LONG TERM PERFORMANCE OF PV HYBRID SYSTEM

IN THE GOBI DESERT OF MONGOLIA

Amarbayar Adiyabat
1

1
NUM-SPE, Department of Application Physics, School of
Physics and Electronics, National University of Mongolia,
Address: Ikh surguuliin gudamj - 1, Baga toiruu, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Cell: +976-99045070, Fax: +976-11-329993, email: amarbayar@gmail.com





ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of a long-term
performance analysis of PV-hybrid system based on 5
years operational data from the field site of Noyon soum,
Umnugobi province, Mongolia, project supported by New
Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization of J apan (NEDO). The NEDO has performed
demonstrative research on the independent dispersed PV-
hybrid systems: PV, 200kW, DEG (Diesel Engine
Generator): 100kVA*3set) from 2002 to 2004 in Mongolia.
The main purpose of this project was to improve system
reliability and cost performance on the natural conditions
and distinctive social systems, which are rarely seen in
J apan.
It has been observed that the high PV penetration (during
project period: 80.4% during 09/2003-12/2007) 71% of
total supplied energy, and the low system failure ratio. On
the other hand, average PR (performance ratio) indicated
0.20 (during project period), 0.14 (estimated values
between 09/2003-12/2007) due to the limited demand and
distributed/grid-connected PV units (100kW) with the
auxiliary power mode.

INTRODUCTION

The NEDO has performed demonstrative research on
hybrid type photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems
from 2002 to 2004 at Noyon soum, Umnugobi province,
Mongolia (see Figure 1).

Ulaanbaatar
Noyon

Figure 1 Location of the Noyon soum center

The main purpose of these projects was to improve
system reliability and cost performance on the natural
conditions and distinctive social systems are rarely seen in
J apan [1].
This paper describes the results of a long-term
performance analysis of PV-hybrid systems based on
measured operation data during project period, and actual
record data after the project period.

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

The system consists of 4 dispersed grid-connected PV
units, 2 centralized PV units, 2 lead-acid battery units,
central controller unit, and 3 sets of existing DEG (see
Figure 2). Dispersed PV units located at school (40kW),
hospital (40kW), admin office (10kW), and
telecommunication station (10kW). Modular PC (power
conditioner) 10kW employing multi units build up systems
were used in each PV unit. PC (10kW*10set) in a power
center (PV 100kW), were separated into 2 lines (units) and
each of them were designed to connect storage batteries
(288kWh, 1000Ah*2V*144cell).

PVarray Battery
Local Grid
Diesel Gen.
AC380V
PVarray
288kWh*2 unit
50kW*2 unit
Cent.Controller
DC/AC
Distributed grid-connected PV
100kW (40kW*2, 10kW*2)
100kVA*3 set
50kW*2unit
DC/AC

Figure 2 System configuration of the Noyon field site


Figure 3 Main operation mode (PV+Bat and DEG
switching operation)

Power conditioners of two centralized PV units,
alternately switch between self-sustained operations and
grid-connected operations by orders of a central controller
and carry out adjustment of PV outputs and control of load
sharing according as power demand variation (figure 3). In
this site, all of PV array are mounted at a fixed angle (60
degree) and facing south (azimuth 0 degree).

ANALYSIS METHOD

The field data analysis is divided into 2 parts: solar
energy resource evaluation, and system performance. For
evaluation of the solar energy resource, we use monthly
average irradiation, and irradiation variable ratio. The
system performance indices include reference yield, final
yield, system performance ratio, PV penetration ratio.
In this analysis, system operation data referred by 2
different source. Main data is measured operation data
during the project period (09/2003-03/2005), which was
provided by an implementer of the NEDO project. The
actual data recorded after project period (04/2005-
12/2007), which was obtained by a follow-up survey at the
field site. Main operation data was measured every 30
minutes and stored in the data loggers. Measurement
items were as follows: incident global irradiance in array-
plane (tilt angle: 60 degree), PV unit outputs
[kWh/30minut], battery input (charge) [kWh/30minut], DEG
output [kWh/30minut] [1]

Solar Energy Resource Indices: The horizontal and in-
plane irradiations [kWh/m
2
/day] were used for the indices
of solar energy resource.

System Performance Indices: All system performance
data have been evaluated in terms of operational
performance and reliability. The evaluation procedures are
based on the IEC Standard 61724 [7].

Yr = HA / GS (1) YA = EA,d / Pmax (2)
Yf = Eload,d / Pmax (3) PR =Yf / Yr (4)

The reference yield Yr is based on the in-plane irradiation
HA and represents the theoretically available energy GS
per day and kWp. The final PV system yield Yf is the daily
PV system output energy EP to the load per day and kWp,
represents the number of hours per day that the array
would need to operate at its rated output power Pmax to
contribute the same daily array energy to the system as it
was monitored. The system performance ratio PR is the
ratio of PV energy actually used to the energy theoretically
available (i.e. Yf/Yr). It is independent of location and
system size and indicates the overall losses on the arrays
rated output due to module temperature, incomplete
utilization of irradiance and system component
inefficiencies or failures [2, 3].

RESULTS

An average value of 2 year horizontal and in-plane
irradiation indicated 4.51, 5.53 [kWh/m
2
/d/yr] in the Noyon
site. Monthly in-plane irradiations were relatively constant,
because a seasonal variation of solar energy at the PV
panel reduced by the high tilt angle (Figure 4). Other
reason of high tilt angle were as follows: 1) higher electric
demand for lighting in winter than warmer season, 2) snow
sliding off by gravity, to avoid the snow cover.

Figure 4 Horizontal and In-plane (Tilt angle 60 degree)
Irradiation [kWh/m
2
/d], NA in 2004/8
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
-20.0
-10.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
0:00 2:00 4:00 6:00 8:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
E
n
e
r
g
y
P
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

[
k
W
h
/
h
]
2004/3/25
Charge-2
Charge-1
DEG
Admin 10kW
School 40kW
Telecom
10kW
Hospital
40kW
Center-2
50kW
Center-1
50kW
IrradTilt
[kW/m2]
Daily Operation Profile of PV hybrid system

Figure 5 Hourl y energy flow (sample day: 2004/3/25)

Figure 6 Dail y energy flow (2004/04)

The figure 5 shows a typical one day operating condition
of the system. In the morning, a centralized and dispersed
PV units charges batteries which have discharged on the
previous day. After charging, the system starts load
following operations and the dispersed PV units will be in
standby conditions. Power demand increases in the
evening and the system supplies electricity according to
shortfalls by order of central controller when solar
irradiation decreases. During DEG scheduled time (around
18:00-22:00PM), all the PV systems are stopped, the
system switches to only DEG operation modes. After that,
electricity is supplied by battery discharge at evening
when power demand is low. Parallel hybrid operation of
PV and DEG avoided due to governor of existing DEG
was manual.
Figure 6 for daily energy flow shows the centralized PV
units (Center-1, 2 50kW) conducts sharing operations of
load power and operation time by switching between self-
sustained operations and grid-connected operations every
other day.

0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
-100.0
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
S
e
p
-
0
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O
c
t
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a
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a
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p
r
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a
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u
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u
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u
g
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S
e
p
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v
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a
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5
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g
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P
r
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d
u
c
t
i
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[
k
W
h
/
d
]
Charge-2
Charge-1
DEG
Admin 10kW
School 40kW
Telecom 10kW
Hospital 40kW
Center-2 50kW
Center-1 50kW
Ref. Yield [h]
Monthly Operation Profile of the Noyon PV hybrid system

Figure 7 Monthl y average energy flow (NA in 2004/8)

Regarding the reference yield, compared to 3.72 hours of
an average value of Tokyo (tilt angle 40 deg.), 5.86 hours
(Table 1) in Noyon, Mongolia was about 1.6-fold greater,
which means Noyon had rich solar energy resource.
The average performance ratio indicated 0.20 (Table 1)
during project period, 0.14 (estimated value between
09/2003-12/2007, used in-plane irradiation data of 2003
(Figure 4) for reference yield in every year)
An average final yield of grid-connected PV systems in
J apan was about 1,000 hours a year (2.74h/d) and a
system performance ratio indicated around 0.75. An
average performance ratio of 37 portable solar home
systems in Mongolia, was around 0.24 [4]. Compared to
these results, a performance ratio of Noyon system was a
low value.
Causes of the low system performance ratio in this site
were as follows: The PV systems performed in self-
sustained operation modes, and the PV systems whose
size was about three times as much as peak power
demand (70kW) were installed to keep system reserved
capacities to maintain voltages and frequencies of the off-
grid system. As a result, many dispersed PV units stood
by except when solar irradiation was low.
The system provides a high-level solar energy
contribution of 80% and low-level of failure rates from the
view point of long-term reliability, environmental issues,
and dependency rates on fossil fuels.
On the other hand, to achieve self-sustained operations
which provide power control capabilities, installation of
large-capacity PV systems and expensive initial
investments are required, which requires to be considered.
To prevent this situation, some measures are considered
to increase the energy availability factor. The measures
are; an installation of PV system at low cost condition,
decrease and dispersion of peak load by DSM (Demand
Side Management), an installation of adjustment load
(icemaker, pump).

LESSON LEARNED

Measure for a demand increase
A soft measure to change a tariff system provided a
stable transition according to dramatic increase of power
demand just after commencement of a project (Figure 8).
Total power consumption became more than double
because electricity supply time had been extended from
about 5 hours to more than 12 hours. In addition,
employment of a fixed charge system was also one of the
factors that power demand increased. Watt-hour meter
were installed at each consumers house and a metered
rate system was employed as a new electric bill collection
system. As a result, half a year later, whole electric
demand decreased and showed a stable transition.

Cut and restart of fuel subsidies
The field survey found DEG operation was limited and
power supply decreased because government subsidies
of diesel fuel cost for local electric companies who ran at a
loss, were cut. The subsidies were not supplied for one
year and a half (see Figure 8). The limit of DEG operation
led to putting more load to battery, and then caused early
deterioration and decline in function. Since local
government acknowledged that battery capacity of this
hybrid system was not designed to cover whole night load,
local government resumed the subsidy system. Then DEG
power supply returned to the same level as before, that is:
completion of the demonstrative research project.
To gain local government and residents correct
recognition for functions, characteristics and
disadvantages (running cost, replacement cost and etc.) of
the installed system, site tour and events with experiences
activities during construction period are necessary.

Multi-parallel modular inverters
Installation of multiple inverters to form multi-parallel
system, are important to deal with component failures. To
reduce system failure time and shortage for planned
maintenance or lightning stokes.
In fact, 10kW modular inverter 20 sets with 4 spare for
200 kW PV capacity were installed in September 2003,
but three broke down because of lightning strikes from
time of installation to September 2009.
Multi-parallel modular inverters demonstrated by fact that
the modular inverters provide highly-efficient operations
even at low load level and it leads to high maintainability in
fault conditions, and reduction of installation costs and
quantity of works for system extension.

When dispersed-multiple PV systems with centralized
controller are installed, additional investment for control
communication lines and control technologies focusing on
demand-and-supply balance among several PV systems
are to be considered.


CONCLUSION

It has been observed that the high PV penetration ratio
(during project period: 80.4%, during 09/2003-12/2007:
71%) of total supplied energy, and the low system failure
ratio. On the other hand, average PR (performance ratio)
indicated 0.20 (during project period), due to the limited
demand and distributed/grid-connected PV units (100kW)
with the auxiliary power mode.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This work has been done as the Development of
Supportive Technology for Designing PV-Hybrid Power
Generation Systems under the NEDOs International
Cooperative Demonstration Project Utilizing Photovoltaic
Power Generation Systems (FY2006 - 2010). The authors
wish to thank NEDO and project implementers for
providing the measured data during project period.




REFERENCES

[1] NEDO, Report of the Demonstrative Research Project
on Dispersed Photovoltaic Power Generation System in
Mongolia, 2003-2005, March 2005, in J apanese

[2] IEC; The International Electrotechnical Commission,
Photovoltaic system performance monitoring Guidelines
for measurement, data exchange and analysis, IEC
61724, 1998

[3] U. J ahn, D. Mayer, M. Heidenreich and etc.
International Energy Agency PVPS Task 2: Analysis of
the operational performance of the IEA Database PV
systems, 16th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Conference and Exhibition, Glasgow, United Kingdom,
May 2000

[4] A. Amarbayar, Kosuke Kurokawa, Performance
Analysis of Portable Photovoltaic Systems based on the
Demonstrative Research Data in Mongolia, J . J SES, 168
Vol.31 No.4, 2005, page 83-88



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2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
DEG [kWh] PV [kWh]
NEDO Project Period
Change of electric tariff
(fixed to metered rate)
Non-subsidy for the fuel cost
Extension of
supply time

Figure 8 Monthl y average generated energy [kWh/month]