Location and orientation based LCOE: Simplified visual analysis and generalization of the levelized cost of electricity from storageless photovoltaic systems

This article describes a multidimensional visualization approach to the analysis of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), which shows that the influence of a single parameter deviates with respect to different values of other parameters. It also demonstrates that the proportionality of the LCOE to the photovoltaic power output makes the same data set suitable for analyzing the dependence of LCOE on the location and orientation of the PV system (PVS). Conversion of the Photovoltaic Electricity Potential map into the LCOE-map is demonstrated in the example of Uzbekistan. A method is presented, which simply converts the PV orientation-dependent photovoltaic power output data into the PV orientation-dependent LCOE data. The universal approach to calculate degrees of freedom for the azimuthal angle and inclination angle of the PV is demonstrated in the example of the LCOE minima fluctuations of 2%. The demonstrated methods can help decision making by initially assessing the potential for installing a PV system in various locations and reducing the balance of system (BOS) by integrating the system into a building, taking into account the orientation of the integrated surface, and its impact on electricity costs.

Automated summary

This article introduces a multidimensional visualization approach to analyzing LCOE, demonstrating the relationship between parameters and the impact of PV system location and orientation on LCOE. The article also presents a simple method for converting PV power output data into LCOE data, and demonstrates a universal method for calculating the azimuth and inclination angles of the PV. These methods can help evaluate the potential of installing PV systems in different locations and reduce the cost of building integrated systems.