Abstract
In order to design, manage and optimize the performance of a photovoltaic (PV) installation and establish a precise power production estimation, irradiance on the plane of array (POA) in relation with the geometrical characteristics of the PV modules installation occupies a high importance. This study focuses on the development of an estimation model of the POA irradiance for a photovoltaic installation equipped with flat reflectors. The model includes solar irradiance components (global, direct and diffuse), geometrical parameters and geographical characteristics of the PV installation. Experimental validations have been performed with measurements taken at the SIRTA Observatory (48.7°N, 2.2°E) in Palaiseau, France, for the period starting from June 2017 to June 2018. Results show mean absolute errors (relative to the mean) of 6% and 7% for an installation without and with planar reflector. Finally, we present several geometrical optimization strategies of the PV-reflector installation relying on two major variables: the reflector's length (LR) compared to the length of the PV module (LPV) and the tilt angle adjustment frequency (monthly, seasonally, fixed) of the system (for both PV and the reflectors). The objective of such optimization is to discuss about a reasonable configuration to achieve a maximum POA irradiance. Results show that the length of the mirrors highly affects the efficiency and performances of the PV-Reflector system and the annual gain increased from 8.5% to 28.7% when going from LR = LPV/2 to LR = 2 × LPV compared to a monthly-optimized installation without mirrors. As for the adjustment frequency, we show that a monthly-varied architecture is the most advantageous option with a 28.2 and 31.6% increasing in annual gain compared to a seasonal varied or fixed ones, respectively.
Highlights
The greenhouse gas emissions occupy a major concern our societies are facing nowadays.One of the crucial factors contributing to this problem are fossil fuels emissions
The solar radiation received by a tilted surface with respect to the horizontal surface is composed of three elements: – The direct solar radiation following a straight trajectory from the sun to the surface of earth. – The diffuse solar radiation scattered in the atmosphere and reaching the surface of the earth. – The reflected radiation coming from the ground and the surrounding area (Fig. 1a). – In case of a system equipped with flat reflector, the direct and diffuse irradiances reaching the mirror’s surface to be reflected on the PV module will be added (Fig. 1b)
Considering the experimental setup parameters performed in SIRTA, we compared the plane of array (POA) irradiance modelled with reflectors to the modelled POA irradiance without reflectors
Summary
The greenhouse gas emissions occupy a major concern our societies are facing nowadays. One of the crucial factors contributing to this problem are fossil fuels emissions. The substitution of these resources by renewable energies is a major challenge occupying the interest of governments at a worldwide level. According to SolarPower Europe 2019, a 36% increasing in solar power plants installation has occurred between 2017 and 2018 at the European Union level. The estimated growth in solar market by 2022 is around 40 GW. The price of solar power production is dropping rapidly nowadays allowing an important energy system shifting from conventional fossil fuels to clean energy in the upcoming years
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