eight chapters. Chapter 1 gives an overview of different applications and categories of solar energy, as well as the projections on the development of PV power plants worldwide. The current PV development shows a promising increase in the energy market investment despite the financial uncertainties during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Chapter 2 presents the design requirements and the major phases in designing a LS‐PVPP. In Chapter 3, feasibility studies are discussed in which the requirements for implementing a PV plant are evaluated from technical, legal, and economic points of view. Technical issues and existing standards related to grid connection points are studied in Chapter 4, where comprehensive technical studies are carried out using advanced simulation software based on the national network codes. Chapter 5 conducts a comprehensive discussion on radiometric terms, arrangement of solar resources, and main parameters of solar energy radiation. A detailed review on engineering documents and their classification for LS‐PVPP projects is presented in Chapter 6. Main components of the DC subsystem and its designing criteria are provided in Chapter 7, and finally Chapter 8 categorizes and explains different sources of power loss in PV power plants. Energy yield prediction and its influencing factors are also discussed in this chapter.
Acknowledgment
We are grateful to all our teachers and university professors, covering the years from primary school to graduate school. Our sincere appreciation is for Prof. R. Iravani for his years of great advice throughout the Ph.D. program and postdoctoral fellowship.
We appreciate a life‐long of support provided by our parents and wives for their love and affection.
Our special thanks go to our colleagues and friends for their encouragement during the preparation of this book and our professional career.
Acronyms
ACAlternating CurrentAFCApproved for ConstructionALAngular LossesAMAir MassAOIAngle of Incidencea‐SiAmorphous SiliconBEPBreak Even PointB&QBill of QuantitiesCCTVClosed Circuit TelevisionCdTeCadmium TellurideCFCapacity FactorCISCopper, Indium, SeleniumCTCurrent TransformerCZTSCopper Zinc Tin SulfideDCDirect CurrentDEMDigital Elevation ModelDHIDiffuse Horizontal IrradianceDIgSIlentDigital Simulator for Electrical NetworkDNIDirect Normal IrradiationDSMDigital Surface ModelEHVExtra‐High VoltageEPCEngineering, Procurement, and ConstructionETAPElectrical Transient Analyzer ProgramESCExtremum Seeking ControlETRExtraterrestrial RadiationETSEmits Extraterrestrial SpectrumEVAEconomic Value AddedFLMFirst‐Line ManagementFPVFloating PVGaAsGallium ArsenideGaInPGallium Indium PhosphorousGHIGlobal Horizontal IrradiationGIGSCopper Indium Gallium DeselenideGPRGround Potential RiseGTIGlobal Tilted IrradiationHJTHetero‐Junction TechnologyHSEHealth, Safety, and EnvironmentalHVHigh VoltageIBCInterdigitated Back ContactIEAInternational Energy AgencyIECInternational Electrotechnical CommissionIEEEInstitute for Electrical and Electronic EngineersIFAIssue for ApprovalIFCIssue for CommentIFIIssue for InformationIncCondIncremental ConductanceIRRInternal Rate of ReturnI–VCurrent–VoltageLIDLight‐Induced DegradationLS‐PVPPLarge‐Scale Photovoltaic Power PlantLVLow VoltageLVSLow‐Voltage SwitchgearMDLMaster Document ListMono siMonocrystalline SiliconMPPMassively Parallel Processing/ProcessorMPPTMaximum Power Point TrackingMS‐PVPPMedium‐Scale PV power plantMVMedium VoltageMWMegaWattNECNational Electrical CodeNRELNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNRMSENormalized Root Mean Square ErrorsNPRNominal Power RatioNPVNet Present ValueNZENet‐Zero EmissionsNZE2050New Net‐Zero Emissions By 2050OCVOpen‐Circuit VoltageO&MOperations and MaintenancePCCPoint of Common CouplingPDCPersonal Digital Cellular SystemPIDPotential‐Induced DegradationPoly‐SiPolycrystalline siliconP&OPerturbation and ObservationPRPerformance RatioPSCADPower System Computer‐Aided DesignPTPotential TransformerPVPhotovoltaicP–VPower–VoltagePVCPolyvinyl ChloridePVPPSmall‐Scale PV Power PlantSCSolar ConstantSCADASupervisory Control and Data AcquisitionSCCShort‐Circuit CurrentSLDSingle‐Line DiagramSPDSurge Protective DeviceSTCStandard Test ConditionTHDTotal Harmonic DistortionTSITotal Solar IrradianceUFCUnified Facility CriteriaUFLUnder Frequency LoadUHVUltrahigh VoltageULUnderwriters LaboratoriesUVUltravioletVCIVirtual Central InverterVLS‐PVPPVery Large‐Scale PV Power PlantWBSWork Breakdown StructureXLPECross‐Linked Polyethylene
Symbols
A Land area of a power plantWP Total output power η M Solar module efficiencyG Solar irradianceL F Land factorNPV Difference between present values of the input and the outputB n Benefit at year nN Project life (year)c n Cost at year ni Discount or interest rateIRR Average annual rate of return of a PV plantI Discount or interest ratec Initial investmentBEP Break‐Even PointF Total fixed costsV Variable costs per unit of power productionS Savings or additional returns per unit of power productionI sc Short‐circuit current at the measurement pointI max Maximum amount of the fundamental current componentr Sun–earth distancer Average annual distanceH Irradiation from global radiation on the horizontal planeH D Irradiation from diffuse radiation on the horizontal planek B Shading correction factor as described (non‐shaded: kB = 1)R B Direct beam irradiation factorR D Diffuse radiation factor α 1 Horizon elevation in the γ direction α 2 Facade/roof edge elevation relative to the solar generator plane β Inclination angle of the surface relative to the horizontal plane ρ Reflection factor of the ground in front of the solar generator δ Declination angle φ Latitude ω Hour angle θ Angle of incidenceL ST Standard meridian for the local time zoneL Ioc Location longitudeTE Timen Day number θ Z Zenith angleε Sky clearness indexΔSky brightness indexI b, n DNIm Air massI E Extraterrestrial irradianceI b Beam irradiance on a horizontal surfaceR b Ratio of the beam radiation on the tilted surfaceI d, tilt DHI ρ g Ground reflectance γ Solar azimuth α Solar altitudeD Shading distanceL Length of PV array
