Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Grid-Connected Solar PV Plant in Syria

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the techno-economic feasibility of installing a 300 kW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Syria. Umm Al-Zaytun village in As-Suwayda province was chosen as a location of the plant, because it is characterized by the high annual solar irradiance on the horizontal surface of about 1900 kW h/m². Technical performance analysis, system configuration, detailed losses and energy yield simulation for a proposed PV plant were performed, using the PVsyst software. The simulation results show, that the annual optimal tilt angle of PV modules is 25°, energy production is 493 MWh/yr, the annual average performance ratio is 0.799 and the capacity factor is 18.7%. In addition, by considering, that the electric power consumption per capita in Syria is 2232 kW h/yr, so the proposed solar power plant with 493 MW h/yr can provide energy to 220 capita/yr and save about 42.4 tons of oil equivalent yearly with carbon emission reduction of about 320.45 tCO₂/yr. The economic evaluation of the proposed PV plant was carried out by Excel software with consideration, that the discount rate is 9%, the lifetime of the project is 25 years and the selling price of electricity to Syrian electricity distribution establishment is 0.119 $/kW h. The results of economic calculations show, that levelized cost of electricity is 0.094 $/kW h, the discounted payback period is about 11 years, the internal rate of return is 14%, profitability index is 1.46 and the net present value is 190587.3 $. As a result, the proposed grid-connected PV solar plant is considered economically, technically and environmentally feasible in Syria.