Monitoring and data analysis of a PV system connected to a grid for home applications

Monitoring of a PV system connected to a grid was conducted to collect the system performance and compared to a PV stand-alone system. Daily solar inputs and load outputs for home applications of the two systems were recorded. Balance and surplus of energy in the systems were observed during dry and summer seasons when high solar radiation was recorded. During the raining season, with thunderstorms, solar radiation was low and grid cut-off occasionally occurred. Consequently, energy deficiencies and grid back-up of the systems were observed. It was found that the battery size of the PV system connected to the grid was reduced by a factor of 0.5–0.7 compared to the PV stand-alone counterpart for similar load behaviors. The merits of the PV system connected to the grid during grid cut-off was confirmed; the system proved to be appropriate for tropical countries where unstable electricity supply from the grid can occur during monsoon season.