Design Tool Photo for Sizing of Hybrid Power Systems: Program Verification

Abstract

The authors summarize the verification studies of the simulation program package PHOTO. Data from a small PV test system measured during 8 days with averaging time of 2 minutes gives information about the short timescale performance of the model. Long-term energy balance comparisons are made on the basis of 5 month data set of hourly measurements from an experimental 30 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic plant. The goal of the work has been to expand the analysis from the performance of single system components to the performance of a complete system, which consists of PV-array, wirings, controller, battery storage and load. The results show that the model is well suited for performance predictions of photovoltaic systems with battery storage.