Design strategies of an off-grid solar PV plant for office buildings: A case study of Johannesburg

Abstract

Renewable energy systems based on solar resources are steering the way in grid-connected applications to meet present energy demands. This research work tends to investigate the design and feasibility of RE systems using solar resources to sustain a load in the Office Park building, at Constantia Kloof Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa. This is following the provincial mandate to offset the energy usage of government buildings, including those belonging to the City of Johannesburg, by the installation of renewable energy sources in South Africa. The Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) on the design revealed that the fully solar RE system was the most economically possible. This was in comparison with the annual equivalent projected City Power electricity bill for the load profile.