Review of the Operational Performance of Grid Connected PV Systems

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to review the operational performance of grid connected residential PV systems by comparing the Performance Ratio and Annual System Yield indicators. In order to collect a large number of high resolution data web scraping techniques were applied and as a result a total of 2693 systems form Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy and France are analyzed. The installations are examined according to geographical and seasonal criteria and a further performance analysis is conducted in comparison with the type of module and the inverter that are used. The Performance Ratio in the Netherlands has an average value of 78% and the Annual Specific Yield was 874 kWh/kWp for the year 2013. As a result of the local meteorological variations, the coastal part of the country produces 7% higher yields is 3% more efficient compared to the mainland. The higher average annual specific yield was observed in South Italy in 2011 (1352 kWh/kWp) and the lower in the Netherlands in 2012 (865 kWh/kWp).