The advantage elements and cost benefit analysis of car park solar photovoltaic system in UTM, Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

The world is facing a global energy crisis due to the overuse of earth’s non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil energy and this is relative with the increase of world population whereby the human activities effected to pollution. Generation of electricity in Malaysia is largely dependent on the produced fossil fuels, which mainly from natural gas and coal. This has led to the increase of energy consumption that forces for alternative energy such renewable energy namely solar. The photovoltaic (PV) cells desire to have a high amount of irradiance to produce maximum output power. The Government of Malaysia introduced Building Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Application (MBIPV) plan to encourage the application of renewable energy source in Malaysia. Installing solar systems above the surface and multi-storey car parks is oblivious in Malaysia. The solar carports can enhance the car-parking experience in several ways, as well as improving the economic and environmental performance of the asset. This study aims to investigate the advantage elements of solar photovoltaic system on the solar car park including the cost benefit analysis. The study was conducted through questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview to gain the primary data. The data obtained were analysed using frequency distribution and average index method, which then presented in the form of charts, graphs, and tables for easy understanding. 30 elements were found as the advantage of solar photovoltaic system implementation for car park. Then, there were four major criteria influenced the characteristic of car park solar system which are technical, technology, design criteria and components. The cost benefit analysis found that there is higher ROI and lesser payback period when invested for large power solar harvesting. Hence, it found that the outcome of cost benefit analysis is suitable to be considered in the implementation of PV system for the car park. The findings of this study are significant for the investor, developer, and property owner to decide in implementing solar car park system and encourage the deployments of this technology which will increase the utilisation of renewable in Malaysia.