Performance evaluation and characterization of a 3-kWp grid-connected photovoltaic system based on tropical field experimental results: new results and comparative study

In this article, the results on the characterization and performance analysis of a 3-kWp grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system are presented. Six-month performance data for the system installed at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia campus are used. The analyzed system consisted of a 3-kWp monocrystalline silicon PV array connected to an indoor 3-kW inverter. Mathematical models for the system are developed based on the collected performance data to provide accurate performance models. In addition, technical criteria are applied to evaluate the performance and to assess the viability and feasibility of the system. The experimental results show that the average efficiency of the PV module is 10.11%, whereas the inverter has the average efficiency of 95.15%. In addition, the average monthly PV performance ratio and average capacity factor of the system are 77.28% and 15.70%, respectively.