Techno-economic feasibility analysis of grid-connected solar photovoltaic system using monofacial and bifacial modules in public senior high school in Ghana. “A case study of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School”

Abstract

This study presents a techno-economic analysis of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for public senior high schools in Ghana, comparing monofacial and bifacial technologies using a 190-kW system at Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, Accra. Simulations were conducted in PVsyst using site-specific load and meteorological data. Results show that the bifacial system outperforms the monofacial configuration, generating 324 MWh/year compared to 293 MWh/year. The bifacial system achieves a lower levelized cost of electricity of $0.22/kWh versus $0.28/kWh and a shorter payback period of 6.9 years (monofacial: 7.4 years), despite a higher initial investment of $138 011. Environmental analysis indicates annual CO₂ savings of 46.01 tCO₂ for bifacial systems compared to 40.03 tCO₂ for monofacial systems. Sensitivity analysis highlights the influence of tariffs, emission levies, and subsidies on project viability. Overall, bifacial PV systems demonstrate superior techno-economic and environmental performance, offering a more cost-effective solution for Ghana’s public education sector.