Design of a PV Solar-Covered Parking System for the College of Renewable Energy Tajoura, Libya: A PVsyst-Based Performance Analysis

Abstract

The paper presents the design and performance simulation of a 78 kW grid-connected solar PV system installed in the parking canopy of the College of Renewable Energy and the Tajoura Kidney Hospital in Libya, designed to meet the college and hospital's distinct loads through three inverters (1 × 20 kW, 2 × 50 kW) with 150 monocrystalline 525W modules oriented due south with a tilted elevation of 30°. The PVsyst software simulates performance, producing 128,964 kWh per year of solar AC energy, with related parameters of 83.37% performance ratio and 1,637 kWh/kWp/year solar yield. Loss components show the major contribution of soiling (2.0%), temperature (2.04%), conversion (2.38%), and unavailability (0.41%). Economic parameters give an LCOE between $0.052 & $0.057 per kWh with a simple payback of 6-7 years. The solar PV meets approximately 49% of the combined institutional demand, along with the export of approximately 123,757 units per year. Probabilistic yield estimation gives the 90th percentile yield of 123.28 MWh/year. The annual avoidance of CO₂ is 70.93 metric tons. The approach presented in this paper presents a practical way to implement solar carports in institutional settings in the North African region.