A comparative study for different sizing of solar PV system under net energy metering scheme at university buildings

Abstract

Malaysia has moved forward by promoting the use of renewable energy such as solar PV to the public to reduce dependency on fossil fuel-based energy resources. Due to the concern on high electricity bill, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is keen to install solar PV system as an initiative for energy saving program to its buildings. The objective of this paper is to technically and economically evaluate the different sizing of solar PV system for university buildings under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme. The study involves gathering of solar energy resource information, daily load profile of the buildings, sizing PV array together with grid-connected inverters and the simulation of the designed system using PVsyst software. Based on the results obtained, the amount of solar energy generated and used by the load per year is between 5.10% and 20.20% from the total annual load demand. Almost all solar energy generated from the system will be self-consumed by the loads. In terms of profit gained, the university could reduce its electricity bill approximately between a quarter to one million ringgit per annum depending on the sizing capacity. Beneficially, the university could contribute to the environmental conservation by avoiding up to 2,000 tons of CO2 emission per year.