Browsing by Author "Sehobai, Mosili"

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    Ramarothole solar PV plant technical performance analysis
    (National University of Lesotho, 2025) Sehobai, Mosili
    Despite the country’s persistent energy deficit and reliance on imports, access to reliable data on the technical performance of commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Lesotho remains limited. This study evaluates the performance of the 30 MWp grid-connected Ramarothole Solar PV Plant to determine its efficiency, reliability and long-term sustainability. The analysis applies International Energy Agency (IEA)-recommended performance indicators, namely Performance Ratio (PR), Capacity Factor (CF) and Final Yield (YF). Plant operational data measured at 30minute intervals from January to December 2024 was assessed. The results show that the plant generated a total of 59,326.40 MWh of electricity, achieving an annual average PR of 94.8%, CF of 21%, and YF of 1884.3 hours. These values indicate that the plant operates with higher efficiency compared to similar plants in the region, where PR typically ranges between 70% and 82%. The findings demonstrate that the Ramarothole Solar PV Plant performs well under the local conditions, though seasonal fluctuations highlight the influence of irradiance variability and potential technical inefficiencies. It is concluded that regular preventive maintenance, improved monitoring of solar irradiance data and better alignment with national energy planning are necessary to sustain high performance and to optimize future solar PV projects in Lesotho.