Comparative Analysis of Approaches to Consider Rationale of use of Solar Panel Plants for Power Supply of Off-Grid Consumers

Abstract

The values of solar radiation for different monitoring periods from reference books were compared with calculated values taking into account recent data of meteorological stations. The choice of meteorological stations depended on the differences of their latitude location, their position in the zone of the off-grid power supply, available data in different reference books on solar potential of the stations under study and presence of power plants located in different latitude zones using power resources for energy generation. The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) corresponded to these conditions. The comparative analysis of the initial values of solar potential showed that deviations amounted to 5–10%. The authors compared the results of recalculation of solar radiation values on the inclined surface using two approaches and showed the advantages of these approaches. They also investigated how the application of different approaches affected the optimal power of solar panel plants and calculated the payback periods of their construction. The payback period of the existing solar panel plants on the territory of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) was compared with the calculated one. The application of different methodological approaches at different stages of rationale of solar panel plant construction was efficient for the power supply of off-grid consumers. It was proved that a simplified approach was reasonable for investigations of economic viability of power potential use on the territory under study. Detailed calculations are necessary for the determination of technical and economic parameters of a solar panel plant in a concrete settlement and for the estimation of economic effectiveness of its construction taking into account recent meteorological data.