Performance analysis of A grid-connected solar PV plant in Nis, republic of Serbia

The article presents basic data on a 2 kW (rooftop) solar PV plant installed on the building of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics (FSM building) in Nit (Republic of Serbia) and the equipment for the estimation of its performance and energy efficiency depending on the real climate conditions (inverter, communication system, automatic meteorological station, etc.). The aim of the article is to apply the obtained results in the integration of solar energy generation into a transmission network in order to increase the use of the solar PV plants for the commercial purposes in Serbia. The results of the experimental determination of energy efficiency and other characteristic parameters of the solar PV plant installed on the FSM building in Nit are presented for the period from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 (global solar energy, ambient temperature, wind speed, generated electrical energy, etc.). It was found that in 2013 the annual energy efficiency of the solar PV plant on the FSM building in Nit was 10.07%, as well as that it decreased with the increase of the ambient temperature. The annual mean value of the performance ratio of the solar PV plant was 93.6%, its annual capacity factor was 12.88%, and the integration of this renewable energy generation into the transmission network in Nit was considered satisfactory in 2013. The obtained data could be used as guidelines for the application of solar PV plants in other countries with a similar climate. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.