Calculation of 1 million PV

Roofs Project Implemented in

Malaysia
Renewable Energy 2012
Norain Idris

KGY110027

Umi Kalsom Ahmad

KGY110028

Mohamad Firdaus Mohamed Annuar KGY110018

Examiner: Dr. Chong Wen Tong

This short assignment calculates energy generated and payback period of one million PV roofs
project implemented in Malaysia

Table of Contents
Proposed Photovoltaic (PV) Roof System ............................................................................................. 1
System Components........................................................................................................................... 2
PV modules .................................................................................................................................... 2
Grid connected inverter.................................................................................................................. 2
Mounting ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Electrical design ................................................................................................................................. 3
Grid-connection ................................................................................................................................. 3
Monitoring ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Maintenance ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Expected Energy Generated ............................................................................................................... 4
Calculation of Expected Annual Energy Yield of The System ............................................................. 4
Calculating the Potential Monthly Savings from a PV System without Accumulating Electrical
Inflation Rate ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Calculating the Potential Annual Savings from a PV System Accumulating Electrical Inflation Rate 7
Payback Period Analysis........................................................................................................................ 8
References ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 12

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Proposed Photovoltaic (PV) Roof System

The proposed system is a 0.99 kWp photovoltaic system, which has some components price downscaled from a system used in a 9.9 kWp MBIPV project in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia for commercial shoplots (Refer Figure 4). The components are mounting
structures, electrical works, labor and other miscellaneous expenses. The inverter price is quoted
from Sunny Boy and the PV modules price from Professional Factory. The prices for the 9.9kWp
MBIPV project can be referred in Figure 4. The prices below refer to prices of a photovoltaic (PV)
system (0.99 kWp) for a commercial PV roof in Malaysia.
Item

Unit
price
(MYR)

Qty

Total price %
(MYR)

PV modules (165 W 853

each) (unit)

5,120

32.17

Inverter 1320 W (unit)

2,965

2,965

18.63

Mounting structures (lot)

3,202

3202

20.12

Electrical works (lot)

3,980

3980

25.01

Others, misc labour (lot)

650

650

4.08

System price

15,916.81

100.00

System power (kWp)

0.99

Price per kWp system

16,077.59

Figure 1: Proposed system price

System Components
PV modules
A total of 6 units of polycrystalline PV modules each having capacity of 165 Wp are used for every
PV roof, tilted at 7 degrees and mounted on flat roof as shown in. The system is installed for a
million PV roofs. Refer Figure 1.
The technical specifications area as follow:

Manufacturer: Professional Factory (165 Wp)

Power rating: 165 Wp
Type: Polycrystalline with frame
Dimension (LxWxD): 135x100x5 cm

Figure 2: PV module [4]

SB1200 grid connect inverter

Grid connected inverter

The PV roof system consisted of one unit of grid connect inverter rated at 1200W as shown in Figure
2 with the technical specifications as stated below.
Manufacturer/model: Sunny Boy/ SB1200
Input (DC)

Max. DC power: 1320 W

Max. DC voltage: 400 V
PV-voltage range, MPPT: 100 V 320 V
Max. input current: 12.6 A
Number of MPP trackers: 1
Max. number of strings (parallel): 2

Output (AC)

Nominal AC ouput: 1200 W

Max. AC power: 1200 W
Max. output current: 6.1 A
Nominal AC voltage / range: 220 V 240 V / 180 V 260 V
AC grid frequency (self-adjusting) / range: 50 Hz / 60 Hz / 4.5 Hz
Phase shift (cos ): 1
AC connection: single-phase
Max. efficiency / Euro-Eta: 92.1 % / 90.9 %
Cooling: Convection
Dimension (W / H / D): 440 / 339 / 214 mm
Weight: 23 kg
Approval: MCS

Mounting
The PV modules were inclined at 30 degrees and were mounted on aluminium support structure
above metal deck roof with hot dip galvanized steel mounting base.

Electrical design
Each sub array is connected with 2 modules in series and 2 strings in parallel. The Building
Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system is interconnected through in-direct feed method where the
output is fed back to the main distribution board (MDB) of the building to cater for internal load. The
electrical system installation was conducted by a certified electrician based on the Malaysian
Standard: MS 1837. The system installation and commissioning was supervised by the MBIPV
technical expert.

Grid-connection
Output of the inverter was fed to the consumers main distribution board of the building (indirect
feed). An import-export meter was installed to monitor the energy generated and the meter was
located beside the main utilitys (TNB) supply meter at the customers incoming supply point.
Currently in Malaysia, interconnection to the grid is only limited to net-metering basis. The netmetering for billing in this case is the difference between the electricity supplied to the customer
through the TNB meter measurement in the import mode, and the surplus PV generated electricity
exported to the TNB grid which is recorded by the TNB meter in the export mode. The PV meter
records the electricity generated by the PV system. The PV roof systems under this project are FiTready.

Monitoring
The PV roof systems will be monitored under standard monitoring starting Q3 2007 for a minimum
period of three years.

Maintenance
The owner assumes ownership and responsibility of the system. System maintenance required is very
minimal. As Malaysia is located near to the equator with heavy rainfalls, the PV modules need no
regular cleaning. A regular check on cable tightness and connection on a scheduled interval is
encouraged.

Expected Energy Generated

The expected electricity production is shown as follows:
_ Total number of PV modules installed : 6 units (165 Wp each)
_ Total PV capacity installed : 0.99 kWp
_ Expected annual energy yield : 1,097.3 kWh/year
_ Expected daily energy production : 3.0 kWh/day

Calculation of Expected Annual Energy Yield of The System

Array is rated at Pa.stc =0.99 kWp
Inverter efficiency: SUNNY BOY 1200 is 92.1%
Average daily maximum ambient temperature, Ta.day of 35 C
Allow 5% for manufacturers tolerance and mismatch
Dirt derating of 3%
Total voltage drop of 2%
Step 1: The derating of the PV array can be calculated by the following formula:
Parray = Pa.stc * fmm * ftemp * fdirt
Pa.stc =0. 99 kWp
fmm = 0.95 (5%)
fdirt = 0.97 (3%)
ftemp

=1 - ( * (Tcell.eff - Tstc)) ( is taken as 0.43%)

= 1 - (0.43/100 x ((35 + 25) -25)); (Tcell-eff = Ta.day + 25C)
= 0.8495

Parray = Pa.stc * fmm * ftemp * fdirt

= 0.99 x 0.95 x 0.8495 x 0.97
= 0.775 kWp
Step 2: The average yearly energy output of the PV array is calculated as follows:
Epv = Parray x Htilt
Parray = 0.775 kWp
Htilt = 1,568 kWh/m2 (Irradiance at Petaling Jaya, tilted at 7 degrees)
Epv

= Parray x Htilt
= 0.775 x 1,568
= 1,215.2 kWh per annum

Step 3: The sub-system efficiency can be calculated from the following formula:

pvss = pv-inv x inv

pvinv = 98% (2% voltage drop)
inv = 92.1%
pvss = pv-inv x inv
= 98% x 92.1%
= 90.3%
Step 4: The average yearly real energy yield of the PV system is calculated as follows:
Ereal = Epv x pvss
= 1,215.2 x 0.903
= 1,097.3 kWh per annum
= 3.0 kWh per day

Calculating the Potential Monthly Savings from a PV System without Accumulating Electrical Inflation Rate
Assumption: Average electric unit used by one home in Malaysia = 300 kWh
According to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) supplied electric rate, estimation of monthly electric bill for one home can be calculated as follows:
1) First 200 kWh (1-200 kWh) per month: (200 * 21.8)/100 (MYR)

MYR 43.60

2) Next 100 kWh (201-300 kWh) per month: (100* 33.4)/100 (MYR)

MYR 33.40

Estimated Bill = ((43.6 + 33.4)*100)/100 (MYR)

MYR 77.00

The rate can be referred in Figure 5 in Appendices. Therefore;

Average monthly electric bill for 1 home (MYR)

MYR 77.00

Average monthly electric bill for 1 million homes (MYR)

MYR 77,000,000.00

Average kilowatt hours used per month for 1 home (kWh)

300

Average kilowatt hours used per month for 1 million homes (kWh)

300,000,000

Average no. of sunlight hour in Malaysia (h)

6.1

Monthly output of the proposed system = System power for 1 million homes x Hour no. of sunlight x 30 days (kWh/mo)

181,170,000

Calculated monthly output power of 1 million homes for real solar conditions = 49.53% reduction of rated monthly output power
(kWh/mo)

90,191,145.00

Saving percentage = Real output power for 1m homes/The actual average monthly use for 1m homes (%)

30.1%

Monthly bill saving for 1 million homes = Average electric bill multiplied by the saving percentage (MYR)

MYR 23,149,060.60

Calculating the Potential Annual Savings from a PV System Accumulating Electrical Inflation Rate
Assumption: Annual electrical rate inflation is 4% and average of used kWh unit per building is 300 kWh. This calculation is valid for one million buildings.
Year

Malaysia annual electric bill for one

million
homes
MYR
924,000,000

Electric Bill Savings

(%)
30.1%

Electric Bill paid to

TNB
MYR 645,876,000

MYR 960,960,000
MYR 999,398,400

30.1%
30.1%

MYR 671,711,040
MYR 698,579,482

Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9

MYR 1,039,374,336
MYR 1,080,949,309
MYR 1,124,187,282
MYR 1,169,154,773
MYR 1,215,920,964
MYR 1,264,557,803

30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%

MYR 726,522,661
MYR 755,583,567
MYR 785,806,910
MYR 817,239,186
MYR 849,928,754
MYR 883,925,904

Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Year 14
Year 15

MYR 1,315,140,115
MYR 1,367,745,719
MYR 1,422,455,548
MYR 1,479,353,770
MYR 1,538,527,921
MYR 1,600,069,038

30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%

MYR 919,282,940
MYR 956,054,258
MYR 994,296,428
MYR 1,034,068,285
MYR 1,075,431,017
MYR 1,118,448,257

Year 16
Year 17
Year 18
Year 19
Year 20
Year 21

MYR 1,664,071,799
MYR 1,730,634,671
MYR 1,799,860,058
MYR 1,871,854,460
MYR 1,946,728,639
MYR 2,024,597,784

30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%
30.1%

MYR 1,163,186,188
MYR 1,209,713,635
MYR 1,258,102,180
MYR 1,308,426,268
MYR 1,360,763,318
MYR 1,415,193,851

Total average
Potential average annual savings of electric bill for one
million homes

MYR 1,406,644,876

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3

MYR 983,244,768
MYR 423,400,108

Payback Period Analysis

Assumptions: Loan repayment perios is 10 years at interest rate of 2%. Feed-in tariff is MYR 1.50 (Installed capacity up to and including 4 kWp = MYR 1.23
and additional for installation in buildings or building structures = MYR 0.26), which paid by government for 21 years.
System price for one home (Refer Figure 1)
Let assume that all homes take loan at interest rate 2% for 10 years and install the system in the same year (2011)
Interest rate
No of loan repayment years
Total loan per month for one home
Total loan per month for one million homes
Total loan per year for one million homes
ANNUAL PRODUCTION FOR ONE MILLION HOMES
Number of Panels
STC Rating in Watts Per Panel
Total kW assuming optimum conditions
Average hours of sunlight per day [1]
Total kWh per day assuming optimum conditions
Total kWh per year assuming optimum conditions
Performance under real world solar conditions
Estimated total kWh per year in real conditions
Estimated kWh per day output in real conditions
Feed in tariff (1.23/kWh) for a million homes
Malaysia annual electric bill for one million homes for year 1, i.e. 2011
Electrical Rate Annual Inflation Assumption
Electric Bill Savings (%)
Annual Electric Bill Savings for the first year (MYR)
Total System Cost for one million homes
Annual feed in tariff paid by government for million homes
Total feed in tariff for 21 years paid by government for million homes
End of payback year (Year x)

MYR 15,916.81
2.0%
10
MYR 159
MYR 159,168,100
MYR 1,910,017,200
6,000,000
0.165
990,000
6.1
6,039,000
2,204,235,000
49.78%
1,097,325,598
3,006,372
MYR 1.50
MYR 924,000,000
4.0%
30.1%
MYR 278,124,000
MYR 19,100,172,000
MYR 1,645,988,396
MYR 34,565,756,324
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From excel spreadsheet calculation, cash flow for the system for 21 years can be seen as follows:
Year

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

3,291,976,793
1,645,988,396

4,937,965,189
1,645,988,396

6,583,953,586
1,645,988,396

8,229,941,982
1,645,988,396

9,875,930,378
1,645,988,396

3,820,034,400
1,910,017,200

5,730,051,600
1,910,017,200

7,640,068,800
1,910,017,200

9,550,086,000
1,910,017,200

11,460,103,200
1,910,017,200

-528,057,607

-792,086,411

-1,056,115,214 -1,320,144,018

-19,100,172,000
Total Income (MYR)
1,645,988,396
Annual feed in tariff paid by government for million 1,645,988,396
homes
(MYR)(MYR)
Total Outlay
1,910,017,200
Annual loan repayment for system cost of one million 1,910,017,200
homes
Net gain(MYR)
(MYR)
-264,028,804

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

-1,584,172,822

2025

11,521,918,775 13,167,907,171 14,813,895,567 16,459,883,964 18,105,872,360 19,751,860,757 21,397,849,153 23,043,837,549 24,689,825,946

1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396
13,370,120,400 15,280,137,600 17,190,154,800 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000
1,910,017,200 1,910,017,200 1,910,017,200 1,910,017,200
-1,848,201,625
2026

-2,112,230,429
2027

-2,376,259,233
2028

-2,640,288,036
2029

-994,299,640
2030

651,688,757
2031

2,297,677,153

3,943,665,549

5,589,653,946

26,335,814,342 27,981,802,739 29,627,791,135 31,273,779,531 32,919,767,928 34,565,756,324

1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396 1,645,988,396
19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000 19,100,172,000
7,235,642,342

8,881,630,739

10,527,619,135 12,173,607,531 13,819,595,928 15,465,584,324

From the analysis, the payback period for the proposed system is 12 years. If the system is built in year 2011, the end of payback is year 2022. From above
calculation, income which amounts about 15,500,000 is gained after 21 years. The calculation can be referred in Excel spreadsheet enclosed in CD.
9

Billions

Total Income and Total Outlay vs Year

40
35

Amount

30
25
20

Total Income (MYR)

15

Total Outlay (MYR)

10
5
0
2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

Year

Figure 3:Payback period of the proposed PV roof system

From Figure 3, it can be clearly seen that income from the feed-in tariff (FiT) overcomes expenses of
the project which is in this case annual loan repayment.
It also can be extracted that the payback year is Year 2022 and it takes 12 years until the system cost
is covered.

References
[1]

http://www.malaysia.climatemps.com/

[2]

http://www.tnb.com.my/residential/pricing-and-tariff/tariff-rates.html

[3]

http://www.tnb.com.my/residential/pricing-and-tariff.html

[4]

http://gold.dhgate.com/product/-order-match-back-high-level-165w-solarpanel/p136566544.html

[5]

KeTTHa, Handbook on the Malaysia feed-in tariff for the promotion of renewable energy,
2011

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Appendices
Item

Unit price
Qty
Total price
%
(RM)
(RM)
PV
modules 3,050
60 units
183,000
63
(165 W each)
Inverter
9,560
3 units
28,680
10
(3.6 kW each)
Mounting structures 32,020
1 lot
32,020/3
11
Electrical works
39,800
1 lot
39,800/3
13.8
Others, misc labour 6,500
1 lot
6,500/3
2.2
System price (9.9 kWp)
290,000
100
Price per kWp system
29,293

Figure 4: System installed in MBIPV project in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya Selangor,
Malaysia
TARIFF CATEGORY
UNIT
RATES
1. Tariff A - Domestic Tariff
For the first 200 kWh (1 - 200 kWh) per sen/kWh
21.8
month
For the next 100 kWh (201 - 300 kWh) sen/kWh
33.4
per month
For the next 100 kWh (301 - 400 kWh) sen/kWh
40.0
per month
For the first 100kWh (401 - 500 kWh) sen/kWh
40.2
per month
For the next 100 kWh (501 - 600 kWh) sen/kWh
41.6
per month
For the next 100 kWh (601 - 700 kWh) sen/kWh
42.6
per month
For the next 100 kWh (701 - 800 kWh) sen/kWh
43.7
per month
For the next 100 kWh (801 - 900 kWh) sen/kWh
45.3
per month
For the next kWh (901 kWh onwards) sen/kWh
45.4
per month
The minimum monthly charge is RM3.00
Figure 5: TNB Electric Supplied Tariff [2]
* The tariff is inclusive the subsidised rate by government=21.8 sen/kWh [3]

12

Capacity of renewable energy installation

Installed capacity up to and including 4 kWp

Installed capacity above 4 kWp, and up to and
including 24 kWp
Installed capacity above 24 kWp, and up to
and including 72 kWp
Installed capacity above 72 kWp, and up to
and including 1 MWp
Installed capacity above 1 MWp, and up to
and including 10 MWp
Installed capacity above 10 MWp, and up to
and
including 30 MWp

FiT rate
(RM per
kWh)
1.23
1.20

Effective period

21 years
21 years

Annual
degression
rate
8%
8%

1.18

21 years

8%

1.14

21 years

8%

0.95

21 years

8%

0.85

21 years

8%

+0.26

21 years

8%

+0.25
+0.03

21 years
21 years

8%
8%

+0.01

21 years

8%

Additional for installation in buildings or

building structures
Additional for use as building materials
Additional for use of locally manufactured or
assembled solar photovoltaic modules
Additional for use of locally manufactured or
assembled solar inverters
Figure 6: Fit-in Tariff [5]

13