TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL ANALYSIS ON THREE TYPES OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS

Abstract

As Malaysia is one of the developing country, the
requirement and demand of the energy is rapidly
increasing. In order to cope with this increasing demand,
Malaysia has started to encourage more alternative
methods of power generation and one of the most
emerging renewable power generation is solar. Various
researches had been conducted to identify the best solar
material which is capable in providing the best output
power from the harvesting process. This paper
encompasses the finding of three solar materials on both
perspectives by analysing and comparing the
performances of these solar materials on a residential
roof top application. The outcome of this study had
provided several useful information and guideline in
assisting future home owners who plan to install a PV
system either to ‘buy or lease’ it in the first place. Home
owners have the potential to gain the optimum benefit
from their photovoltaic (PV) system through selecting the
best solar material at the first place. Sharp NU-U180FC
(monocrystalline), Hanwha Q-Cells-Q.PRO-G4 265
(polycrystalline) and Kaneka G-SA060 (amorphous) are
among the available PV solar modules in the market.
These models had been selected in this study and their
performances were outlined based on the respective
parameters measured through the Solar Advisor Model
(SAM) software and PV Analyzer Kit. The survey
conducted among the home owners in Bangi area who
had own a workable PV system had resulted in 85 % of
the respondents preferred to buy rather than leasing the
solar system.