Design and Economic Analysis of a Photovoltaic System: A Case Study

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.1.3.65-73

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Article Info
Published: 30-10-2012
Section: Original Research Article
In Vol 1, No 3 (2012): October 2012
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This paper presents the design analysis of a photovoltaic (PV) system to power the CAD/CAM Laboratory at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. Life cycle cost and break-even point analyses are also carried out to assess the economic viability of the system. The unit cost of electricity for the designed PV system is high compared to the current unit cost of the municipally supplied electricity, but will be competitive with lowering cost of PV system components and favourable government policies on renewable energy. The approach and data provided are useful for designing solar systems in the area. The automated MS Excel spreadsheet developed could be used for the design and economic analyses of PV system in any other geographical region once the input data are sorted. Since about 90% of businesses in Nigeria currently own diesel generators, it is expected that future work should be devoted to the optimum combination of PV-Battery-Diesel system in electricity generation for optimum economic benefits to the country.

Keywords: photovoltaic system design, renewable energy technology, solar energy economics
  1. COC Oko 
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt,, Nigeria
  2. E.O Diemuodeke 
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt,, Nigeria
  3. E.O Omunakwe 
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt,
  4. E Nnamdi 
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt,, Nigeria
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