Design, Simulation & Analysis of a 3 MW Grid-Connected Solar PV System

Abstract

The optimal approach to address increases in energy costs and environmental risks is the integration of renewable resources into the power grid. This paper presents the design, simulations, And performance analysis of a 3MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in Nigeria. The electrical parameters, including voltage, current, and power output of the system, were assessed at various degrees of solar irradiation. The system's output at an irradiation of 1 kW/m² was 9555 A, 319 V, and 3 MW. The voltage increased marginally to 321.1V, however the current and output power diminished to 7651A and 2.5MW, respectively, as the irradiance reduced to 0.8kW/m². At 0.6 kW/m², additional reduction resulted in a voltage below 322.7 V but above 5739 A, equating to 1.9 MW. The voltage declined to 321.8 V, while the current and power diminished to 3833 A and 1.2 MW, respectively, at the minimum irradiance of 0.4 kW/m². The results demonstrate a clear correlation between PV array output and solar irradiance, indicating that increased irradiance leads to enhanced power production. The results indicate the significance of improved photovoltaic system designs to mitigate irradiance fluctuations, hence necessitating enhancements in energy generation efficiency across diverse climates.