Performance evaluation of 830 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic power plant at Kamuzu International Airport-Malawi

The paper presents performance evaluation for 830 kWp grid-connected PV power plant at Kamuzu International Airport in Malawi. The study used both measured and simulated data for the period September 2013 to August 2017. The PV array comprises 3540 solar modules of Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer (HIT) technology; each module was rated 235 Wp and tilted at 30 degrees. The annual four-year average array, inverter and overall system efficiencies were 15.3%, 95.2% and 14.6%, respectively. An average annual capacity factor of 17.7% was obtained and the annual four-year average performance ratio was 79.5%. The results from this study are compared with those of representative PV power plants reported elsewhere. (C) 2019 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.