One-Year Performance Analysis of a 3000 Wp Grid-Connected PV System in Tropical Climate

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of a 3000 Wp grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system over a one-year operational period. The objective is to analyze system behavior under real environmental conditions using detailed statistical and graphical methods. The methodology includes daily and monthly assessments of irradiance, power output, temperature, voltage, and system losses. A total of 15 figures were used to visualize the system’s behavior, including input/output relationships, performance ratio trends, and power and temperature distributions. Results show an average annual reference incident energy of 4.846 kWh/m²/day, with peak values in February (6.0 kWh/m²/day) and minimum values in June (4.0 kWh/m²/day). The produced useful energy averaged 4.06 kWh/kWp/day, with total system losses of 0.79 kWh/kWp/day comprised of 12.9% collection loss and 3.3% inverter/system loss. The Performance Ratio (PR) was consistently high at 0.838, reflecting efficient energy conversion across all seasons. Power output was most frequently distributed between 1500 W and 2500 W, peaking around 2000 W. Thermal and electrical stability were confirmed with module temperatures mostly ranging from 30°C to 50°C and voltage concentrated around 150 V. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of cumulative tail distributions, voltage/temperature histograms, and irradiance correlation analysis—methods not commonly used together in existing literature. These findings confirm the system’s reliability and offer valuable insight into operational optimization and design strategies. The study contributes a practical, data-driven reference for PV performance benchmarking under tropical climate conditions.