Performance evaluation and degradation analysis of grid connected photovoltaic systems for energy efficient buildings in tropical climates

The adoption of photovoltaic systems is growing as part of the global shift to renewable energy. Integrating photovoltaic systems into buildings enhances sustainability by enabling on-site generation, reducing energy costs, and promoting environmental preservation. Ensuring long-term reliability requires a comprehensive analysis. This study analyzes a grid-connected photovoltaic system, operated and maintained by the Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Laboratory (PEARL) for research. The system consists of Poly-Crystalline (Array 1) and Mono-Crystalline silicon (Array 2) panels with a total capacity of 3.575 kWp, monitored over 36 months from January 2020 to December 2022. Eleven performance parameters were analyzed following the IEC 61724 guidelines. Additionally, Modified Akima cubic Hermite (MAKIMA) methods were utilized to forecast the degradation rate of each photovoltaic technologies degradation rates in 2023. The results indicate that Array 1 and Array 2 produced an average AC energy output of 3881.67 kWh and 1120.48 kWh, with 86.74% and 56.30% performance ratios, respectively. The forecasting analysis predicted degradation rates of 10.58% for Array 1 and 11.99% for Array 2. These findings provide valuable information on the durability and efficiency of PV materials in tropical climates, contributing to optimized system performance, longevity, and material selection in high-temperature, high-humidity environments.