Performance evaluation of an off-grid photovoltaic system in Saudi Arabia

The paper presents the performance evaluation analysis of a 5.28 kW installed capacity isolated grid photovoltaic power plant installed at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Saudi Arabia in June 2010. The plant was equipped with temperature, solar radiation intensity, and PV (Photovoltaic) panel power output recording sensors for performance evaluation of the plant. The analysis presented the effect of PV surface temperature and dust collected on the panels on the power output of individual arrays and total power from complete plant. Furthermore, the PV panel performance was studied by DC (Direct current) performance ratio variation with PV panel backside surface temperature. Hourly mean energy yield was found to be decreasing with increasing PV panel surface temperature during the months of July & August 2010. The daily energy yield showed a decreasing trend with days of the month which could be accounted for dust accumulation on the PV panel surface. The DC performance ratio also showed a decreasing trend with increasing PV panel surface temperature.

► The study presents the effect of local weather conditions on the performance of a 5.28 kW isolated grid photovoltaic system.
► Local weather conditions effect was studied based on energy yield on diurnal and daily basis DC performance ratio.
► Hourly mean energy yield was found to be decreasing with increasing PV panel surface temperature.
► Daily energy yield decreased with days which could be accounted for dust accumulation on the PV panel surface.
► The DC performance ratio also showed a decreasing trend with increasing PV panel surface temperature.