A Study on the Techno-Economics Feasibility of a 19.38 KWp Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System at Al-Abrar Mosque, Saudi Arabia

Abdulaziz S. Alaboodi () and Sultan J. Alharbi
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Abdulaziz S. Alaboodi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraidah 52571, Saudi Arabia
Sultan J. Alharbi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraidah 52571, Saudi Arabia

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-38

Abstract: This research paper presents a comprehensive study on the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) energy systems at Al-Abrar Mosque in Saudi Arabia. The primary objective was to explore optimal regional solar power strategies. By synergistically integrating technical evaluations of the PV system with economic analyses, including the payback period and levelized cost of energy (LCOE), alongside an investigation of net metering and net billing scenarios, we delineated a pathway toward achieving net zero billing for the mosque’s energy requirements. This study examined two scenarios: Scenario I involved net metering, while Scenario II explored net billing. Our theoretical and simulation results, derived from detailed analyses conducted using PVsyst software, unequivocally demonstrated the superiority of net metering for this specific application. With net metering, the mosque’s energy needs can be efficiently met using minimal infrastructure—comprising only 34 photovoltaic modules and a single inverter. In contrast, net billing requires significantly higher resource demands, underscoring the economic and spatial advantages of net metering. Additionally, the payback period for Scenario I is 7.9 years, while for Scenario II, it extends to 87 years. Through rigorous simulations, this study reaffirmed the practicality and feasibility of the net metering approach within the context of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, our research provides actionable insights for implementing sustainable solutions at specific sites, such as the Al-Abrar Mosque, and contributes to advancing renewable energy knowledge in the region.

Keywords: photovoltaic system; solar power, mosque; net billing; renewable energy; LCOE; payback period (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: 2024
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