On the maximization of a cost-effective PV sizing; towards an intelligent building

The issue of the most cost-effective configuration of a stand-alone PV plant to meet the loads with a high confidence level, is one of prime importance. The paper describes and compares two new approaches which when combined may provide much more reliable and economic PV sizing and performance, compared with the conventional methodology. There is outlined an evolution of PV sizing methodologies with an inbuilt level of intelligence which eventually maximizes the cost-effectiveness and the performance ratio of a stand alone PV plant. Comparison of results provided by three PV sizing methodologies is presented and argued.