Comparative Numerical Energy and Performance Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power Generation

This study analyses fixed and tracking solar photovoltaics and, solar thermal power. Performance in different locations was analysed for each configuration and technology using simulations based on a Typical Meteorological Year data. The study analysed a 25MWp solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants in each of the eleven selected locations in Zimbabwe. The performance of the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants under different meteorological variables were assessed for all the selected locations. It was shown that different configurations together with different technologies have different conversion efficiencies. A high solar thermal conversion efficiency was found to be 18.718% in Gweru while it was 15.502% for solar photovoltaics in Mutare. The study also showed that highest insolation and clearness index values were found in Gweru. The average energy generated by the fixed photovoltaic collectors, tracking photovoltaic collectors and the Concentrating Solar Power plant were respectively 47.38GWh, 68.18GWh and 192.86GWh. There was a maximum percentage difference in the LCoE generated of 32.03% between the fixed PV collectors and the Concentrating Solar Power plant and a difference of 4.74% was realised between the tracking photovoltaics and Concentration Solar Power.