Methodology for the Sizing of Grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems

This paper presents a methodology for the sizing of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, seeking to determine a suitable configuration of PV modules, that is, the number of strings, the number of panels per string, the space between rows of modules and the tilt angle, considering the impact that these variables have on the total power generation of the system. Three indicators were used to find such configuration of the PV system, the simple levelized cost of energy (sLCOE), the fixed charge rate (FCR) method of calculating the LCOE and the cost of energy (cost of installation of a photovoltaic system, including equipment, structures, electrical components, EPC, etc., divided by the amount of energy that the system deliver to the grid in the first year of operation). The simulations of the power generation were performed in System Advisor Model (SAM), a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) tool.