Sizing optimisation of stand-alone photovoltaic generators for irrigation water pumping systems

This paper mainly presents an efficient non-conventional direct method for sizing optimisation of stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) generators for supplying AC-motor-based irrigation pumping systems. The efficiencies of various elements comprising a PV pumping system and the effects of PV-array tilt are taken into account. The strong impact of the tilt angle on the optimal sizing of a PV generator is demonstrated. Extensive analysis of the meteorological conditions of the study site is performed. An appropriate solar correlation model for the design site is determined. The optimality of the determined capacity and tilt angle for a PV generator is evaluated by calculating several optimality indicators. The proposed method is compared with the Kenna and Gillett method and the RETScreen method for suggesting the nominal power for PV generators. The results show the capability and accuracy of the proposed method in optimally sizing stand-alone PV generators for irrigation water pumping systems.