GIS-based estimation of roof-PV capacity & energy production for the Seeb region in Oman

This paper assesses the potential solar power for the PV roof integration system using the Geographic Information System (GIS). The residential area of Seeb (Muscat-Oman) was investigated as a case study. The constraint of the roof optimization for the optimal design of solar photovoltaic fields consisting of multiple rows was analyzed and the optimal area of deployment of PV collectors was calculated taking into account orientation, shading and masking of adjacent rows. A MATLAB program was developed in order to estimate the total roof-PV power capacity and total annual energy generation. The program takes into account the different factors that affect the efficiency of the PV. The results show that, if we consider 10 hours as a daily average of sunshine, the total roof PV panels in the Seeb area will be equivalent to a 300MW power generation plant.