Performance Comparison of Different Manufacturers Solar PV Modules Used in Gaza Strip

With the significant increase in energy demand, there has been a trend toward using renewable energy sources. Solar energy as a type of renewable energy is the most abundant renewable energy available. To convert solar energy to electrical energy, a photovoltaic (PV) module is used. This paper focuses on PV module performance and its associated production losses. The methodology followed in this study was to use PVsyst software to compare the performance of different manufacturers PV modules under the same load profile and weather conditions. The comparison was made in terms of the efficiency and losses of some PV modules available in the local markets of Gaza Strip - Palestine. The selected PV modules for the performance comparison had the following brand names: Canadian Solar Inc., Trina Solar, GCL, JA Solar, and Suntech. The modules’ efficiencies were 16.19%, 16.12%, 15.91%, 16.21%, and 16.31% respectively. The results showed that the total losses of the modules were 13.77%, 13.24%, 12.55%, 13.36%, and 13.35% respectively.