Technical Performance Evaluation and Feasibility Analysis of a 23.8 kWp Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System

Abstract

The integration of renewable energy systems in institutional buildings requires optimized photovoltaic (PV) designs that consider local climatic conditions and technical constraints. This research evaluates the feasibility and operational performance of a proposed 23.8 kWp (24 kW nominal AC) on-grid rooftop solar power plant installed on the second floor of the Auditorium Building at Universitas Riau Kepulauan, Batam, Indonesia. The study aims to establish a technical baseline for the 2026 PV implementation scenario by optimizing system configuration, estimating energy production, and evaluating the Performance Ratio (PR). The methodology includes site assessment, analysis of solar irradiance and ambient temperature data obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for 2021, PV system modeling using HelioScope software, electrical configuration analysis, inverter sizing, and performance evaluation based on energy yield and system losses. Based on simulation and metric data monitoring, the system utilizes 68 units of 350 Wp monocrystalline photovoltaic modules paired with a single 24 kW inverter. The total active area of the PV array is 146.7 m² on a roof measuring 321.7 m². The evaluation results show that total annual energy production reaches 40,012.7 kWh, with an average daily production of 109.32 kWh/day and an average daily irradiation of 4.53 kWh/m²/day. The annual average Performance Ratio (PR) is recorded at 89.0%, with total system losses of 11.0%. Thermal loss (4.2%) is the primary limiting factor of system performance, followed by inverter loss (2.1%), soiling loss (2.0%), DC/AC wiring loss (1.5%), and mismatch & LID loss (1.2%). This analysis confirms that the proposed system configuration offers high reliability and optimal efficiency for institutional and commercial applications.