Photovoltaic module-site matching based on the capacity factors

In this paper, a methodology for the selection of the optimum photovoltaic module for a specific power plant site is developed. The selection is based on the capacity factors (CF) of the available PV modules. Long term irradiance data recorded for every hour of the day for 30 years are used. These data are used to calculate the probability density function of the irradiance for different hours of a typical day in a month. The irradiance probability density function and the manufacturer's specifications on PV modules are used to calculate the capacity factors for the PV modules. The PV module with the highest average capacity factor for the specific site is the optimal and recommended PV module. In this paper, the price per installed maximum peak watt is approximately the same for different modules and hence the cost is not an issue