A Simple Selection Method of PV Systems for University Campuses

Abstract

This paper briefly outlines part of the research work being carried out on the application of the photovoltaic systems to cover universities’ electrical energy needs, with due consideration to the technical, architectural, economic, social. and legal aspects and impacts of this application. The paper considers optimizing the PV system selection objectives and methodology with a case study application. at a university campus in Ankara, Turkey. The main objective here is to develop a practical simple method of selecting an optimum PV system that gives the maximum energy yield possible in a certain period of one year, with the minimum specific energy cost per kWh, where a multiple-variable multi-criteria decision-making making method is applied, to help designers and system engineers in selecting the optimum system. The developed method is demonstrated in the example of the typical case, where the recommended PV system was turned out to be at an Azmuth angle of 0 degrees, the PV technology was monocrystelline Silicon, the annual electrical energy yield per 100 m2 of PV modules surface area 22.4 MWH/Year, the specific electrical energy cost was 0.15 Euos/Kwh, as a first merit option, making a difference of around 13% of saving compared with the 10th last option. The work concludes that a viable PV application is feasible, encouraging its application in various campuses provided that comprehensive planning and careful considerations are given to the related aspects.