Monitoring and Analysis of 3kW Grid-Connected PV System for Performance Evaluation

Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed and monitored at the field demonstration test center (FDTC) in Korea in October 2002. Before long-term field testing of installed PV systems, the performances of PV components were evaluated and compared through short-term performance tests of each of the PV system components such as power conditioning system and PV module under standard test conditions. A data acquisition system has been constructed for measuring and analyzing the performance of PV systems to observe the overall effect of environmental conditions on their operation characteristics. Performances of PV systems have been evaluated and analyzed not only for component perspective (PV array, power conditioning unit) but also for global perspective (system efficiency, capacity factor, electrical power energy) by review of the field test and loss factors of the systems. These results indicate that it is highly imperative to develop an optimum design technology of grid connected PV systems. The objective of this paper is not only to evaluate and analyze the performance of domestic PV systems application through long-term field testing at FDTC but also to develop evaluation, analysis and optimum technology for long-term stability and reliability of grid-connected PV systems in Korea.