Site Selection of Solar PV Power Plant at Bathinda

Abstract

In this paper, the technical and economical feasibility study of the photovoltaic (PV) power plant at Bathinda city in the Punjab state of INDIA has been carried out. For this, solar irradiance of this location has been used to assess the annual solar energy potential of the selected site PV plant. The complete work has been carried out using PVsyst simulation software. This study has been carried out to feed the electrical energy generation deficit and the increasing future electrical energy demand of Punjab State. At present, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is paying ₹ 9.04 per kWh to the private players and the other states to procure electrical energy to meet the consumer load demand. In this work, it has been found that the actual cost to the company generating electrical power using PV is around ₹ 3 per kWh after including the capital cost, loan interests, depreciation, running charges and maintenance costs. So, the proposed PV generation setup definitely will prove to be beneficial for profit-making proposition for the company supplying electrical energy to PSPCL. Besides, reduction in carbon and GHG emissions with this proposed generation has also been evaluated, which will save the environment from global warming. This is due to the fact that most of the electrical power generation in the Punjab state of India is through thermal power.