ABE 132 Renewable Energy for AB Applications

Lab Exercise #2 Solar PV Sizing

Name: Mandac, Shaine Date performed:

Nino, Christine Joy Date submitted:
Obandao, Matt Justine
Pagala, Xena Faye
Pasion, Vincent Patrick

I. Introduction
Solar photovoltaic (PV) sizing is a crucial step in designing a solar power system that
meets the energy needs of a particular application efficiently and effectively. When
properly sizing a solar PV system, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial use,
there are several important factors to consider in order to guarantee both cost-
effectiveness and excellent performance. It comprises Future Expansion and Scalability,
System Components, Available Solar Resource, Energy Consumption Analysis, and
System Design and Configuration. You may build a solar power system that maximizes
energy production, minimizes expenses, and provides long-term advantages for the site
owner or operator by carefully considering these considerations and adhering to best
practices in solar PV size.

II. Objective:

To estimate the solar PV output for a facility.

III. Procedure:

1. All students was asked to make an estimate of the available energy throughout the
year for a solar PV system installed at the New College of Engineering Building, City
of Batac, Ilocos Norte on a monthly, daily basis using a system with the following
procedure and assumptions:
a. Studentes went to NREL website at the following address:
https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
b. Key in the address of the center using 16S Quiling Sur, Batac City and click Go.
They came across with the NREL PVWatts Calculator.
c. The initial page notified them of the solar resource data site latitude of about
18.05oN and longitude of 120.54oE. They clicked Go To system info.
d. They clicked the map to draw their system. They zoomed out and in to exactly
locate the New COE Building. On the map, they found the New COE building.
They installed the solar PV on the roof of the New COE building and then clicked
on the four corners of that roofing area to define the site for the solar PV. The area
is roughly 1,120 m2 or around 168.5 kW power output. They clicked the save
button.
e. The actual DC system size in kW was recorded and they keep the module type to
Standard and Array Type to Fixed (open rack). They modified the tilt to 30.61o.
They also keep the System Losses, Azimuth and Retail electricity rate to the
default values.
f. They clicked Go To PVWatts results. This shows the results of designed system
 2. The results were printed, and a table was developed for the monthly solar radiation,
AC Energy and Savings in Philippine Peso (Php) for each month including the totals
for the year. (Note: Use the default electricity rate in Php 11/kWh).

3. The assumed inverter efficiency and the capacity factor were also recorded.

4. Assuming that the New COE Building uses an average of 35 kW of power throughout
the year for an estimated energy consumption of 306,600 kWh/yr. Calculate the
percentage of savings in energy that this PV facility will contribute as well as the total
pesos saved per year. Please report the range of energy output per year and compare it
with the actual requirement of the New COE building.

5. What size of solar PV system that will make the new COE building independent of
the grid? What would be the estimated overall cost if you assume capital cost of Php
45/Wp?

Table 1. Monthly Solar Radiation, AC Energy and Savings in Philippine Peso (Php)

Month Daily Average DC Array AC System Monthly Savings in Savings in

POA Output Output Average Php (DC) Php (AC)
Irradiance (kWh) (kWh) POA
(kWh/m2/day)

1 6.735 29425.483 28127.849 188.58 323680.313 309406.339

2 6.735 27604.61 26390.769 196.952 303650.71 290298.459

3 6.735 30025.607 28698.05 197.372 330281.677 315678.55

4 6.735 26701.452 25500.187 182.392 293715.972 280502.057

5 6.735 23268.799 22166.931 154.112 255956.789 243836.241

6 6.735 23268.799 18807.122 134.288 217638.157 206878.342

7 6.735 19185.334 18227.266 124.656 211038.674 200499.926

8 6.735 16941.928 16078.788 110.488 186361.20 176866.668

9 6.735 21583.065 20564.238 146.748 237413.715 226206.618

10 6.735 23883.459 22786.221 154.14 262718.049 250648.431

11 6.735 24442.082 23342.375 160.048 268862.902 256766.125

12 6.735 23678.912 22599.6 148.288 260468.032 248595.6

Table 2. Annual Solar Irradiance
Annual Solar Irradiance Annual Solar DC Output Annual Solar AC Output
67.788 286526.018 273289.396

Table 3. Total Savings

Total Savings DC (Php) Total Savings AC (Php)
3151786.198 3006183.356

Total Savings (DC and AC in Php) 6157969.554

Graph 1. Monthly Solar Radiation

Monthly Solar Radiation

250
Solar Radiation (kWh/m2)

200

150
Average Monthly Irridiance
100

50

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Month

Graph 2. AC System Output

AC System Output
35000
30000
25000
Output (kWh)

20000
AC Output
15000
10000
5000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Month
Graph 3. Savings in Php (AC)

Savings in Php (AC)

350000
300000
250000
Savings (Pesos)

200000
Savings
150000
100000
50000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Month

Picture 1. Computing for Total Peso Saved Per Year

Picture 2. Computing for Total Solar PV Systems and Estimated overall cost:

Picture 1 shows a significant result in determining the total peso saved per year. It has
a data of 3,372,600.0, and it ranges up to 89%. On the other hand, in getting estimated overall
cost, solar pv system should be known first. We did interpolation from the production and
system size and we obtained a data of 200.6 wp, and then it will be multiplied with the capital
cost which is Php45/wp. We obtained an overall cost of Php 9,027. 00.