ABSTRACT

The increasing demand for renewable energy led to the exploration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to conventional energy sources. This project designs an optimized standalone solar PV system through simulations, focusing on the sizing and analysis of key components, including solar panels, batteries, and inverters. These components are tailored to meet a household’s energy needs, independent of the local power grid, ensuring efficiency and reliability under varying climatic conditions and energy consumption patterns.

Our method includes a detailed system sizing and component selection and results from a simulation using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software. Based on research and calculations, simple standalone PV system consisting of a solar array, a charge controller, an inverter and Li-ion batteries will meet the daily energy demand of a household with a maximum load of 2.79 kWh per day. The simulations evaluates the technical performance as well as the economic viability of the system while putting load shifting and energy prioritization in consideration to guarantee essential load remains powered.

With the minimum requirements and adequate configuration, the simulation proves that the energy demand is met efficiently while providing a significant long-term cost savings in comparison to being connected to on-grid electricity supply. To promote the adoption of sustainable energy solution, we have provided a scalable and practical model of a standalone solar PV system for residential use. This project contributes to the renewable energy sector by offering a comprehensive guide for implementing similar systems both locally and globally.