Assessment of a Fixed-Tilt Rooftop Photovoltaic System in Compliance with Emerging Policies Toward Renewables: A Case Study in Ahvaz, Iran

This study evaluates the implementation of a 49.5 kW fixed-tilt rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system on the Civil Engineering and Architecture Faculty building at Chamran University, Ahvaz. The analysis was conducted using PVsol and PVsyst software to determine the system's energy performance, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits. Results indicate that the annual energy production reaches 73.7 MWh, with an optimal panel tilt angle of 28 degrees, achieving an annual performance ratio of 0.727. Despite significant temperature losses of up to 12.9 % in summer months, the system demonstrates a payback period of 4.7 years and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 38.29 %, surpassing conventional financial alternatives. Moreover, the system is estimated to prevent 775.87 tons of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\text{CO}_{2}$</tex> emissions over its 20-year operational life. The findings underscore the potential of rooftop PV systems in addressing energy imbalances, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting economic viability, particularly in regions with high solar irradiation and energy demand.