Development of the process for deploying optimal photovoltaic system

As global warming and environmental pollution become one of the widespread concerns, there is a growing interest in nearly zero energy building (NZEB) in the construction industry worldwide. In order to achieve NZEB, it is crucial to apply the new renewable energy (NRE) to the building. Among the common NREs, the solar energy is an unlimited energy source having the highest potential. However, the current process for deploying PV systems has some limitations: (i) lack of information and analysis of the target facility; (ii) lack of sensitivity analysis of key factors affecting system performances; and (iii) Lack of optimization process. This study develops the process for deploying PV system which makes it possible for potential users and installers to maximize the performance of each system. The proposed process consists of the following 4 steps: (i) establishing the basic information for the system installation; (ii) selecting key factors affecting system performances; (iii) estimating system energy output of the possible system alternatives; and (iv) selecting the optimal system through the life cycle cost (LCC) and life cycle CO₂ (LCCO₂) analysis. The results of this study could help potential users and installers to install a PV system in several ways: (i) maximize the financial benefit of the system; (ii) maximize the efficiency and utilization of the system; (iii) select the optimal PV system according to the target facility and the users' preference.