Comparison Study in Terms of The Results of Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems Designed with PVsyst and MATLAB Simulink Software

Abstract

With the advancement of technology and the increase in the global population, the need for energy is growing daily. Today, the majority of energy needs are met from fossil fuels. The limited reserves of fossil fuels have increased the tendency towards alternative energy sources due to reasons such as harming the environment and causing global warming. Some renewable energy sources are sun, wave, wind, biomass, and others. Among them are the most preferred solar energy systems. Before implementing any photovoltaic (PV) project, technological and economic feasibility is required to optimize electricity generation, reliability, and costs. As of today, various simulation tools have been created to predict and optimize a PV system. This study examined the differences between the results obtained from photovoltaic solar energy systems designed using PVsyst and MATLAB/Simulink software and how these differences affect the energy production and performance of the systems. Regression analysis was performed by comparing the output data with each other, and it was determined which direction was advantageous or disadvantageous. 75 kW PV system was designed in Ankara using PVsyst and MATLAB/Simulink software, and the simulation outputs obtained from the two software were compared. Three different PV systems were designed and numbered: Design-1: PVsyst System, Design-2: MATLAB/Simulink with MPPT Algorithm, and Design-3: MATLAB/Simulink without MPPT Algorithm. The monthly differences between the two software and the three design outcomes are highly variable. These differences are between 0.36% and 10.72% in Design-1 with Design-2. It is between 14.21% and 43.71% in the Design-1 with Design-3. It is between 17.65% and 49.32% Design-2 with Design-3. According to analysis findings, it has been determined that the sensitivity of the MATLAB/Simulink software to temperature change is higher than the PVsyst software. In addition, reasons such as the variable MPPT algorithms and the automatic or manual entry of the data are also effective in the difference.