PV power plants utilizing solar energy to generate electricity on a large scale has become a trend and a new option that has been adopted by many countries; however, in actuality, it is difficult to anticipate how much electricity PV plants will generate. This analysis of existing photovoltaic (PV) power plants provides guidelines for more precise designs and performance forecasting of other upcoming PV technologies. In the literature, some authors have put their efforts into reviewing studies on PV power systems; however, those reviews are too focused on specific aspects of the topic. This study will review, from a broader perspective, recent investigations on PV power systems in the literature that were published between 1990 and 2022. The present study is divided into three main parts. Firstly, a performance assessment review of PV power plants is presented by taking different performance parameters into consideration, which were developed by the “International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 61724-1)”. These parameters include reference yield, final yield, performance ratio, capacity utilization factor, and system efficiency. Secondly, different identifying factors that were investigated in previous studies, and which affect PV performance, were considered. These factors include solar irradiance, PV technology type, ambient temperature, cell temperature, tilt angle, dust accumulation, and shading effect. Thirdly, different methods were adopted and suggested to counter the effects of these influencing factors to enhance the performance efficiency of the PV power system. A hybrid cooling and cleaning system can use active techniques to boost efficiency during high solar irradiances and ambient temperatures while depending on passive techniques for everyday operations. This comprehensive and critical review identifies the challenges and proposed solutions when using photovoltaic technologies and it will be helpful for researchers, designers, and investors dealing with PV power systems.

With today’s technological advancements, electromagnetic interference (EMI) in high voltage (HV) Laboratories is extremely important, especially for sensitive Partial Discharge (PD) measurements. To avoid electromagnetic interference during partial discharge studies, the laboratory must be shielded for accurate measurements and findings. There are number of techniques used for shielding to avoid noise during PD measurements, but all the techniques are very expensive and complex. In order to develop a low-cost, practical solution for denoising sensitive PD measurements, two portable prototype models of shielding enclosures based on the operating principle of Faraday Cages are fabricated and used in this research. A comparative analysis of both portable cages was undertaken and effect of the cage’s material on its denoising performance was observed. Practical experimentation yielded effective average noise reduction up to 0.5 pC for 1 kV by a thin aluminum foil cage, and ways to further improve the denoising capability are also suggested.

An effective and reliable grounding system is a necessary parameter for ensuring the safety of test equipment and personnel working in a high-voltage laboratory. This paper analyzes the performance of the grounding system of a high-voltage laboratory located at USPCAS-E, NUST. By using grounding system analysis techniques based on the IEEE standard 80-2013, and programs based on soil-layer models, the grounding system of this high-voltage laboratory is analyzed and solutions to the issues encountered are recommended.