Development a Case Analysis for Efficient Utilization of Solar PV Systems in Somalia

Somalia suffers from problems related to lack of access and the high cost of electricity. On the other hand, Somalia receives an average amount of solar radiation of 5-7 kWh / m2 / day. Which means utilizing solar PV system will diminish high electric charges. The case study in this paper references a hotel located in Mogadishu which pays $5000 each month for electrical charges. The design of the system that will diminish electric charges by at least 50 percent was done by using a mathematical approach and PVGIS. The results showed that a grid connected to a solar PV system by using a net- metering billing system would require 126 panels distributed over 4 inverters. The system has the bility to generate annually 116815 KWh. Also, using a gross-metering billing system will require 189 panels distributed over 5 inverters. The system has the ability to generate annually 175223.24 KWh. The performance ratio of each of the two systems is 86 percent. The economic study of the proposed PV system shows that the system's payback period was 9 months for the net-metering billing system and 1 year for the gross-metering billing system, by utilizing this system, will stand the chance of saving $33292/year that would be paid to the power utilities companies.