Photovoltaic System as Source of Power In Residential Buildings: Technical and Economical Study

ABSTRACT

Most of the available studies in literature focus on using photovoltaic systems to partially empower buildings. Solar energy can help in providing a certain amount of power to buildings. Full dependence on solar energy to provide daily demands to power of a building is not considered due to high cost. Thus in this research, the economic aspects of using a photovoltaic system to provide the full power for Kuwait residential buildings is investigated. The technical information for the solar system is assumed to have a full economical study; the technical information include information about load, panel array sizing, battery size, selection of controller and the selection of inverter. The economic analysis includes the estimation of payback period, return on investment (ROI), net present value (NPV), and cost of electricity consumption based on Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) tariffs in Kuwait. Weather conditions will be included in the selection of photovoltaic system components. It was found that the monocrystalline panel is the most suitable for the solar system. The tariff values have strong effect on the feasibility to use the photovoltaic system as the only source of power. Higher values of tariffs gives smaller payback period for example payback period calculated to be 7 years for 0.015 KWD (Kuwait Dinars) per kWh of the cost of electricity. Positive net present values are achieved for using photovoltaic cells to supply full power needs for a typical apartment in Kuwait. The problem of having large surface areas of solar cells is solved by using high efficiency solar cells.

Key words::

• photovoltaic
• solar energy
• economy
• payback period
• return on investment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ehab Hussein Bani-Hani

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ehab Hussein Bani-Hani, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). He has 15 year's experiences in combustion and environmental management, water and waste water treatment. Dr. Ehab received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Jordon and Master's degree in chemical engineering at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. He currently researches in energy and renewable energy systems. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at [email protected].

Ahmad Sedaghat

Ahmad Sedaghat, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). He has over 25 year's experiences in computational and experimental techniques in mechanical, aerospace, and maritime engineering. He has developed courses and supervised engineering students in thermo-fluid and aerospace subjects and obtained industrial funds in renewable energies of wind, solar, wave, and geo-thermal. Dr. Sedaghat obtained his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He may be contacted at [email protected].