Pathway to investigate and assess the performance of solar ON-Grid plant

Abstract

This study investigates the long-term performance of a 52-kW on-grid solar PV plant in the Mechanical ‘C’ block, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST). This article delivers a simple approach that would act as a pivot for PV system assessment. Therefore, methodologies like Energy yield analysis, Energy distribution, and Life cycle costing are implemented. This empowers the methods to facilitate pre-auditing, energy conservation, and economic analysis. The performance ratio and a capacity factor of the 52-kW PV plant in 2020 are determined as 60% and 12.8%, respectively. The study offers that the plant has a less simple payback period and energy pack time for 2020. From this study, the issues identified in the plant are highlighted with the solution. It also paves the way for the researchers to suggest the solutions for the underutilisation of the plant, especially in the situations like fault occurrence, pandemic conditions, etc.