Design and simulation analysis of 1 MWp grid-connected photovoltaic system at Gaziantep Airport, Turkey

Abstract

The use of photovoltaic power plants is gradually increasing in order to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions at airports. Airports are suitable settlements for the installation of photovoltaic power plants as they have vast and free of shade areas that are not used in aviation activities. In this study, a 1 MWp photovoltaic power plant is proposed for Gaziantep Airport, Turkey. Performance, economic and environmental benefits of the proposed system were analyzed using the PVsyst simulation tool developed by the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The study demonstrates that Gaziantep Airport is suitable to installation of a grid-connected photovoltaic system and has a high solar energy resource. The proposed photovoltaic power plant at Gaziantep Airport is predicted to operate with an annual electricity generation of 1702.09 MWh, 78.6 % annual average performance ratio (PR), 19.43 % average capacity factor (CF) and 4.67 [h/d] annual average daily final yield.