In South Africa, there is an increasing interest in installing rooftop mounted solar photovoltaic systems. However, financing the photovoltaic systems causes most interest to be abandoned, largely due to the cost required to replace a building's asbestos roof. An alternative solution to replacing an asbestos roof is to install a ground-mounted photovoltaic system, which is more costly compared to a rooftop mounted system. This study aims to determine if a ground-mounted or a rooftop mounted solar photovoltaic system is the most financially feasible solar photovoltaic configuration. In this study three photovoltaic systems were analysed, all of which are installed in Atlantis, Western Cape (WC). Since all three systems are in the same area, they are all exposed to the same metrological conditions, allowing for identical energy generation potential. Two of the photovoltaic systems are ground-mounted systems located respectfully at the South African Renewable Energy Incubator (SAREBI) and at Stripform Packaging. The third system is a rooftop mounted system located at SA Tyre Recyclers. The photovoltaic system at SAREBI is a 9.75 kWp system consisting of 30 Canadian Solar CS6U-325P modules, one Schneider Electric 20 kW inverter, a tilt angle of 15° and an azimuth angle of -19°. The photovoltaic system at SA Tyre Recyclers is a 231 kWp system consisting of 700 JA Solar JAP72S-01-330-SC modules, 7 SolarEdge 27.6 kW inverters, a tilt angle of 13° and an azimuth angle of 22°. The photovoltaic system at Stripform Packaging is a 20.1 kWp system consisting of 60 Canadian Solar CS6U-335P modules, one SMA 20 kW inverter, a tilt angle of 15° and an azimuth angle of 46°. To achieve the aim of this study, the performance of each of the solar photovoltaic systems was examined, by comparing their annual specific yield. After which the technical aspects and differences of each of the photovoltaic systems were explored, to illustrate how each of the systems differ technically and how each system can be improved. Finally, the comparative cost of each of the solar photovoltaic systems was examined by analysing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and the payback period for each of the photovoltaic systems. The results demonstrated that from an annual specific yield perspective, the ground-mounted configuration was the best performing, whilst from a financial perspective, the rooftop mounted configuration had the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and payback period. However, installing a ground-mounted system is more financially feasible than replacing an asbestos roof and then installing a rooftop mounted system. In conclusion, by fully understanding the performance, payback period and levelized cost of energy, a clear understanding of potential risk can be determined, thus making the installation of photovoltaic systems more appealing for financiers. It is recommended that this study be repeated in a manner in which each of the photovoltaic system configurations are constructed consisting of all the same photovoltaic components, measuring equipment, tilt and azimuth angles. All of which would result in two identical photovoltaic systems where one is installed on a rooftop and the other installed on the ground. Once the two photovoltaic system configurations are equal in all aspects, an accurate comparison to determine which configuration is the most optimal performer and which is the most financially viable will be possible.

Sverige har som mål att år 2040 ha helt förnybar elproduktion och därmed utredsalternativ som till exempel vind- och solenergi till elförsörjning där främstsolenergin har potential för mindre och medelstora system för privatpersoner ochföretag. Som en del i denna utveckling har bostadsrättsföreningen Stenbär i Gävlebörjat intresserat sig för att installera solcellssystem, vilket blev grunden för dettaprojekt. Målet med den här utredningen var att utreda områdets potential för ensolcellsanläggning samt hur många kilowattimmar denna skulle kunna genereraper år.Inledningsvis var intentionen att utföra simuleringarna i IDA ICE 4.8, men underförberedelserna inför arbetet uppmärksammades ett webinar på Youtube där IDAICE 5.0 beta presenterades. Equa Simulations AB, vilka har utvecklatprogrammet, förklarade där uppdateringar och styrkor med den nya versionen. Iden nya versionen finns nu möjlighet att upprätta och simulera mer komplexasolcellsystem samt få ut mer korrekta och mer detaljerade resultat. På så vis bleväven en mindre analys av IDA ICE 5.0 beta en del av det här examensarbetet.Mätningar av husens höjd och längd samt avstånd till omkringliggande skogutfördes på plats och takens lutning beräknades till 14,5°. Ritningar över områdettilldelades av uppdragsgivaren och klimatdata återfanns i mjukvaran. En kartbildfrån Google maps behandlades i Photoshop till grund för modellering i IDA ICE.Byggnaderna delades sedan upp i två kategorier, sydlig och öst/västlig riktning.Inga moduler placerade i nordlig riktning simulerades då det inte förväntades varalönsamt. Solcellerna placerades i två lutningar, 14,5° som är takens lutning och45° vilken är den lutning som används av Energimyndigheten vid deras tester avsolcellssystem. Jämförelsen av taklutningarna visade dock endast en skillnad på2,5 %. Då all information om byggnaderna ej varit tillgänglig har områdetsenergibehov, utifrån schablonvärden, beräknats till 64 kWh/m2 och totalt522 MWh/år. Detta för att kunna ställa den i proportion mot solcellsystemetspotentiella elproduktion, vilken i simuleringsresultaten uppgick till 554 MWh/år.Systemkostnaden för det fullstora modellerade systemet landade på 10 600 kronorper installerad kilowattpeak respektive 2 025 kronor per installerad kvadratmetersolpanel. Om återbetalningstiden sätts till 10 år ger det en systemkostnad på 1.17kronor per producerad kilowattimme. Undersökningen visar att potential finns attproducera en stor mängd solel i området. Då systemet producerar ett överskottunder sommarhalvåret finns även möjlighet att sälja el. / Sweden’s energy policy objectives aim to have strictly renewable energyproduction by the year 2040. Alternatives such as wind- and solar power aretherefore implemented as alternatives to fossil fuel where solar power has thebiggest potential for small and medium sized systems for private houses andsmaller companies. As a part of this development homeowner’s association BRFStenbär i Gävle have considered installing PV-systems in their residential areaand that became the foundation for this master thesis. The goal with this projectwas to investigate the residential areas potential for solar powered electricityproduction and how much energy it may produce per year.The simulations were initially meant to be made in IDA ICE 4.8, but during thepreparations a webinar on Youtube was found where the beta version of IDA ICE5.0 was presented. In the presentation Equa Simulations AB, who are thedevelopers of the programme, explained the updates and new features with thenew version. The new version includes possibilities to model and build morecomplex PV-systems and receive more correct and detailed results. Hence, asmaller analysis of IDA ICE 5.0 beta became a part of this master thesis.Measurements of the building’s height and length and the distance to thesurrounding trees were made on site. Drawings of the residential area wereprovided by the client and the climate data were already installed in the software.A map of the area was downloaded from Google maps, modified in a pictureediting programme and used as a base for the modelling in IDA ICE. Thebuildings were divided into two categories, south and east/west orientation. NoPV-systems were placed and simulated in northern orientation since it was notexpected to be profitable.The solar panels were placed in two different angles, 14.5° which is the angle ofthe roofs, and 45° which is the angle used by the Swedish energy agency for theirtesting of PV-systems. The comparisons only showed a deviation of 2.5 %. Allinformation about the building’s energy needs were not available, so fromstandard values their needs were calculated to be 64 kWh/m2 and in total522 MWh/year. This was made to enable comparisons of their needs with thepotential energy production, which amounted to 554 MWh/year. The system costof the total PV-system amounted to 10 600 SEK/installed kWp and 2 025 SEK/m2installed PV-panel. If the repayment period is set to 10 year the system costbecomes 1.17 SEK/kWh. As the system produces more electricity during summerthan needed there is also a possibility to sell the excess to the grid.