Geospatial Analysis of Photovoltaic Mini-Grid System Performance

Abstract

We present a geographic information system (GIS)-based tool for estimating the performance of photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid system over large geographical areas. The methodology consists of geospatial analysis and mapping of the energy output and reliability of PV mini-grid system. The algorithm uses a combination of hourly solar radiation data from satellites combined with measured data on PV module and battery performance and estimated electricity consumption data. The methods also make it possible to optimize the PV array and battery storage size for a given location. Results are presented for an area covering Africa and most of Southern and Central Asia. We also investigate the effects of using Li-ion batteries instead of the traditional lead-acid batteries. The use of our spatial analysis as decision support tool could help governments, local authorities and non-governmental organizations to investigate the suitability of PV mini-grids for electrification of regions where access to electricity is lacking. In this way it is possible to identify areas where PV mini-grids are most suitable.

Spatial Site Selection for Solar Power Plants Using a GIS-Based Boolean-Fuzzy Logic Model: A Case Study of Markazi Province, Iran

“…Their developed tool could increase control of the PV plant performance and could help to "evaluate several PV module replacement strategies in a preventive maintenance program". Huld et al [28] developed a GIS-based tool to perform geospatial analysis and mapping of the energy output and reliability of PV mini-grid system for estimating the performance of photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid system over large geographical areas. Carrion et al [29] conducted a study aimed to determine the electricity generation capacity of solar photovoltaic power plants and to select solar energy site in Andalusia (Spain).…”

Trends and Variability of Surface Solar Radiation in Europe Based On Surface‐ and Satellite‐Based Data Records

“…Further, surface solar radiation (SSR) is a main constitute for the surface radiation budget (Wild et al, ) that, for example, determines the temperatures of the troposphere. Moreover, the SSR is of high importance not only for climate studies but also for many other applications, for example, solar energy production (Huld et al, ; Miglietta et al, ; Wild et al, ), agriculture (Stanhill & Cohen, ), and vegetation dynamics (e.g., Mercado et al, ).…”

Impacts of solar intermittency on future photovoltaic reliability

“…This function can be used to estimate the LOLP. Similarly to the off-grid version of a photovoltaic software 43,44 , LOLP can be defined as the fraction of days when daily energy supply (p) is lower than the daily demand (p D ). We obtain LOLP as the derived distribution of K,…”