Experimental performance assessment of a 2.25 kWp Rooftop PV system installed in the desert environment: a case study of Ghardaia, Algeria

The outcomes of an experimental study performed on a single grid-connected photovoltaic plant on the roof of parking are disclosed in the present paper. The PV system is located in southern Algeria (Latitude 32.26 N degrees, and longitude 03.46E degrees) at the Renewable Energy Applied Research Unit (URAER), Ghardaia, Algeria. This location is a desert and with a semi-arid climate. The performance results had been monitored for one year 2018. The present study aims to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on output parameters of PV systems. The results of some index parameters such as performance ratio (PR), array losses, system losses and yields (reference yield, array yields and system yields) are presented and discussed. Experimental results show that an essential variation in performance parameters has been seen for different seasons. The results show the maximum energy generated, reference yield, array yield, final yield, capacitor factor, capture and system losses in summer were 307,11 kW h/kWp, 5,35 kW h/kWp/day, 5,01 kW h/kWp/day, 4,74 kW h/kWp/day, 20,17%, 0,34 h/day and 0,27 h/day, respectively, while the maximum value of performance ratio (PR) was observed in winter (93, 06%). The grid is fed with a power of 3327, 15 kWh along the year.