Comparação entre a metodologia de cálculo e o uso dos softwares PVWATTS e SOLAREDGE para projetos de sistemas de geração fotovoltaicos: estudo de caso na ADUFDOURADOS

Abstract

The use of non-renewable energy sources, with 71.1% of the world's electricity matrix, compromises the sustainability of the planet due to its waste and emissions. Brazil, with 92.1% renewability, has been showing a high growth in photovoltaic solar generation, expanding by 82.4% in 2022, and reaching 32.6 GW. Thus, in this work three design methodologies were applied in a photovoltaic solar plant: through the calculation of generation and losses and using free online software – PVWatts Calculator and SolarEdge Designer, analyzing three technologies – string inverter, microinverters and optimizers. The project developed at the Associação dos Docentes da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (ADUFDourados), considered the generation of 16,165.2 kWh and resulted in a photovoltaic solar plant with 22 modules of 550 Wp, or 12.1 kW. With an investment of R$ 43,275.35, the technology using microinverters was chosen, since it obtained the Net Present Value of R$ 250,770.75, Internal Rate of Return of 103.95%, and return on investment in 2 years and 7 months. The calculation methodology obtained global losses equal to 22.08%, while the calculation of the loss factors led to 21.12%, above all, there was a variation of 11.11% and -0.26% between the energy generated using PVWatts and SolarEdge, respectively, confirming the effectiveness in the calculation method, compared to the simulation results.