Rooftop solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant – One year measured performance and simulations

In this study, 1-year real life performance of a 30kWp rooftop solar PV power plant installed at the Köprübaşı Vocational School of the Manisa Celal Bayar University was evaluated and is presented here. The PV plant is comprised of 116 polycrystalline modules mounted 15 cm proud of the roof surface providing a gap between roof surface and the bottom of the panels for air circulation. The panels were tilted at 12° with horizontal and orientated at an azimuth angle of −20°. Measured power output of the plant was compared against the predictions of a spreadsheet based simulation model developed. Results were found to be in excellent agreement with the measured values. Annual array yield, final yield and reference yield values of the system that produced 45,592 kWh of energy, under an average 1,818 kWh/m2/a radiation incident on the panels inclined surfaces, were found to be 4.25, 4.97 and 4.16 h/d, respectively. The annual performance ratio of the system has been calculated as 83.61% and the capacity factor 17.35%. It has been determined that the power plant displaced 23.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2018.