Design a solar photovoltaic system for a Residential home with 2000k Wh energy u

Question

Design a solar photovoltaic system for a Residential home with 2000k Wh energy usage/month, using PV cells with 15% efficiency. The home is resided in an area with an average 5k Wh/m^2 sun energy and receive bout 5 hours sun/day. The solar panels are made in 0.5m times 1.0 m size. The price for each solar panel is $100, including installation. a) Calculate how many solar panels are needed? b) Calculate the cost and estimate the time of breakeven cost, if the electricity from grid cost 20 cents per k Wh.

Explanation / Answer

a)

Total energy to be generated per month using solar is 2000 kwh

Available solar energy in that location is 5 kwh per m2

But the efficiency of solar panel is 15% i.e it can convert the 15 % to electricity out of 100 % solar energy i.e 15% of 5kwh per m2 = 15%*5 = 0.75 kwh/m2.

Each panel occupies an area of 0.5 m2. So from each panel we can produce 0.375 kwh.

Availability of sun is 5 hours. So total energy produced from the each solar panel in a day is 0.375*5 = 1.875 kwh/day/panel.

To meet total energy per month (2000 kwh/month) solar generated per day = 2000/30 (by considering 30 days in a month) = 66.66 kwh/day frommsolar panels.

To meet 66.66 kwh, required solar panels = 66.66 / 1.875 = 35.55 panels.~ 36 panels

b)

Each panel cost is 100$ so 36panels cost is = 3600$

Energy cost from grid for a month = 2000*0.2$ = 400 $ /month.

Time of break even cost = 3600$/400$ = 4 months. with in 4 months invesment will be recovered.

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