An experimental approach towards cost benefit analysis of 850 kW solar PV plant

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cell technology is the simplest way to generate renewable power and reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Because India is located on the earth's equatorial sunbed, it receives a lot of radiant energy from the sun. Most Indian states have approximately 250–300 d of clear, bright weather per year. Among all the states, Rajasthan is one of India's sunniest states, and it is a solar energy hotspot. Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with 26.8⁰ latitudes and 75.56⁰ longitudes and a surface area of 122 acres. It receives high levels of solar radiation. All the hostel's block rooms have air conditioners (ACs), so the energy demand in the summer is high. The performance assessment of 850 kW installed capacity on hostel building-mounted solar photovoltaic power plant has been carried out, in view of obtaining better designing, operation/maintenance characteristics of the system. MUJ installed an 850-kW solar power plant for on-site generation and utilization to overcome this enormous electricity bill problem. The paper aims to collect the solar power generation of the plant from April 2019 to March 2020 and shows an investigation of the variation of energy consumption from the Electricity Board (EB), Jaipur Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (JVNL) of the university hostel block while using solar power and maintains the conventional system. The paper also explores the cost-benefit analysis of 850 kW solar power plants. The impacts of various economic parameters are also taken into consideration.