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Software modelling of grid‐connected photovoltaic buildings
Author(s) -
Argul F. J.,
Castro M.,
Delgado A.,
Carpio J.,
Peire J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.484
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , grid , software , payback period , cash flow , computer science , investment (military) , architectural engineering , simulation , engineering , electrical engineering , operating system , production (economics) , business , finance , geometry , mathematics , politics , law , political science , economics , macroeconomics
This paper presents a software tool, freely available on the Worldwide Web, that can be concurrently run by multiple users on different hardware–software platforms. To evaluate the limits and competitiveness of PV energy in Spain, several companies, utilities and institutions have been working together in a project called FotoRED. Within this project, several computer tools have been developed to analyse the potential of connecting photovoltaic stations to the utility grid. One of these tools is the simulator presented here, a program to estimate the energy balance and economic behaviour of grid‐connected PV buildings. Depending on several construction parameters of the building, the photovoltaic generators installed, the geographical location, weather conditions, etc., the program estimates the energy consumed in the building, the photovoltaic energy that can be generated on‐site and the resulting energy balance on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. The economic behaviour of the building can also be simulated over a 30‐year period, generating cash‐flow diagrams, investment payback curves and other economic information to describe the building's expected performance. Many building designs and several existing buildings have been simulated with this tool so far. One example of these is presented and the conclusions reached during several simulation runs are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.