Solar energy is a feasible and efficient way to reduce environmental pollution which, in turn, can decrease the production of greenhouse gases. Iran with over 300 sunny days has a high potential for producing energy, including electricity through photovoltaic (PV) systems. Regarding this fact that Iran has the enormous resources of fossil fuels such as oil and gas, the government tends to expand its energy production by renewable systems, including photovoltaics. This paper is to evaluate the efficiency of photovoltaic system in one of the major provinces of Iran. In this study, a 4.8 kW photovoltaic power station in East Azerbaijan province was investigated. First, a simulation-analysis is carried out. Then the verification of the study is done using extracted experimental data. According to the results, the photovoltaic power plant generates 8334 kWh annually. Finally, the station is economically investigated. This economic analysis is carried out in accordance with the existing tariffs and policies in Iran.

The production of energy by renewable energy, including photovoltaic systems, is always dependent on the environmental and geographical parameters at which the system is installed. Temperature is one of the most important environmental parameters affecting the performance of photovoltaic systems. The effect of this parameter on the fixed and tracking photovoltaic system is not the same. The tracking photovoltaic system, because it is exposed to the sun from sunrise to sunset, has a higher temperature at the surface of the panels than the fixed photovoltaic systems. The result obtained from the experiments in this study shows that the temperature-induced efficiency drop in the fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems is more than 7.98% and 10.02%, respectively. According to calculations, the temperature-induced efficiency drop in tracking photovoltaic systems is about 25.55% higher than that of fixed photovoltaic systems. Observations show that this temperature difference is most extent at sunrise and sunset, and as we approach noon this difference is reduced and minimized.