Energy and exergy assessments of a large grid-connected PV installation under desert climatic conditions in Algeria

Abstract In this study, a performance analysis of a 20 MW grid-connected PV plant located in Adrar in southern Algeria is carried out. Energetic and exergetic analyses of the PV plant have been performed. The results show that the annual energy produced by the PV system was 35892.2 MWh, ranging between 2725.16 and 3447.54 MWh in the months of July and March, respectively, which is close to the expected theoretical value of 36414 MWh. The annual average performance ratio of subsystems 1 and 2 and the PV plant are 72.6%, 70.83% and 71.71%, respectively. The annual average energy efficiency of subsystems 1 and 2 and the PV plant are 10.95%, 10.69% and 10.82%, respectively. The capture losses of the PV plant were higher and more than 1 h/d around the year. The annual monthly average exergy efficiency and thermal exergy were found to be 4.96% and 5.32 MW, respectively. The decrease in exergy efficiency values was matched by an increase in the values of thermal exergy loss, solar radiation, wind speed, and ambient temperature, where the thermal exergy loss has the highest effect. Similarly, the most influential environmental parameter on thermal exergy loss is solar radiation, with a determination coefficient of 80%.