Performance Analysis and Economic Assessment of Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Systems with MPPT Optimisation in Semi-Arid Indian Climates

India's solar energy trajectory, anchored by the 500 GW renewable capacity target by 2030 under the National Solar Mission, requires rapid deployment of grid-tied photovoltaic systems across diverse climatic zones. Rajasthan's semi-arid belt — receiving annual global horizontal irradiance (GHI) exceeding 5.8 kWh/m²/day on average — represents India's highest-potential solar resource zone, yet systematic comparative studies of PV module technology performance, MPPT algorithm efficiency, and techno-economic viability under actual field conditions remain sparse relative to the deployment scale the region demands. This study presents a twelve-month field performance investigation of three PV module technologies (monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and CdTe thin-film) at a 10 kWp grid-tied test facility in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, combined with simulation-based comparison of five MPPT algorithms and economic analysis of system sizing from 0.5 kWp to 100 kWp.Key findings include: monocrystalline modules deliver highest annual energy yield (1,742 kWh/kWp) but exhibit greater thermal derating losses during peak summer; thin-film CdTe shows superior temperature coefficient performance (−0.22%/°C versus −0.41%/°C for monocrystalline) that narrows the annual yield gap in high-temperature months. The Perturb-and-Observe MPPT algorithm converges to maximum power point within 4.2 ms, outperforming fixed-voltage control by 7.3% in annual energy capture under fluctuating irradiance conditions. LCOE analysis establishes economic viability from 3 kWp onwards (LCOE ₹6.8/kWh versus grid purchase at ₹8.4/kWh) with project IRR exceeding 14% for systems above 10 kWp under current subsidy frameworks