Performance Analysis of two same capacity Utility Scale Solar Plants in Nepal
Date
2023-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
I.O.E. Pulchowk Campus
Abstract
The rapid growth in Utility Scale Solar Plants all around the world is acting like an
Indicator of the rapid growth the Renewable Energy Sector has achieved in the last
decade. Along with the number of benefits it has to offer, the growing Solar Power
Generation sector comes along with several challenges. Despite the Design,
Procurement, Installation and Commissioning of these Plants are much easier and
convenient than the Hydropower Plants and the irradiance levels through-out the
country is quite optimum for the Solar Power Generation, still there are many concerns
and questions to the further growth of this Utility Scale Solar Power Generation Sector
due to the factors, like: Power Generation hours limited to day, gradual degradation in
efficiency of Solar Panels, requirement of huge land area, much variation in Power
generation due to changing weather, shading, dust on panels etc. The current study
conducts the Performance Analysis of two Utility Scale Solar Plants of Same Installed
Capacity, 1.2096 MW in two different locations of the country to understand how
Certain Parameters: Weather, Location, Design of the Plants, Wind Speed effect on the
Power Generation from the Panels. 1.2096 MW each Solar Plants of Dhalkebar and
Simara have been taken under the Study. The data of Power Generation for a period of
1 year (1st July, 2022 to 30th June, 2023) from these plants were collected to generate
the idea of the actual Performance of each of these plants, which was further compared
with the Outputs of Simulation done by using PVsyst 7.4.4. The annual S.Y., C.U.F.
Description
The findings give insight into the solar power plant's long-term performance in Nepal’s
Terai area under real working circumstances. The need for regular maintenance against
array capture loss, making the grid more reliable, dusting off the Panels regularly is
highlighted to maximize energy generation and export to the grid. Additional
supplement research studies are also recommended
Keywords
Solar Plants,, Utility Scale