Monitoring and evaluation of PV pumping system performance installed in the Algeria's Sahara city of Adrar

Abstract

The Sunbelt area like Algeria, specially the Saharan medium by its arid nature and the availability of huge solar irradiance can be a good choice of the application of the photovoltaic (PV) system. Water pumping by PV system for irrigation purposes can be considered as one of the basic needs in the rural areas of Algeria. PV modules are given a power rating at standard test conditions (STC) of 1000W/m2, AM1.5 and a module temperature 25°C, but these conditions do not represent what is typically experienced under outdoor operation. To improve the performances of such type of systems, a study based on outdoor experimental tests is necessary, to establish how much energy is produced and the major parameters that most influence on their quality. The main objective of this paper is to review the state of the art of PV systems in the Adrar Desert of Algeria by the analysis of the operational data of the PV installation. Sophisticated Verification method so called SV method has been used to evaluate a PV pumping system performance during seven months. Differences between real and installed energy of up to 18% have been detected. It has been observed that the high output gain due to the operating condition in an extreme low module temperature. On the basis of these monitoring results, the performance of PV systems is compared to the measured performance of residential PV systems installed in other countries. The results indicated that the motor-pump efficiency changed by the pumping head.