Experimental Investigation on the Annual Performance of an Actively Monitored 2.88 kW Grid-Connected PV System in Sharjah, UAE

Solar Energy has been highly attractive in recent decades due to its reliability and zero-net fuel, leading to its participation in clean electricity production. Its substantial expansion has facilitated its incorporation within local electrical networks to benefit numerous utilities and consumers. In particular, the United Arab Emirates has been gifted with an abundance of sunlight, which has encouraged the establishment of policies and projects that rely on solar energy to cope with the rapid spike in carbon emissions. The necessity for real-time monitoring schemes is vital to continuously track clean energy production and to maintain its durability and lifespan. This is aided by the incorporation of sensor technologies and data centralization to accomplish this goal. The major objective of this study is to assess the real-time monitoring capability incorporated with PV systems in terms of data storage and processing capability. In this experimental study, a 2.88 kW rated grid-connected PV system is investigated based on a real-time monitoring scheme for its annual performance and energy generation performance from August 2021 to August 2022. A cloud-based user interface allows for vital factors that impact PV production to be presented and documented in real time. Critical aspects such as DC Power Production, AC energy generation, and environmental parameters are documented instantaneously and updated on a dedicated IP address. The retrieved data verify an energy production of 5.53 MWh from the on-grid PV system discussed annually. Furthermore, the on-grid PV system contributed actively to the reduction of 3314.38 kgs in carbon emissions. In this notion, the instantaneous and archived data can be analyzed and accessed both remotely and locally to maintain the system's performance and observe its current state for future maintenance and load scheduling.