Operational Performance Assessment of Rooftop PV Systems in the Maldives

In the Maldives, solar energy system adoption has recently increased in line with the goal of net zero emissions by 2030; nevertheless, there is a notable absence of genuine operational performance assessments to validate the systems' feasibility and pinpoint improvement areas. This article conducts an operational evaluation of a 6.6 kWp rooftop PV system located at STECO's bus station in K. Male', Maldives. The operational performance study employs the international standard parameters outlined in IEC 61724, utilizing real-site data available in 2022. Furthermore, PVsyst software is employed to model the system under investigation and to compare the projected results with actual data measured from the physical installation. The primary metrics employed to assess and compare the viability of solar PV system performance in the Maldives for the first time are the performance ratio, capacity utilization factor, and overall system efficiency. For the system under consideration, the simulated annual values for these metrics were 81.56%, 18.98%, and 13.87%, respectively. However, the system under investigation exhibited operating performance figures of 69.37%, 16.14, and 11.8% for the same metrics. These findings will provide insightful information to stakeholders looking to install solar PV systems across the island nation, including areas with similar climatic conditions.