Arab Educational Information Network

Currently, the extensive use of energy generation based on fossil produced an excessive amount of CO2 emissions which affect the environment. If this continuous, the atmosphere temperature is expected to increase, which increase storms, hurricanes, droughts, and floods. Therefore, Urgent action is needed nowadays to change the energy system to renewable energy since it results in a little to no emission. This paper presents the design and simulation of a solar PV grid-connected electricity generation system of 100MW capacity in Umm Al-Qura University (UQU). It also represents technical, economic potential, and annual performance of the solar PV system. The design is validated and simulated by using PVSYST software in order to determine the optimum size, the specifications of the PV grid-connected system, and the electrical power generation. The amount of electricity that a solar PV plant generates is 100 MW. This amount could be used to reduce the load of Saudi electricity company (SEC) and help to minimize the annual electricity bill of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU). The study provides an abridged financial evaluation of the solar PV plant along with the operation and maintenance costs. The results of this project should encourage Umm Al-Qura University to decide on installing a solar PV system to reduce load shedding and minimize the cost of supplying electricity to its facilitates. Moreover, the solar power plant helps to conserve oil and reduce environmental impacts. A project like this can also act as a guideline for possible solar systems in other different institutions. (Published abstract)