Techno-economy analysis of a grid-connected 5 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system: A case study in Tehran

With the development of urbanization and the increasing need for sustainable energy supply and reducing emissions, the position of renewable and clean energy to address these challenges has been further enhanced. Due to the scalability of photovoltaic solar systems, it is possible to generate energy from the unused space of urban buildings based on the amount of available space. Tehran metropolis, taking advantage of the high potential of solar energy and the need for urban consumption, can be a promising candidate for development of solar photovoltaic systems. In this study, the technical analysis of a 5 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system in Tehran using PVsyst software has been done. Then, based on the latest Iran Ministry of Energy guaranteed electricity purchase tariffs, economic analysis has been performed. Technical analysis showed that with the construction of a 5 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system in Tehran, it is possible to supply about 9 MWh/year of electricity to the power grid. The results showed that the investment payback period and rate of return of this system is less than 5 years and more than 30%, respectively. The system also prevents the emission of more than 120 tons of carbon dioxide during its life cycle.