Advances in Reliability of Solar PV Systems

Abstract

The problems of solar PV system reliability and its improvements have been addressed in this paper. Reliability is the ability of solar PV system to perform adequately without failure during the intended period of time under the operating environmental condition encountered. It also considers the capability of the system to cater the needs of the load that it has been designed for. In this situation, the energy balance between the energy generating unit (array), storage unit (battery bank) and load becomes important. However, the consideration of unit array output instead of equivalent hour full sunlight (EHFS) can ameliorate the system capability to serve the load at a particular location and effective unit array output (EUAO) for a wider region. The consideration of quality and redundancy is also found to significantly help the improvement of reliability.