Systematic PV System Power Losses Calculation and Modeling Using Computational Intelligence Techniques

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Abstract The performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems is highly affected by different types of power losses that are incurred by electrical equipment or altering weather conditions. In this context, an accurate analysis of power losses for PV systems is of significant importance. Hence, the systematic calculation of the PV system power losses based on recorded data of the main electrical and meteorological parameters is introduced in this presentation. The proposed approach for power losses calculation investigates both array capture losses (e.g. losses that result from cell temperature, soiling, low irradiance, snow cover, mismatching, and module quality degradation) and system losses (e.g. losses that result from cabling, inverter, etc.). In addition, the modeling of all types of losses based on computational intelligence techniques is discussed in this presentation. The proposed models can predict the future daily values for each type of loss solely based on the main meteorological parameters. The proposed losses calculation approach is applied to eight years of recorded data for a 1.44 kW rooftop PV system located in Denver, CO. Several prediction models are built based on the calculated values of the losses. The models are not only validated on the PV system itself, but also on another PV system with different electrical characteristics in Las Vegas, NV.

 

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