Theoretical and Real Efficiency of the Solar Power Plant in a 2-Year Cycle

Hubert Latała , Krzysztof Nęcka , Sławomir Kurpaska , Anna Karbowniczak , Natalia Mioduszewska

Abstract

When assessing the amount of energy produced, it is necessary to consider the scope of changes in parameters of PV modules guaranteed by the manufacturer during their operation. In addition, the production of energy during the use of the PV plant is also dependent on the conversion efficiency of the generated DC voltage to sinusoidal voltage in inverters, as well as on many other factors. Based on the conducted tests, the actual amount of available solar radiation energy and its structure in particular months of the analysed years were determined. This analysis was supplemented by the characteristics of the variability of the daily amount of available solar radiation energy at the location of the PV plant in individual months. For the same period of time, calculations of the amount of energy produced in the PV power plant were made based on the indications of the AC energy meters. The structure of the actual amount of electricity produced in polycrystalline modules for individual months in a two-year cycle was also determined and the characteristics of the variability of daily electricity production in individual months were presented. The analysis shows that in a two-year research cycle, both the average daily amounts of available solar energy in a given month as well as energy yields from polycrystalline modules do not differ significantly between 2016 and 2017. However, statistically significant differences between the amount of available solar radiation energy and the amount of generated energy in PV modules in particular months were observed.