ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Techno-Economic Optimization of a Grid-Tied Photovoltaic System
for Schools in Saudi Arabia
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1
Energy Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
2
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2026-01-14
Final revision date: 2026-02-18
Acceptance date: 2026-05-03
Publication date: 2026-09-07
Corresponding author
Jarah Adeeb Alqasim
Energy Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, PO Box 1982, 31451, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Journal of Undergraduate Research International 2026;2(2):110-118
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ABSTRACT
The educational sector in Saudi Arabia represents a significant portion of the national energy load, with government-constructed buildings accounting for approximately 13% of the total consumption, largely driven by air conditioning demands in the harsh climate of the Eastern Province. This project investigates the techno-economic feasibility of integrating a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system into a standard elementary school in Dammam to reduce operational costs and align with the renewable energy targets of Saudi Vision 2030. Using HelioScope for physical design and HOMER Pro for economic optimization, a 149 kWp solar PV system was modeled for the “Al Madinah Al Munawwarah School.” Although initially modeled to evaluate hybrid configurations, the optimization demonstrated that a strictly grid-tied PV system was the most viable. The design utilized the building rooftop and football court structure to overcome space constraints, deploying 240 high-efficiency panels. The simulation results indicate that the proposed system generates sufficient energy to reduce the grid reliance of the school from 100% to 52.1%, reducing the peak demand during active academic hours. The techno-economic analysis reveals a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.23 SAR/kWh, which is significantly lower than the governmental tariff of 0.32 SAR/kWh. The project demonstrates strong financial viability with a net present cost (NPC) reduction of 15% compared with the base case, a simple payback period of 7.5 years, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 12.6%. Replicating this model could significantly relieve the municipal grid, validating the strategic advantage of school rooftops for decentralized generation.