Performance analysis of A grid-connected solar PV plant in Niš, republic of Serbia Dragana D. Milosavljević a,n , Tomislav M. Pavlović a , Danica S. Piršl b a University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Republic of Serbia b University of Niš, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Čarnojevica 10a, 18000 Niš, Republic of Serbia article info Article history: Received 3 March 2014 Received in revised form 10 November 2014 Accepted 19 December 2014 Keywords: Solar PV plant Energy efficiency of solar PV plant Performance Ratio (PR) of solar PV plant Yield factor of solar PV plant (Y f ) Capacity factor (CF) of solar PV plant abstract The article presents basic data on a 2 kW (rooftop) solar PV plant installed on the building of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics (FSM building) in Niš (Republic of Serbia) and the equipment for the estimation of its performance and energy efficiency depending on the real climate conditions (inverter, communication system, automatic meteorological station, etc.). The aim of the article is to apply the obtained results in the integration of solar energy generation into a transmission network in order to increase the use of the solar PV plants for the commercial purposes in Serbia. The results of the experimental determination of energy efficiency and other characteristic parameters of the solar PV plant installed on the FSM building in Niš are presented for the period from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 (global solar energy, ambient temperature, wind speed, generated electrical energy, etc.). It was found that in 2013 the annual energy efficiency of the solar PV plant on the FSM building in Niš was 10.07%, as well as that it decreased with the increase of the ambient temperature. The annual mean value of the performance ratio of the solar PV plant was 93.6%, its annual capacity factor was 12.88%, and the integration of this renewable energy generation into the transmission network in Niš was considered satisfactory in 2013. The obtained data could be used as guidelines for the application of solar PV plants in other countries with a similar climate. & 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2 2. Examples of similar studies in the world ................................................................................... 3 3. Experimental network set up ............................................................................................ 4 3.1. Solar PV plant .................................................................................................. 4 3.1.1. Solar module SST-200WM.................................................................................. 5 3.1.2. Inverter SunnyBoy 2000HF-30 .............................................................................. 5 3.2. Experiment .................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1. Meteorological parameters measurement ..................................................................... 5 3.2.2. Measurement of solar PV plant generated electrical energy ....................................................... 7 4. Solar PV plant characteristic parameters ................................................................................... 7 4.1. Solar PV plant energy efficiency .................................................................................... 7 4.2. Solar PV plant specific yield factor .................................................................................. 7 4.3. Solar PV plant performance ratio ................................................................................... 7 4.4. Solar PV plant capacity factor ...................................................................................... 8 5. Results and discussion.................................................................................................. 8 6. Environmental impact and economic profitability of solar PV plant ............................................................ 11 7. Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgment ........................................................................................................ 12 References .............................................................................................................. 12 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.12.031 1364-0321/& 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. n Corresponding author. E-mail address: dragana82nis@yahoo.com (D.D. Milosavljević). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 44 (2015) 423–435