Techno-economic feasibility analysis of a solar PV grid-connected system with different tracking using HOMER software

The renewable energy sources are promising to take a significant share in the energy sector as a viable option for integration with conventional fossil fuel power plants. This paper contributes to the ongoing studies about grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system and draws attention to the optimal design and sizing considering several techno-economic factors including net present cost, cost of energy, PV power generation and PV array tracking systems. The actual data required by the model including solar irradiation, air temperature, load profile, cost of energy for Makkah, Saudi Arabia have been utilized in the proposed model. The HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) software is employed to model the energy system and study the performance of the technical and economic aspects. PV tracking system configurations with different time adjustments including horizontal-axis (monthly adjustment, weekly adjustment, daily adjustment, continuous adjustment), vertical-axis (continuous adjustment), and two-axis tracking system are investigated.