Economic and performance evaluation of grid-connected residential solar photovoltaic systems in Northwest China

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to assess and compare the economy and performance of a hypothetical 5 kWp grid-connected residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system with and without batteries in Northwest China. The performance and economic analysis of the grid-connected residential PV system in five different locations (Xi’an, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, and Urumqi) of Northwest China has been performed through System Advisor Model (SAM) software developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) using the typical meteorological year (TMY) data of EnergyPlus weather database. The results indicate that the feasible system comprises 16 Shanghai JA Solar Technology JAM6-72-275 mono-crystalline modules rated at 275Wp, two GCI-3K-2G-H inverters rated at 2,990 W, and without flooded lead acid battery storage. The grid-connected PV systems are economically viable in the five locations, whereas the grid-connect PV/battery systems are not viable under the existing assumptions. The loan term has the greatest impact on the real LCOE and NPV compared to the considered sensitivity variables when the range of variation is within ±20%.

KEYWORDS:

• Performance
• economic
• grid-connected residential solar photovoltaic system
• levelized cost of electricity
• net present value

Additional information

Funding

This work is financially supported by the Scientific Research Project of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (Grant No. 2017NXY41), the Talent Introduction Project of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (Grant No. 4177020), the “Subject Team Convergence Project” Construction Project of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (Subject Leader Cultivation Object) (Grant No. 4129105), the Key Supporting Construction Discipline (Electrical Engineering) of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (Grant No. 4119007), and the Teacher Teaching Development Project (2018) of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (Grant No. 4189019);Teacher Teaching Development Project (2018) of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University [4189019].

Notes on contributors

Chong Li

Chong Li, associate professor of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, was born in 1980. He received his M.S. degree in Chemical Process Machinery from Nanjing University of Technology in 2008, and his Ph.D. degree in Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering from Hohai University in 2013. His research area is renewable energy power generation technology.