Abstract
Electrification of Faculty of Engineering (FOE) located in Choba Campus in University of Port Harcourt is often realized through distribution network from Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC). FOE buildings, each consists of two floors with basement, academic staff offices, administrative rooms and public facilities. Huge sum of money is spent daily to run generators and noise pollution has come to live with us. Nigeria however has immense exposure to solar radiation all through the year. It has highest daily solar radiation of 7.0KWh/m2/day and lowest of 3.5KWh/m2/day. Choba has average radiation of 4.55kWh/m2/day and temperature of 27.230C. Choba is at 4049’27’’ North latitude and 702’1’’ East longitude and altitude (elevation) of 20m (64ft). Load profile for FOE was carried out to determine the number of solar panels and inverter rating. Monthly average radiation was obtained from Nigeria meteorological agency between January 2014 to December 2018.The proposed PV system plant capacity is estimated at 100kW based on estimated load profile. Various tools such as system yield factor, capacity utilization factor, performance ratio were used in carrying out performance of 100kW PV system. Plots of I-V characteristics at constant irradiance, P-V characteristics at constant temperature and irradiance and efficiency curve of P-V panels were obtained. The PV is expected to meet 123,228.38kWh annual load demand for FOE, using PVsyst software. This supply period of electricity is between official hours of 8am to 4pm daily and estimated that annual DC energy generated from the system is 126619kWh/year, whereas available energy exported is 121914kWh/year.