Technical and Economic Optimal Solutions for Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Parks

Abstract

Solar energy has shown to be a successful renewable source, wherefore large investments are planned in the upcoming decades. This work aims at developing technical and economical solutions to optimize a utility-scale grid connected solar photovoltaic park with an installed capacity of 24 MWp. Several successive simulations were automatically performed with the PVSyst software, so that each influencing parameter is individually analyzed. Moreover, a comprehensive study touching relevant aspects, such as central versus string inverters, landscape versus portrait dispositions, the optimal tilt angle (for fixed tilt systems), backtracking strategy (for single axis tracking systems), shading limit angle, and pitch is performed with the objective of finding the configuration leading to the higher grid injected energy output. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) was obtained for 12 different cases in which, for both fixed tilt and single-axis tracking (SAT), central and string inverters and portrait/landscape disposition were considered. The lowest LCOE achieved was 32.23 €/MWh, which is a clear indication of the competitiveness of the solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology. The most economic viable solution is characterized by the employment of an SAT system with the backtracking strategy, together with string inverters and module portrait disposition.