Title: MATLAB-based tool for modelling on-grid photovoltaic systems dedicated to the housing sector in UAE

Authors: Ali H. Assi, Mohammed A. Jama

Addresses: Department of Electrical Engineering, UAE University, P.O. Box 17555 Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. ' Department of Electrical Engineering, UAE University, P.O. Box 17555 Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Abstract: On-grid photovoltaic systems are renowned and established systems in countries where solar and wind energy is used for residential buildings. The main objective of this project is to design a comprehensive MATLAB-based tool that performs a technical and economical analysis of on-grid photovoltaic systems. This tool will be used to design on-grid building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) real-estate market. A large PV equipments database including PV modules and grid-connected inverters from various PV vendors| worldwide and weather information for Al-Ain in UAE are used in this tool. This database will offer good diversity for a PV designer to design a system that meets power requirements. Using this tool, an on-grid PV system is proposed for a real villa design in Al-Ain city.

Keywords: on-grid photovoltaic systems; building-integrated photovoltaic systems; MATLAB; modelling; housing sector; smart homes; UAE; United Arab Emirates; solar energy; solar power; residential buildings; photovoltaic design; power requirements; villa design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2010.030548

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2010 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.250 - 273

Published online: 21 Dec 2009 *

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