Reliability Analysis of Residential Photovoltaic Systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24084/repqj09.594Abstract
Due to various incentive programs and local
market conditions of several European and worldwide
countries, photovoltaic systems are rapidly becoming the most
diffused solution for residential installations. This wide
adoption raises new and important issues related to the
efficiency, efficacy and safety of these highly distributed and
heterogeneous power systems. In particular, as these systems
are often connected to the general power grid so that a system
failure may affect the operation of other interconnected
systems, in their design an accurate dependability analysis
should be performed. Moreover, a dependability analysis
allows establishing a maintenance plan acceptable to the user
for keeping the system operating effectively. However, despite
these reasons, this kind of analysis is often missing manly due
to the lack of specific methodological approaches and related
ready-to-use tools. To overcome this lack, the paper presents a
methodological approach to the reliability analysis of residential
photovoltaic systems which exploits analysis techniques and
models coming from the R.AM.S. (Reliability, Availability,
Maintainability, and Safety) engineering discipline.