One-year 60 kWp Photovoltaic System Energy Performance at CINVESTAV, Mexico City

Since June 2012, the Research Center of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), located at Mexico City has installed 60 kilowatt-peak (kWp) photovoltaic (PV) system. PV system energy performances are reported together with the measured solar irradiation, PV module temperature and wind velocity. The grid-connected PV system consists of 240 PV modules of 250 Wp each, which are connected to 5 inverters to convert three phase 240 VAC. The injected energy to the grid, is used mainly for the building illuminations. We report the general PV system electric performances as a function of the seasonal solar irradiation and whether variations. The produced average energy during June 2012, was about 250 kWh/day, with a minimum and maximum of 100 and 350 kWh/day, respectively. In the same month, the PV module average operating temperature was between 55 to 62 °C. The best energy produced month was February 2013 with 310 kWh as daily-based average.