Monitoring and performance analysis of grid connected photovoltaic under different climatic conditions in south Algeria

The main goal of this study is to present the effect of weather conditions on grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system performance installed in the Saharan area of south Algeria (Adrar) for the year 2010 has been analyzed on daily base. This region is characterized by high ambient temperature in the summer, strong solar insolation potential and low humidity rate. The data measurement was carried out in the Unit of Research in Renewable energy URERMS in various daily climatic condition (clear, cloudy and Sandstorm day). The performance evaluation based on the monitoring of PV array and inverter performance during the system operation derived parameters included final yield, reference yield, performance ratio and system efficiency. The analysis shows that the lowest value was in the performance ratio and efficiency of the PV module, system and the inverter, and the maximum value was in the capture and system losses, since the values in clear day were 76.5%, 10.88%, 94.65%, 10.29%, 1.18 h/day and 0.26 h/day respectively due to high average ambient temperature 32.3 °C. The lowest value was in reference yield, array yield, final yield in sandstorm day were 2.65 kW h/kWp/day, 2.17 kW h/kWp/day and 2.12 kW h/kWp/day respectively due to low level of solar irradiation was 2.65 kW h/m2, which caused by high wind speed 6.9 m/s with sand dust particles. The experimental results show that the lowest values of the system efficiency and performance ratio (10.29% and 76.5% respectively) caused by the high module temperature equal to 41.1 °C in the clear day, and the fast-changing of the solar irradiance is caused by variation of clouds cover or dust storm affects the energy generated and stability of the PV system.