Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2023
Journal Name
Energies
Abstract
This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the performance of the largest Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic System in Burkina Faso from 2019 to 2021. The research utilized measured data and simulated the plant’s performance using the PVGIS database. The results revealed that the months with high solar radiation were the most energy-productive, indicating a direct correlation between solar irradiance and energy generation. During the rainy season (July and August), the PV plant exhibited the highest conversion efficiency. Conversely, the hot season (March and April) was associated with the lowest conversion efficiencies, with module temperatures reaching approximately 47 ◦C. Efficiency decreased from 12.29% in 2019 to 12.10% in 2021. The system’s performance ratio ranged from 80.73% in 2019 to 79.36% in 2021, while the capacity factor varied from 19.89% in 2019 to 19.33% in 2021. The final yield, measured in hours per day, was 4.89 h/d in 2019, 4.61 h/d in 2020, and 4.92 h/d in 2021. These findings highlight the deterioration in the performance of the Zagtouli PV plant over time. The study emphasizes the utility of using PVGIS-SARAH2 to forecast solar radiation and estimate energy output in PV systems. A semi-automatic cleaning system is used to clean the modules. This cleaning mechanism is inefficient because it is inconsistent. To increase the PV plant’s effectiveness, improved cleaning systems with more advanced mechanisms are required. This research, the first of its kind on the largest PV power plant connected to Burkina Faso’s national grid, serves as a valuable model for other power plants currently under construction or in the planning stages
Keywords
performance analysis, grid-connected PV system, temperature effect, conversion efficiency
Rsif Scholar Name
Sami Florent Palm
Thematic Area
Energy including Renewables
Africa Host University (AHU)
University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya
Funding Statement
Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET)-Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF).
Recommended Citation
Palm, S. F., Youssef, L., Waita, S., Nyangonda, T. N., Radouane, K., & Chebak, A. (2023). Performance evaluation of Burkina Faso’s 33 MW largest grid-connected PV power plant. Energies, 16 (17), 6177. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176177