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Impact of both one-and two-axis solar tracking on the techno-economic viability of on-grid PV systems: Case of the burnoye-1 power plant, Kazakhstan

Abstract:

Kazakhstan is committed to developing its renewable energy resources. In 2012, the government introduced a low-carbon energy strategy to reduce the production of air pollutants, including anthropogenic CO2e, and to increase the share of clean energy up to 50% of total consumption by 2050. As a contribution to this strategy, the techno-economic performance of the fixed-slope on-grid Photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Kazakhstan and both the one-or two-axis solar tracking systems solar parks are compared. The aim is to determine to what extent the more effective but more expensive tracking systems might be a suitable standard in future PV power stations in the country. For this purpose, the existent fixed-slope 50 MWp Burnoye-1 commercial solar power plant located in the Jambyl region, Kazakhstan, is used as a benchmark. As expected, solar panels with tracking systems produce more electricity year-round compared to those with fixed slopes; one-and two-axis tracking systems led almost to the same amount of electricity export to the grid. Furthermore, PV power stations with one-and two-axis tracking technology could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 10 ktCO2e per year. However, using one or two-axis tracking systems lead to an increase in the ratio of extra-cost to extra-energy production of around 26% and 33%, respectively. Moreover, that means that both tracking scenarios are not economically competitive compared to fixed panels. Nevertheless, if a tracking system has to be considered, the results of this work demonstrate that one-axis tracking should be preferred as they reduce GHG emissions while having a higher electricity generation compared to the fixed system.