Published Article

ABSTRACT
In this paper, mathematical models for thermal loss factor settings in PVsyst
software for onshore and offshore PV sites are derived. The thermal loss factor
settings are derived based on the five different thermal loss factor settings and
about 4307 meteorological data records obtained from PVsyst at latitude 14.48°N
and longitude-17.01°W and altitude of 5m. The meteorological data used are the
ambient temperatures (the ambient temperatures (in °C) respectively; G is the
irradiance incident on the plane of the module or array (W/ ) in °C), solar
irradiance incident on the plane of the module or array (G in W/ ) and the wind
speed (Vw in m/s). In the study, two multiple linear regression cell temperature
models were developed; model one with G (W/m²), Ta (°C) and Vw (m/s) as the
explanatory variables; model two with G (W/m²) and Ta (°C) as the explanatory
variables. The results showed that for both the onshore and offshore sites, the
thermal loss factor obtained is for the model one, whereas
the thermal loss factor obtained is for the model two.
Hence, the two thermal loss factors settings obtained for the offshore and offshore
sites PV installations are similar to the thermal loss factor settings currently used by
PVsyst, namely, = 29 and = 0. It can be concluded that the current thermal
loss factor setting of PVSyst is applicable to both onshore and offshore PV sites.
KEYWORDS: PVsyst Software, Thermal Loss Factor, Photovoltaic,
Meteorological Data, Onshore PV Installation, Offshore PV
Installation, Cell Temperature