Optimal Weighting of Parameters for Constructing Typical Meteorological Year Datasets for Photovoltaic Power Stations Operated under Hot Dry Maritime Climates
Abstract
The objective of this study is to find an optimal set of the weights of different typical meteorological year (TMY) parameters for photovoltaic (PV) power plants operated under hot dry maritime climates. The TMY datasets are generated for a maximum period of six years, for which there are power output data available from a PV power station located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and equipped with both polycrystalline silicon and cadmium telluride modules. After determining the typical yield year (TYY) i.e. the months with the plant yields closest to the long-term averages, the parameter weights that result in the closest month combination are found. In total, 19 TMY parameters are considered in the study. The TYY-based TMY parameter weighting approach proposed in this paper reduces the deviations of TMY-based yield estimates from the multiannual monthly averages as compared to the previously proposed TMY weighting sets. The resulting locally determined weight sets place approximately two third of the weight on irradiance variables and one third on parameters that are correlated with plant yield but not with irradiance. On an annual scale, no major benefit is derived from using the proposed TYY-based approach as compared to the previously proposed TMY weighting sets. In accordance with the objective, the weighting sets proposed in this study are expected to suit best the regions characterised by hot dry maritime climates such as the areas around the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea as well as the coastal regions of Egypt and Libya.
Keywords
Typical meteorological year, Parameter weighting, Photovoltaic power stations, Hot dry maritime climate