Performance Evaluation of a Standalone Solar PV System for Electricity Generation in an Estate

This work focuses on the performance evaluation of a Standalone Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system for electricity generation in an estate requiring a daily power consumption of 50KW. This was achieved through a solar tracker software/hardware – embedded programme control system. A programmable microcontroller (PIC16F877A), light detection sensors (CDS NORP 12), motor driver IC (L293D), power relays (NTE-R22-5) and a dc gear motor with linear actuator (HARL-3618) were used. MikroC Pro compiler from Mikro Electroniker was used to programme the PIC16F877A. A fixed PV panel of same size was placed side by side and tested with the solar tracking system. The test results obtained showed that the solar tracking system produced 14.3W at 8:00am, increases to a maximum of 25.83W at 1:00pm and decreased to 16.28W at 6:00pm while the fixed PV panel produced 5W at 8:00am, increased to a maximum of 25.62W at 1:00pm and decreased to 10.6W at 6:00pm. These results gave the solar tracking system an efficiency increase of 33 percent over the fixed system. The designed system installed in residential homes has capacity to guarantee sustainable, durable and improved power supply