Investigation of Solar Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Performance: A Case Study in Ghana

Saeed Abdul-Ganiyu, David A Quansah, Emmanuel W Ramde, Razak Seidu and Muyiwa S. Adaramola
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Saeed Abdul-Ganiyu: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Norwegian University of Life Science, Høgskoleveien 12, 1433 Ås, Norway
David A Quansah: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi AK-448-6464, Ghana
Emmanuel W Ramde: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi AK-448-6464, Ghana
Razak Seidu: Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 6025 Ålesund, Norway
Muyiwa S. Adaramola: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Norwegian University of Life Science, Høgskoleveien 12, 1433 Ås, Norway

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to experimentally assess the real-life outdoor performance of a photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module against a conventional photovoltaic (PV) system in a hot humid tropical climate in Ghana. An experimental setup comprising a water-based mono-crystalline silicon PVT and an ordinary mono-crystalline silicon PV was installed on a rooftop at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and results evaluated for the entire year of 2019. It was observed that the annual total output energy of PV module was 194.79 kWh/m 2 whereas that of the PVT for electrical and thermal outputs were 149.92 kWh/m 2 and 1087.79 kWh/m 2 , respectively. The yearly average daily electrical energy yield for the PV and PVT were 3.21 kWh/kW p /day and 2.72 kWh/kW p /day, respectively. The annual performance ratios for the PV and PVT (based on electrical energy output only) were 79.2% and 51.6%, respectively, whilst their capacity factors were, respectively, 13.4% and 11.3%. Whereas the highest monthly mean efficiency recorded for the PV was 12.7%, the highest combined measured monthly mean electrical/thermal efficiency of the PVT was 56.1%. It is also concluded that the PVT is a worthy prospective alternative energy source in off-grid situations.

Keywords: photovoltaic-thermal; solar PV; efficiency; energy yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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