Bornvince O. Odhiambo, Jobunga Eric, Sameer Bachani

Abstract

The current pursuit of low-carbon and sustainable source of energy places photovoltaic (PV) power system in advantageous position as a substitute for a DG backup system. The goal of this study was to calculate the amount of the CO₂ emission mitigated when solar PV power system replaces a similar diesel backup generator working for twelve hours. Environmental results show that the total annual amount of CO₂ emissions avoided when solar photovoltaic batteries are used instead of DG power backup system was 5.84 tCO2/year giving an average cost parameter (penalty for CO₂ generation) of $9.62. Simulation results gave the available energy as 3746.40 kWh/year, reference yield of 5.55 kWh/kW, array yield of 4.18 kWh/kW, array losses of 0.61 kWh/kW, capacity factor as 21.23%, FF as 0.68, PR as 73.6% and PV array efficiency of 13.19%. The average amount of CO2 emission avoided was 7.95 tCO2/year with annual environmental cost of $116.18

Keywords: Solar Photovoltaic, Mombasa, PVsyst software, GHG, cost of CO₂ gas generation penalty, diesel generator.