The mathematical model for finding an optimal PV system configuration for the given installation area providing a maximal lifetime profit

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 144; pp. 750 - 757
• Main Authors: Topić, Danijel, Knežević, Goran, Fekete, Krešimir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2017; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Electric power plants; Electricity generation; Inter-row partial shading; Mathematical models; Optimal configuration; Optimization; PV power plant; Shading factor; Solar energy; Shading factor; Optimal configuration; Inter-row partial shading; PV power plant
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.02.011

•The optimization model finding PV configuration with maximal profit is proposed.•Introduced shading factor considers the shading influence on module output power.•Determination of shading factor according to measurement results is presented. A mathematical model for finding an optimal photovoltaic (PV) system configuration for the given installation area obtaining a maximal profit during a PV power plant lifetime is presented in this paper. The model gives an optimal number of rows and a module angle taking into account the influence of the inter-row shading on the PV module output power by introducing a shading factor which depends on the ratio of a sunny part of the module and a total module surface. In order to calculate the profit of the PV installation, a net present value (NPV) methodology is used. The model is programmed in MATLAB software. The case study results demonstrate a huge influence of the inter-row module partial shading on finding the optimal PV configuration using the given PV module.