Design and comparative analysis of grid-connected BIPV system with monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon in Kandahar climate

Department of Energy Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Abstract

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system is a new and modern technique for solar energy production in Kandahar. Due to its location, Kandahar has abundant sources of solar energy. People use both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar PV modules for the grid-connected solar PV system, and they don’t know that which technology performs better for BIPV system. This paper analysis the parameters, described by IEC61724 “Photovoltaic System Performance Monitoring Guidelines for Measurement, Data Exchange and Analysis” to evaluate which technology shows better performance for the BIPV system. The monocrystalline silicon BIPV system has a 3.1% higher array yield than the polycrystalline silicon BIPV system. The final yield is 0.2% somewhat higher for monocrystalline silicon than polycrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline silicon has 0.2% and 4.5% greater yearly yield factor and capacity factors than polycrystalline silicon respectively. Monocrystalline silicon shows 0.3% better performance than polycrystalline silicon. With 1.7% reduction and 0.4% addition in collection losses and useful energy produced respectively, monocrystalline silicon solar PV system shows good performance than polycrystalline silicon solar PV system. But system losses are the same for both technologies. The monocrystalline silicon BIPV system injects 0.2% more energy to the grid than the polycrystalline silicon BIPV system.