Performance analysis of a 50 kW grid-tied PV system on energy productivity in a technical institution building and mitigation method to improve the low power factor problem

A 50-kW grid-interactive solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plant was installed on the rooftop of the Government College of Engineering Kannur (GCEK) in Kerala, India (11 degrees 590900N, 75 degrees 2205500E) on 28th May 2018. The plant was funded by an initial capital investment of (sic)36 Lakh, including a subsidy of (sic)16 Lakh from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the Government of India. The plant has been operating smoothly, with an average energy production of 150 kWh per day. However, a review of the monthly electricity bills of the institution showed that the interconnection of the PV plant has resulted in a power factor penalty of approximately (sic)3.5 Lakh for a period of 3 years. This prompted fur-ther analysis to identify the cause of the low power factor. The goal of this work is to study and analyze the 50-kW solar plant, focusing on the reasons for the low power factor and suggesting methods to improve the power factor of the GCEK power system. This type of analysis will be useful while designing a SPV power plant for a technical institution in a country like India with similar load profile.& COPY; 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.