A Technical, Economic and Environmental Evaluation Study of Utilising Fixed, Single and Dual-Axis Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Boubyan and Failaka Islands in Kuwait

Abstract

Implementing renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy, is an important step towards meeting the increasing demand for electricity in Kuwait. This would be a very helpful way of minimising the negative environmental impacts of conventional power plants. This study reports on the results of a comprehensive technical, environmental and economic evaluation of the use of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system to generate electricity at Boubyan and Failaka islands in Kuwait. The study also evaluated the effects of using single and dual-axis tracking systems. The results showed that the obtained performance parameters are excellent and fall within the standard reference ranges of the solar photovoltaic systems. The use of tracking systems is highly beneficial and energy production increased by approximately 26% and 31% respectively as a result of implementing single and dual-axis tracking systems. The computed levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) results were $0.076 /kWh, $0.064 /kWh and $0.066 /kWh respectively for fixed, single and dual-axis tracking systems. These obtained values are less than the LCOE of the conventional Kuwaiti power plants, therefore making the proposed systems economically feasible.  In addition, the results revealed that single-axis tracking systems are the best option. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis shows that the annual energy payback time (EPBT) results obtained in this paper were 1.84, 1.46 and 1.41 years respectively. The average total CO₂ emission rate was 49.58 CO₂, eq/kWh, 39.25 CO₂, eq/kWh and 37.84 CO₂, eq/kWh for single and dual-axis tracking systems respectively.