Design and Analysis of On-grid 150 kW Bifacial Solar Photovoltaic System

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Energy and Renewable Energies Technology Center, University of Technology, Baghdad, P.O. Box:10066-Iraq
2 Research of Environment and Renewable Energy, Karbala University, Karbala, P.O. Box:1152- Iraq
3 Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Sumer, Rifai, P.O. Box: 64001, Iraq
Abstract
The use of renewable energy, especially solar photovoltaic power, is essential for energy efficiency and reduces emissions that harm the environment and human health. In this study, a 150 kW on-grid photovoltaic system was designed and analysed by PV-sys software. The work's location near the river keeps the site cooler. The modules use a bifacial design, which offers high efficiency and a low annual degradation rate of about 1%. The optimum tilt angle, spacing between modules, and module height above the ground are 30°, 6m, and 1.5m, respectively. The rooftop and ceiling areas of the garage are sufficient for installing the system. The annual incident irradiance, output power, and PR are 2033.9 kWh/m2, 268.169 MWh, and 85.89%, respectively. The total CO2 emission is 5697.1 t. The cost of the system is 150,000,000 $. At the local tariff of $0.0066-$0.023/kWh, the payback period is 6.6 years. The realized profits exceed 200% of the cost price in just twenty years. Installing the current system, providing heat insulation for the building's rooftop and garage ceiling. Also, free energy without gas emission, and new jobs. Compared to a hybrid system of the same capacity.
Keywords

  1. Saleh, H.M. and A.I. Hassan, The challenges of sustainable energy transition: A focus on renewable energy. Applied Chemical Engineering, 2024. 7(2): p. 2084. doi: 10.59429/ace.v7i2.2084
  2. Al‐Rikabi, I.J., et al., Energy Landscape in Iraq: Current Status, Research Review, and Policy Insights. Energy Science & Engineering, 2026. 14(1): p. 625-678. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.70359.
  3. Kazem, H. A., & Chaichan, M. T. (2012). Status and future prospects of renewable energy in Iraq. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(8), 6007-6012.‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.03.058inable Energy Reviews, 2012. 16(8): p. 6007-6012.
  4. Chen, R., et al., Silicon quantum dots prepared by electrochemical etching and their application in solar cells. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 2023. 34(13): p. 1105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10513-8
  5. Alsobhi, B., DFT insights on the chloride double perovskites X2AuBiCl6 (X= K, Rb, and Cs) with semiconductor nature for PV and optoelectronic applications. Computational Condensed Matter, 2025. 43: p. e01040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocom.2025.e01040
  6. Abed, H.R., A.I. Khudadad, and F.M. Oleiwi, Influence of the distance between nozzle and substrate on the structural, photoluminescence, and detector characteristics of p-NiO/n-Si hetero-junction deposited by spray pyrolysis method. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2022. 54(8): p. 482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-022-03833-2
  7. Gbashi, K. R., Bahari, A., & Lafta, S. H. (2026). Multi-layer ceramics based on Ba (CaTi) O3 capacitors and investigation of their temperature stability performance and characteristics. Ceramics International.52, 14. A, June 2026, Pages 23843-23853 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.424‏
  8. Oleiwi, F.M., J.O. Dahloos, And H.F. Abd Ali, Performance Analysis Of 1 Mw Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System for Three Different Environments in Southwest Baghdad by Using Pv-System Software. DOI:10.35933/paliva. 2024. 04.05
  9. Zainulabdeen, F.S., et al., Optical measurement and performance prediction of solar PV system in Al-Khidhir Zone/Iraq. Karbala International Journal of Modern Science, 2022. 8(2): p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.33640/2405-609X.3216
  10. Shneishil, A., M. Rasheed, and J. Dahloos, Design and mathematical simulation for the performance of 1 MWp distributed photovoltaic plant in Baghdad City. international journal of design and Nayure and Ecodynamics, 2023. 18(3): p. 677-683. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijdne.180320
  11. Ahmed, S., et al., A comprehensive review of solar photovoltaic systems: scope, technologies, applications, progress, challenges and recommendations. IEEE Access, vol. 13, pp. 69723-69750,‏ DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3558539
  12. Oleiwi, F.M., et al., Solar Photovoltaic System as a Sustainable Solution for Electric Load Shortage in Baghdad: A Design and Economic Study. Energy Engineering: Journal of the Association of Energy Engineers, 2026. 123(2). https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2025.073313.
  13. El-saadawi, Y.F., et al., Development and simulation of a solar power system utilizing PV SYST software. Al-Azhar Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2025. 9(1). DOI: 10.21608/azeng.2025.373634.1033.‏
  14. Behera, A. and P. Mohanty. A comparative study on grid-tied PV system using PV syst software & MATLAB. in 2024 IEEE Third International Conference on Power Electronics, Intelligent Control and Energy Systems (ICPEICES). (pp. 526-531). IEEE.‏ DOI: 0.1109/ICPEICES62430.2024.10719096.
  15. AL-SARRAJ, A. and F. Yigit, Modeling the use of PVsyst software for a stand-alone PV solar system" off grid" with batteries by utilizing silicon hetero-junction technology (HJT) panels in Iraq/Basra. Al-Rafidain Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2024: p. 32-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61268/0hyjvn12
  16. Zubeidat, H.M. and B.R. Qawasmeh, Enhancing the productivity of PV module using cooling method: Experimental and simulation investigation in Jordan. Solar Energy, 2025. 287: p. 113238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.113238
  17. Ma, M., et al., Comprehensive investigation for power degradation of dust-covered photovoltaic modules based on the overlap model: A case study. Solar Energy, 2025. 291: p. 113389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.113389
  18. Sharma, S., C.P. Kurian, and L.S. Paragond. Solar PV system design using PVsyst: a case study of an academic Institute. in 2018 international conference on control, power, communication and computing technologies (ICCPCCT). 2018. IEEE. (pp. 123-128). IEEE.‏ DOI: 10.1109/ICCPCCT.2018.8574334
  19. Ling, K.S. and M.S.M. Resali. Optimization and Performance Analysis of a Grid-Connected Residential Solar PV System Using PVsyt Software. in 2025 9th International Conference on Man-Machine Systems (ICoMMS). 2025. IEEE. (pp. 368-373). IEEE.‏ DOI: 10.1109/ICoMMS66553.2025.11200315
  20. Nfaoui, M., et al., Comprehensive modeling and simulation of photovoltaic system performance by using MATLAB/Simulink: integrating dynamic meteorological parameters for enhanced accuracy. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Applied Sciences, 2025. 11(3): p. 633-656. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s43994-024-00175-5
  21. Aziz, A.S., et al., Design and optimization of a grid-connected solar energy system: Study in Iraq. Sustainability, 2022. 14(13): p. 8121. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138121.
  22. Kayri, İ., Investigation of near shading losses in photovoltaic systems with PVsyst software. Balkan Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2024. 12(1): p. 10-19. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4973-641X
  23. Alotaibi, M.A. and A.M. Eltamaly, A smart strategy for sizing of hybrid renewable energy system to supply remote loads in Saudi Arabia. Energies, 2021. 14(21): p. 7069. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217069
  24. Lorenzo, Eduardo. (2021) ‘On the historical origins of bifacial PV modelling’, Solar Energy 218587-595.‏7069; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217069
  25. Yakubu, R.O., et al., A systematic literature review of the bifacial photovoltaic module and its applications. The Journal of Engineering, 2024. 2024(8): p. e12421. https://doi.org/10.1049/tje2.12421
  26. Ahmad, N., et al., Feasibility and performance analysis of a solar photovoltaic park for an industrial City. Energy Conversion and Management, 2026. 352: p. 121144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2026.121144
  27. Rahimi, A., K. Gorgani Firouzjah, and J. Ghasemi, A PVsyst analysis of shading and arrangement optimization for a solar power plant in Babolsar. Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment, 2025. 16(4): p. 580-593. doi: 10.5829/ijee.2025.16.04.02
  28. Abdel Hafez, E. and F. Abd-Al-hamid, Design and Performance Optimization of a Solar Photovoltaic System for Al-Zaytoonah University’s Computer Center Using PVsyst Software. Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment, 2025. 12(3): p. 77-84. doi: 10.30501/jree.2025.513397.2314
  29. Mohammad, M.S. and R.M. Hannun, Assessment of Using an Off-Grid Hybrid Solar/Wind Renewable System for Power Generation in the South of Iraq. Journal of Solar Energy Research, 2026. 11(1): p. 2802-2819. doi: 10.22059/jser.2026.407179.1675
  30. Sun, X., et al., Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective. Applied energy, 2018. 212: p. 1601-1610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.12.041
  31. Belmahdi, B. and A. El Bouardi, Solar potential assessment using PVsyst software in the northern zone of Morocco. Procedia Manufacturing, 2020. 46: p. 738-745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2020.03.104
  32. Dobaria, B., M. Pandya, and M. Aware, Analytical assessment of 5.05 kWp grid tied photovoltaic plant performance on the system level in a composite climate of western India. Energy, 2016. 111: p. 47-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.05.082
  33. Ali, M., Outdoor testing of photovoltaic modules during summer in Taxila, Pakistan. Thermal Science, 2014. 20(1), 165-173.‏ https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI131216025A
  34. Jaffe, R.L. and W. Taylor, The physics of energy. 2018: Cambridge University Press.
  35. Venkatadurgaprasad, K., et al. Investing Solar Bifacial Half Cut Single PV Panel for Enriched Power Delivery and System Stability Using Hybrid Approaches. in E3S Web of Conferences. 2024. EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202454701023