Peak Load Shaving of Air Conditioning Loads via Rooftop Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: A Case Study

Reza Bakhshi-Jafarabadi () and Seyed Mahdi Seyed Mousavi
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Reza Bakhshi-Jafarabadi: Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands
Seyed Mahdi Seyed Mousavi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad P.O. Box 91735-413, Iran

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Over the past few decades, grid-connected photovoltaic systems (GCPVSs) have been consistently installed due to their techno-socio-economic-environmental advantages. As an effective solution, this technology can shave air conditioning-based peak loads on summer days at noon in hot areas. This paper assesses the effect of solely rooftop GCPVS installations on the peak load shaving of commercial buildings in arid regions, e.g., the Middle East and North Africa. To this end, the load profile of a large building with 470 kW of unshaved peak power in Mashhad, Iran (36.2972° N, 59.6067° E) is analyzed after commissioning an actual 51 kW GCPVS. The results of this experimental study, exploiting 15 min resolution data over a year, endorse an effective peak shaving of the GCPVS without employing a battery energy storage system, with 12.2–18.5% peak power shaving on a summer day at noon. The monthly GCPVS self-sufficiency is also 10.2%, on average. In accordance with the studied case’s results, this paper presents valuable insights and recommends actionable policies to regions with similar solar potential and electricity supply challenges, aiming to expedite GCPVS development.

Keywords: air conditioning system; arid area; grid-connected photovoltaic system; peak shaving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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