Rooftop Solar PV Potential, Energy Consumption Profile, and Techno-Economic Analysis for Woldia City, Ethiopia

Gaining insights into local energy usage patterns and solar resource availability is crucial as the demand for sustainable energy solutions continues to grow. This study examines integrated assessment (the energy consumption profile and the physical, geographical, technical, and economic feasibility of rooftop photovoltaic systems) in Woldia City, Ethiopia. It establishes a standard energy consumption profile baseline for each sector of Woldia City and similar cities. This data can be utilized for future research and monitoring progress toward sustainable energy goals. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from utility records and qualitative surveys to evaluate energy consumption across each sector. The study reveals that in Woldia City, 10% of building roofs are flat, 60% have shallow pitches of 15 degrees, and 30% have steeper pitches of 20 degrees. For pitched roofs, photovoltaic panels should be mounted directly. For flat roofs, a tilt angle of 12 degrees is recommended to maximize solar radiation capture. The physical assessment confirms that rooftops in Woldia City are suitable for solar installation, with 12-degree tilted panels proving more effective than those installed at 15 or 20 degrees. The city's total daily energy consumption is 983.05 MWh/day, with a peak demand of 213.62 MWh/day at 6:00 AM. Meeting this demand would require 364,361 panels (475Wp JMK475M-7RL3, JKM475M-7RL3-V) covering 819812.25 m². The total available rooftop area, determined by combining GIS with the constant value method, is 644,161.43 m², enabling rooftop PV systems to supply 79% of the total energy consumption. To achieve this, 287,846 panels, 265,442 batteries (12.8V, 200Ah at DOD 80%) LP-12200, and 180,778 1000WPV18-1012 VPK inverters would be needed to generate 776.61 MWh/day. An economic analysis was conducted to evaluate the costs of photovoltaic panels, batteries, inverters, system balancing, replacement costs, and the projected savings from energy generation. Over 25 years, the total grid cost would reach 67.36 billion ETB, while transitioning to a rooftop solar photovoltaic system would involve a cost of 61.805 billion ETB, resulting in a net profit of 5.56 billion ETB and a payback period of 22.94 years. The findings indicate that with supportive policies and financial incentives, rooftop photovoltaic systems can significantly contribute to Woldia City's transition toward renewable energy.