Speaker
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)
The integration of kW-scale grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems into the energy mix of local municipalities is expected to become a reality in South Africa with the proposed “rooftop programme” of the Department of Energy. These systems may be straight grid-tied, without storage, or may include battery storage. In the current study, a 1.6 kW grid-integrated PV system with battery storage was characterized with respect to performance and efficiency of the PV and the Balance-of-System (BOS) components. Key to the performance of a PV system with battery storage is the performance of the charge controller, which serves to maximize the output power of a PV array by utilizing algorithms to track the maximum power point (MPP) of the PV array or to select the appropriate operational voltage. The charge controller under investigation has two, user selectable, modes of operation, viz. maximum power point tracking (MPPT) perturb and observe (P&O) and fixed voltage operation. This paper discusses the performance and efficiency of the charge controller, with specific reference to the operational modes employed. Preliminary results show, as expected, that the perturb and observe mode is more efficient when irradiance is highly variable or under low irradiance conditions. The energy losses due to the different operational modes are quantified in order to identify which mode of operation is optimal for the PV system under investigation.
Apply to be<br> consider for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD)?
MSc
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Prof. Ernest van Dyk, Ernest.vanDyk@nmmu.ac.za, +27415042259, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
