DETERMINING OPTIMUM TILT ANGLES AND ORIENTATIONS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS IN NIŠ, SERBIA

Abstract

Performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar module is affected by its orientation and its tilt angle with horizontal plane. These two parameters change the amount of solar energy received by the surface of the PV module. In this experiment the rotational solar module was positioned in the predefined angles. The solar module was rotated towards the East, South and West and positioned for the angles 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90. In these positions the values of current, voltage, power and solar radiation intensity were measured. The optimum positions were determined as positions in which maximum values of solar intensity and maximum power were registered. In this experiment the effect of two-axis solar tracking on electrical energy gain was compared to the electrical energy gain of a fixed PV module. This study determined that PV module oriented towards the South gives the greatest value of electrical energy for the angle of 30, which is the maximum registered value, so it represents the optimum fixed position for the PV module in August. PV module rotated for these chosen angles for the same day gives 24.78% more electrical energy compared to the PV module in optimal fixed position, South 30. Increase in solar radiation of 28.76% results in the increase in power of 24.78%.