Design and simulation of a rooftop PV System in Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus

Abstract

Abstract Solar photovoltaic (PV) system is proven to be a future-proof type of power generation for growing economies. There are almost zero pollutants released, low maintenance cost with high reliability as the lifespan of a solar PV stretches up to 30 years, a well-sought alternative form of sustainable energy. Moreover, the electricity consumption in Taylor’s University (TU), Malaysia is very high, as a consequence, a huge fraction of the fund is used to settle an RM450,000 electricity bill on average annually. In this paper, the study focused on how to reduce electricity consumption in TU by proposing a design of a comprehensive solar PV system. PVSYST and Sketchup software are used to design and analyze the PV system. In the present study, a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) mounted on the available roof space of TU is investigated. Also, a detailed economic analysis that includes the payback period and annual savings achieved through the proposed PV installation is analyzed. Annual savings of RM 267,621.00 can be made upon utilizing the proposed idea. Besides that, TU would be able to recover the initial investment cost in approximately 8 years of payback period, proving that the implementation of a 433kWp of solar PV unit is a smart option to address the sustainable energy goals.