A short assessment on the profitability of PV grid-connected systems using classical investment project analysis

Recently, PV grid-connected systems have become more attractive from the user viewpoint due to cost decrease together with financial support programmes launched by most developed countries. A brief tutorial on two "classical" indices related to the profitability analysis of an investment project - the net present value and the internal rate of return - is presented in connection to PV grid-connected systems. The equations obtained in this tutorial enable us to produce some charts depicting the above parameters taking into account some available support measures and economic scenarios. These charts may prove useful to help PV designers and users assess the profitability of their investment under different conditions. Lastly, an example of utilisation of these charts and some conclusions put an end to this work.