
collecting of BDT (35741-23598=) 12143
per year selling the solar-generated
electricity to the grid company. The simple
payback is 14 years and the equity
payback will be 9.7 years which means we
will start having profited from the rooftop
solar system.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
We all are well known about the
environmental benefits of the solar system.
This system will minimize greenhouse
emission. The amount of GHE that it can
reduce is equivalent to the followings:
1. 1,071 liters of gasoline not consumed.
2. 2.5 tCO2 not produced.
3. 5.8 barrels of crude oil not used.
4. 0.6 acres of forest absorbing carbon.
5. 0.9 tonnes of waste recycled etc.
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Volume 5 Issue 1
CONCLUSION
In looking at the components selected and
the simulation created before the actual
construction of different grid inverter,
MPPT technology, everything was built in
mind for the purpose of efficiency and
keeping power losses to a minimum. Here
a 2.5KW transformer-less grid-tie inverter
using new sinusoidal pulse width
modulation along with immittance
conversion topology and dual stage boost
converter and dual stage buck converter
have been presented. Another grid-tie-
inverter with transformer is designed
which uses IC 555 and step up transformer
and step-up transformer. Both the inverters
are simulated using software and the
performance was satisfactory. The voltage
and frequency obtained ware in line with
the grid. Both the inverters provide
constant voltage and current at the output
which makes it an economical and
efficient inverter. The rooftop grid-tied
solar system is feasible, economical, and
environment-friendly. It is found that the
rooftop grid-tied system is a blessing for a
small country like Bangladesh where
electricity rate is higher and power
demand is always growing. By utilizing
the roof space anybody can participate in
 Journal of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources
the country economy as well as develop
the individual economy. Bangladesh has
no rules and regulation as to the size of
rooftop solar PV system like other county
has. As a result, we can set as many panels
on the roof up to an affordable condition.
The electricity demand is increasing in a
rapid way and because of it; the power
company would feel happy to buy the
power.
REFERENCES
1. World Bank open data; Accessed on 03
January 2018, https://data.worldbank.or
g/indicator/EG.USE.ELEC.KH.PC.
2. Y.-C-Kuo & T.-J. Liang. Novel
maximum-power-point-tracking
controller for photovoltaic energy
conversion system. IEEE Transactions
on Industry Electronics. June 2001;
48(3): pp. 594–601.
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3. M. H. Rashid. Power Electronics. New
Delhi, India: Prentice-Hall of India
Private Limited. 2007: pp. 147–265.
4. N. Mohan, T.M. Undeland & W. P.
Robbins, Power Electronics. Kundli,
India: Replica Press Pvt. Ltd., 2003:
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5. S. B. Kjaer, J. K. Pedersen & F.
Blaabjerg. A review of single-phase
grid-connected Inverters for
photovoltaic modules. IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications.
September/October 2005; 41: pp.
1292–1306.
6. T. K. Kwang & S. Masri. Single phase
grid ties inverter for photovoltaic
application. Proc. IEEE Sustainable
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November 2010: pp. 23–28.