Performance analysis of a grid connected photovoltaic system in northeastern Brazil

This article presents the performance analysis of a 2.2 kWp photovoltaic system installed at the State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil (latitude 3.40°S, longitude 38.33°W and 31 m above sea level). The system was monitored from June 2013 to May 2014. In the measured period the annual energy yield was 1685.5 kWh/kWp. The average daily reference, array and final yields of the system were 5.6 kWh/kWp, 4.9 kWh/kWp and 4.6 kWh/kWp, respectively. The annual average daily array and system losses were 1.05 kWh/kWp and the annual average array, system and inverter efficiencies were 13.3%, 12.6% and 94.6%, respectively. The performance ratio and capacity factor were 82.9% and 19.2%, respectively. These numbers highlight the relatively good performance of PV systems installed in the northeast region of Brazil.