Designing a PSCAD based PV simulator for partial shading to validate future PV application planning

Partial shading on Photovoltaic (PV) array reduces solar irradiance experienced by PV modules and hence reduces system performance by lessening output power. Thus, to plan for a future implementation of PV system in any place, it is essential to simulate the performance of desired PV array under both uniform and partial shading condition. To fulfil such simulation requirement, a PSCAD based PV simulator for grid connected PV system is proposed in this paper to investigate the performance of a PV system before implementation. The main application of this PV simulator is to simulate different levels of solar irradiance on PV panels for grid connected PV system and study its performance before implementing it practically. To verify the application of this proposed simulator, a case study based on Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is conducted. The rooftop of building E, Swinburne Sarawak is used to design a PV system and the shadow pattern on the rooftop is monitored for a month throughout the day. Real-time solar irradiance data in 2015 is obtained from Sarawak Meteorological Office. Based on both solar irradiance data and shadow pattern on the rooftop, a computational study is performed for a complete year on how much power can be obtained from proposed PV system using the PSCAD simulator. The power yield from simulated PV system is compared with the load consumption in the university and a simplified cost analysis on the system is carried out to determine the suitability of implementation of such PV array on the rooftop of that building.