Techno-Economic Analysis of Electricity Generation by Photovoltaic Power Plants Equipped with Trackers in Iran

Mehdi Tafazoli, Mohsen Salimi, Saeed Zeinalidanaloo, Javad Mashayekh and Majid Amidpour ()
Additional contact information
Mehdi Tafazoli: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization of Iran (SATBA), Tehran 1468612122, Iran
Mohsen Salimi: Renewable Energy Research Department, Niroo Research Institute (NRI), Tehran P.O. Box 15875-4413, Iran
Saeed Zeinalidanaloo: Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
Javad Mashayekh: School of Management, Economics and Progress Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran 1684613114, Iran
Majid Amidpour: Energy Systems Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, No. 19, Pardis Street, Molla Sadra Ave., Vanak Sq., Tehran P.O. Box 19395-1999, Iran

Energies, 2022, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: The use of solar trackers can help increase the production and time period of electricity generation in photovoltaic power plants. Different types of trackers in terms of rotation mechanisms and sun tracking systems have been used in these types of power plants in recent years. In this article, a comparison has made between the electricity produced of fixed and tracking structures in a number of power plants which are located in different cities of Iran but in similar geographical locations. Following this, software modeling is used to evaluate various sun tracking scenarios in the design of sample power plants. Finally, a techno-economic analysis has been made to evaluate the decision-making regarding the construction of such power plants in Iran using this technology. Using east-west detectors has had a positive effect on increasing the production of power plants, especially in summer. Due to the higher initial costs of using this technology in the power plants, as well as the higher maintenance costs, the economization of the power plants’ business plan is extremely dependent on other economic conditions governing the project. Using trackers alone cannot lead to a better situation in a project’s lifetime. From the national point of view, if domestic companies can produce east-west single-axis tracking technology at an acceptable cost and provide related services in the long term, it would be beneficial for the power grid. One of the attractive proposals for the power plants under construction will be the use of this technology, because of additional electricity production in peak hours in summer. Annual experimental data from different tracking/fixed PV power plant have been used for the first time in this techno-economic investigations, they are validated with the simulation process, and the results have been predicted for a wide range of tracking scenarios. Techno-economic analyses of this type of power plant are an essential need for policy makers and investors in Iran’s energy market.

Keywords: photovoltaic power plants; Iran; solar trackers; techno-economic analysis (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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