Solar photovoltaic system design and its reliability

In this paper a simple methodology for solar photovoltaic system design based on annual mean Global Solar Radiation (GSR) is presented. The approach involves sizing of the array and the battery for average GSR of the year. The battery bank is sized to operate the load with variable sequence of below average GSR days. This will mean that on the average the battery will be probably charged during rest of the year even during the worst season. The validity of the approach is examined in terms of the concept of the loss of load probability (LLP). The loss of load probability is characterized a new parameters, the annual number of system failures and standard deviation of annual number of system failures are derived and discussed.