Income Maximisation in a Maltese Household Photovoltaic System by Means of Output and Consumption Simulations

Daniele Zingariello, Marija Demicoli and Luciano Mule’ Stagno
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Daniele Zingariello: Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Marija Demicoli: Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Luciano Mule’ Stagno: Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: The installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the Maltese Islands plays an important role in allowing Malta to increase its share in renewable energy to meet the set European Union targets. In the Maltese residential sector, PV systems are generally installed on rooftops of households with a south-facing orientation and a 30° inclination angle. The scope of this study is to present a methodology to maximise the income for residents from electricity generated, by comparing the output of electricity generation with the electricity consumption patterns of different household types and consequently identifying the most favourable installation configurations of these PV systems. The research was carried out by simulating the monthly electricity generation of a 3 kilowatt-peak PV system for a year, as well as the hourly electricity generation for a day in each season of the year using the PVsyst software package. A total of 21 configurations were studied by altering the orientation and inclination angles used to install the PV system. This study confirms that a south-facing PV system inclined at 30° generates the most electricity in a year. However, when compared with electricity consumption patterns of low-, medium- and high-consumption households, it is shown that a south-facing PV system inclined at 40° provides a better income for residents.

Keywords: renewable energy; solar energy; PV system modelling; PV configurations; electricity consumption patterns; income maximisation (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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