Full Description

In this study, investigation of the energy performance, environmental impact, and cost assessments of one MWp plant using the main 2015 market available photovoltaic technologies under hot arid climatic conditions for the state of Kuwait is carried out. Influence of climatic parameters on energy production and performance ratio is assessed based on the, hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly energy produced from PV crystalline silicon based and thin film technologies. The assessed technologies are the monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film of cell types of cadmium telluride (CdTe) and CdS/CdTe semiconductor. The energy assessment is based on the manufacture provided PV modules characteristics and average of 30 years hourly climatic values of the ambient air-dry temperatures, horizontal solar radiation, and average wind speed for the state of Kuwait. The main obtained results show that for the designed peak power of one MWp plant the Thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology has the yearly average good energy performance parameters with less leveled energy produced cost and minimum environmental harmful emission. However, as the difference between the Thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) and Polycrystalline silicon PC-Si technology except for higher environmental harmful emission during manufacturing process of PC-Si is not significant; therefore, both technologies can be recommended for use under Kuwait climate condition.

Citation: 6th International Conference on Energy Research and Development, State of Kuwait, March 14–16, 2016