Empirical and numerical-based predictive analysis of a single-axis PV system under semi-arid climate conditions of Pakistan

Power generation from fossil fuels is the biggest challenge in the next half of the century. Alternative power generation techniques such as solar photovoltaic (PV) show potential to act as a future fuel with a challenge to efficiently convert the harvested solar energy into electrical power. This investigation conclusively focused on setting a 2.160-kW solar PV system capable of working at a higher efficiency by developing a mechanical structure that optimizes power production and minimizes energy losses. In addition to that, solar PV system efficiencies at various tracking positions, performance coefficients during rainy and sunny days, and system degradation rates have also been investigated. The PVsyst v6.8 simulation tool was used to obtain the simulated results, which were compared with the actual experimental results. The parameters considered for the investigations include ambient temperature, irradiance, solar PV module surface temperature, solar PV voltage and current, wind velocity, and atmospheric turbidity. The solar PV system was evaluated based on two modes, namely, M 1 (no tracking/fixed type) and M 2 (manual tracking by changing the position of the solar PV system every hour). The predictive results obtained using PVsyst v6.8 concluded that total energy production from the installed system was 3,242 kWh/yr and 3,984 kWh/yr for M 1 and M 2 , respectively. The performance ratio (PR), obtained from simulation, was 72% and 78% for M 1 and M 2, respectively, which was consistent with the experimental results, i.e., 70% and 72% for M 1 and M 2 , respectively. Similarly, the power conversion efficiencies under standard temperature and conditions for both modes, simulated and experimental, were found to be 16.50% and 12.75%, respectively. The estimated degradation rate was observed in the range of −0.6% to −5.0%.