Marseille Residential Roof
LOCATION
Location
24 Boulevard Vert Clos,
Marseille, France
Co-ordinates
Lat: 43.3739
Lon: 5.3595
Elevation
150 m
55 m
DATA ACQUISITION (NATURAL RESOURCE)
Fig. 1: Hourly averaged daily DNI data (Y2021)
Fig. 2: Horizon and Sunpath
Fig. 3: Monthly DHI & GHI data (Y2021)
OTHER STATS
Specific photovoltaic power output
Yearly Global horizontal irradiation
Yearly Diffuse horizontal irradiation
Specific photovoltaic power output
Air Temperature
Optimum Tilt
Specific photovoltaic power output
Yearly Global horizontal irradiation
Yearly Diffuse horizontal irradiation
Specific photovoltaic power output
Air Temperature
Optimum Tilt
LOCATION SURVEY
Fig. 5: Dimensions of Project Site
Fig. 6: Roof Tilt – 25o
Design
Major Components
PV Panels
For the first iteration, the choice for Jinko Solar were made on the decision to choose a reputed Tier 1- Manufacturer. Mono-crystalline Modules were chosen to maximise energy output.
Selection of Modules are based on the following factors in the order of most to least importance:
- Cost
- Technology Type
- Efficiency
- Availability
- Warranty & Service Support
Specification Sheet
General Data
Manufacturer | Jinko Solar |
Model Name | JKM 305M-60-V |
Type | Monocrystalline |
Model Dimensions | 1665 mm × 1002 mm × 35 mm |
Weight | 19 kg |
Electrical Properties
Rated Power | 305 kW |
Power Tolerance | + 3%/ -0% |
MPP Voltage (VMPP) | 32.8 V |
MPP Current (IMPP) | 9.3 A |
Open Circuit Current (VOC) | 39.2 V |
Short Circuit Current (ISC) | 10.12 A |
Module Efficiency | 18.73 % |
Power Temperature Coefficient | -0.39 %/oC |
Voltage Temperature Coefficient | -0.127 %/oC |
Current Temperature Coefficient | -0.03 %/oC |
Warranty
Period | 25 years |
LID | 3 % |
Annual Degradation | 0.67 % |
Total
PV Modules per String | 13 |
No of Strings | 1 |
Total Modules | 13 |
Unit Nominal Power | 305 Wp |
Nominal Power | 3.7 kWp |
Tilt | 25o |
Azimuth | 43.1o |
Module Area | 21.3o |
Inverter
An inverter is required to convert unregulated DC signals to regulated AC signals. A choice has to first be made between the two types of inverters i.e., string or centralised inverter. Since the project is small, string inverters are used instead of central inverters. These inverters have MPPT functionality and are less affected by shading. These types of inverters are also easier to maintain or replace.
A SMA string inverter (Sunny Boy 3600 TL-21) with 2 MPPT trackers is chosen. Additionally, there is no requirement of combiner boxes as there is only one string.
Specification Sheet
General Data
Manufacturer | SMA |
Model Name | Sunny Boy 3600 TL-21 |
Type | String |
Model Dimensions | 490 mm × 519 mm × 185 mm |
Number of MPP Trackers | 2 |
Number of DC Connections | 1 |
Weight | 26 kg |
Electrical Properties
AC Nominal Power Output | 3.7 kW |
Max Input Current | 15 A |
Minimum Power Point Voltage | 175 V |
Maximum Power Point Voltage | 500 V |
Max Voltage DC | 750 V |
Frequency | 50/60 Hz |
Grid Connection | 3-NPE 230V |
Efficiency | 96.3% |
Operating Conditions
Operating Temperature | -25 to +60 oC |
Degree of Protection | IP 65 |
Total
Unit Nominal Power | 3.7 kWac |
No of Inverters | 1 |
Total Nominal Power | 3.7 kWac |
Pnom | 1.08 |
Operational Voltage Range | 175 – 500 V |
Other Electrical Components Summary
DC Side
Cable Design
String Voltage | 426.4 V |
MPP Current | 9.3 A |
Material | Copper |
Length | 20 m |
Cable Thickness | 1.5 mm2 |
Resistance | 12.1 Ω/km2 |
% Voltage Drop | 1.16% |
Fuse
Short Circuit Current | 10.12 V |
Fuse Size Rating | 16 A |
DC Side
Current Carrying Capacity
Type of Supply | DC |
Placement | Ground |
Rated Current | 30 A |
Temperature | 50 o |
Insulation Material | PVC |
Nature of Material | Dry Soil |
Arrangement | Surface embedded |
Actual Current Capacity | 18.9 A |
Current in Circuit | 9.3 A |
Isolator
Short Circuit Current | 10.12 V |
Isolator Current Rating | 16 A |
Panel Voc | 39.2 V |
String Voc | 509.6 V |
Isolator Voltage Rating | 600 V |
AC Side
Cable Design (Inverter to DB)
Output Voltage | 230 V |
AC Output Current | 9.24 A |
Material | Copper |
Length | 5 m |
Cable Thickness | 2.5 mm2 |
Resistance | 9.48 Ω/km2 |
% Voltage Drop | 0.36% |
Current Carrying Capacity (Inverter to DB)
Type of Supply | AC |
Placement | Ground |
Rated Current | 26 A |
Temperature | 50 o |
Insulation Material | PVC |
Nature of Material | Dry Soil |
Arrangement | Surface embedded |
Actual Current Capacity | 16.4 A |
Current in Circuit | 9.24 A |
Circuit Breaker (Inverter to DB)
Total Current | 9.24 A |
Circuit Breaker Rating | 16 A |
Type | MCB |
DC Side
Cable Design (DB to Power Excavation Point)
Output Voltage | 230 V |
AC Output Current | 9.24 A |
Material | Copper |
Length | 50 m |
Cable Thickness | 10 mm2 |
Resistance | 2.34 Ω/km2 |
% Voltage Drop | 0.89% |
Current Carrying Capacity (DB to PEP)
Type of Supply | AC |
Placement | Air |
Rated Current | 73 A |
Temperature | 50 o |
Insulation Material | PVC |
Nature of Material | Dry Soil |
Arrangement | Surface embedded |
Actual Current Capacity | 52 A |
Current in Circuit | 9.24 A |
Circuit Breaker (DB to PEP)
Total Current | 9.24 A |
Circuit Breaker Rating | 16 A |
Type | MCB |
Single Line Diagram
Premium Content 🔒
Fig. 8. 3D Shading Structure
Losses
Thermal Parameter
Mounting Structure | Integration with fully insulated back |
Thermal Loss Factor | 15 W/m2K |
Wind Loss Factor | 0 W/m2K.m/s |
Ohmic Losses
DC Circuit Loss Fraction at STC | 1.16% |
AC Circuit Loss Fraction at STC | 1.25% |
Module
Efficiency Loss | – 0.5 % |
LID Loss Factor | 2 % |
Mismatch Power Loss at MPP | 2 % |
Loss when at Field Voltage | 2.5 % |
Strings Voltage
Mismatch Power Loss at MPP | 0.1 % |
Soiling Loss
Yearly Loss Factor | 3 % |
Unavailability
Time Fraction | 2 % |
3D Shading
Fig. 8. 3D Shading Structure
Fig. 9. Summary of all losses
Results
Fig. 10: Hourly Energy Production breakdown for the year (kWh)
Fig. 11: Monthly Energy Production breakdown with Losses (kWh)
Fig. 12: Performance Ratio (%)
Fig. 13: Daily Input/Output Diagram
Fig. 14. Daily System Output Energy
Fig. 15: Array Power Distribution
Fig. 16: Probability Distribution Results (P50, P75 & P90)
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Fig. 17: Breakdown of costs (USD)
A cash flow is drawn by combining the various costs (Hardware, Installation, Soft Costs & OPEX) along with the cost offset (revenue) by supplying part of the electricity requirements. The Capital investment associated with the construction phase is fully made in Y 1. The plant moves on to the operational phase at the beginning of Y 2 and continues operating for the next 25 years i.e. till Y 26. Finally, at the end of the lifespan of the plant (Y 27), where the plant is decommissioned.
Table. 1: Costs & KPI
Fig. 18: Cumulative Cash Return graph
Carbon Balance
Fig. 16: Carbon Balance
Interested to know more?
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system.
It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system’s overall performance and include an integrated battery solution, as prices for storage devices are expected to decline. Strictly speaking, a solar array only encompasses the ensemble of solar panels, the visible part of the PV system, and does not include all the other hardware, often summarized as balance of system (BOS). As PV systems convert light directly into electricity, they are not to be confused with other solar technologies, such as concentrated solar power or solar thermal, used for heating and cooling.
PV systems range from small, rooftop-mounted or building-integrated systems with capacities from a few to several tens of kilowatts, to large utility-scale power stations of hundreds of megawatts. Nowadays, most PV systems are grid-connected, while off-grid or stand-alone systems account for a small portion of the market.
Operating silently and without any moving parts or environmental emissions, PV systems have developed from being niche market applications into a mature technology used for mainstream electricity generation. A rooftop system recoups the invested energy for its manufacturing and installation within 0.7 to 2 years and produces about 95 percent of net clean renewable energy over a 30-year service lifetime.[1]:30[2][3]
Due to the growth of photovoltaics, prices for PV systems have rapidly declined since their introduction. However, they vary by market and the size of the system. In 2014, prices for residential 5-kilowatt systems in the
United States were around $3.29 per watt,[4] while in the highly penetrated German market, prices for rooftop systems of up to 100 kW declined to €1.24 per watt.[5] Nowadays, solar PV modules account for less than half of the system’s overall cost,[6] leaving the rest to the remaining BOS-components and to soft costs, which include customer acquisition, permitting, inspection and interconnection, installation labor and financing costs.[7]:14