Performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic system using actual and kriged hourly solar radiation

In this article the performance of a grid-connected PV system supplying a f armstead was evaluated using a commercially available energy balance simula tion model, Hybrid2. By performing annual hourly simulations, the influence of system size, actual radiation data, and estimated radiation data on eco nomic and energy production were assessed. The estimated radiation data wer e developed from kriging actual radiation data from 16 weather stations in western Nebraska. The results indicated that the capital costs associated w ith a PV system dictate the economic performance of the overall system. The energy costs associated with the grid-connected PV system were six times t he retail price of electricity. The use of actual or estimated data had lit tle effect on the simulated performance of the system.