Cost analysis of a photovoltaic plant connected to a 315kw solar grid in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq

Abstract

Most of the world’s energy supply comes from non-renewable energy sources based on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. In the last three decades “Global Warming” has become a major concern for the future of the Earth and its environment. Dependency on fossil fuels to generate electricity to match the escalating demands of increasing populations has resulted in a massive rise in pollution and damage to the environment. Therefore, reliance on fossil fuels needs to be reduced by efficient energy management and replacement with renewable energy sources. Solar energy has emerged as a promising
candidate. It is clean, environmentally friendly and an inexhaustible supply. To satisfy increasing load requirements combined solar and conventional power generation systems are now being implemented as grid connected energy systems. In this paper a cost analysis for a possible 315 KW grid connected solar photovoltaic plant by developing a system based on estimations for a chosen area is presented. The specifications for the equipment needed are based on the availability of the components within the region.