Performance Analysis of a Stand-Alone Solar PV battery System for Supplying Low Voltage Rural Customers in South Africa

Abstract

This paper proposes the use of solar energy as a means of providing electricity to low voltage rural consumers. The design process deals with modelling individual modules for the entire PV-battery system. These modules are; a PV module, MPPT Controller, DC-DC boost/buck converter, battery, inverter, resistive load and charge controller module. These individual modules are combined and simulated to analyse their performance under varying environment conditions and loads. The P&O method is implemented for MPPT and the Herman Beta method is used to predict the load requirements of the village. This model is used to determine the voltage, current and power at MPP and voltage level at load terminals is measured for different case studies. The model of the stand-alone PV system is simulated using Matlab Simulink and the performance of the system.