The economics of photovoltaic stand-alone residential households: A case study for various European and Mediterranean locations

The cost-effective sizing and evaluation of residential stand-alone photovo ltaic systems at various European and Mediterranean locations is the subjec t of this paper. The stand-alone photovoltaic system is serving the energy needs of a medium-sized household inhabited by a typical four member family . A typical energy consumption daily profile is assumed, and the solar arra y, battery and back up generator - if necessary - are optimally sized to mi nimise the system life-cycle cost (LCC). The calculations have been done as suming economic parameters and PV technology costs applicable to years 1998 and 2005. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.