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Assessing the Efficiency of the Zagtouli Solar Plant: A Large-Scale Grid-Connected PV System in Burkina Faso

Abdoulaye Kaboré, Samuel Ouoba, Kayaba Haro, Tongonmanegde Leonard Ouedraogo, Boubou Bagré, Bowendkuni Armand Korsaga, Antoine Béré
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jas.v18.n4.p2
Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation and analysis of the energy performance of a 33.7 MWp solar photovoltaic plant. Monitoring data for 36 months (January 2019-December 2021) have been used to evaluate the performance of the power plant according to the IEC 61724 standard. Normalized parameters that are (i) performance ratio, (ii) reference yield, (iii) array yield, (iv) final yield, (v) array capture losses, (vi) system losses, (vii) system efficiency, and (viii) capacity factor were quantified. During the study period, monthly averages of the normalized yields Yr, Ya, and Yf obtained are respectively 5.81 h/d, 4.59 h/d, and 4.52 h/d with average total losses (TL) estimated at 1.29 h/d and an average performance ratio (PR) of 78%. In light of this study, more than 80% of array capture losses are related to miscellaneous capture losses. Thus, periods of low production due to a drop in performance are compounded by other external climatic factors. The performance ratio becomes increasingly sensitive to the effect of temperature over time. This study could constitute a decision support tool for solar power plant projects underway at the national level and in the Sudan-Sahelian zone.

Keywords
Performance analysis, Grid-connected, Normalized yields, Sudano-sahelian zone, Zagtouli
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