Preliminary project of a photovoltaic solar system for Cayo Carenas. Energy and economic advantages

Abstract

The article deals with the preliminary design of a solar photovoltaic system to meet the electricity needs of the residents of Cayo Carenas, an islet located in the bay of Cienfuegos, Cuba. At present, the electrical energy requirements are covered by a 10 kW diesel power plant for electricity generation with an average use of 9 hours/ day and an annual consumption of diesel fuel close to 10 000 liters. According to the indications of the financing entity, the farm is designed with a power of 16 kWp, using DSM 270 modules, the Sunny Tripower 25000T inverter and batteries for power supply at night. It is organized with 60 panels in 6 strings of 10 panels each, divided into 2 branches. The park occupies a maximum area of 200m2. The economic evaluation shows an initial investment of 691,200.00 $ CUP (Cuban Pesos), an NPV of 1,244,000 $ CUP; an Investment Recovery Period (IRP) of 5 years and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 15%, for a useful life of 20 years, making it an attractive investment.