Impact of Nonplanar Panels on Photovoltaic Power Generation in the Case of Vehicles

Abstract

We investigate the impact of nonplanar panels on power generation in the case of photovoltaic panels mounted on vehicles. The power generation of nonplanar photovoltaic panels on vehicles is analyzed using the numerical geometric model, comprising the incident angle distribution of irradiation. We calculated power generated by the photovoltaic panels equipped on the roof, side, and tilted surfaces of vehicles, showing that even the panels on the side, which are fitted vertically to the ground, generate more than a quarter of the total power as that generated by the panel horizontal to the ground. Furthermore, we evaluated the curve correction factor that reflects the relative power generation of nonplanar panels with respect to the reference flat panels on vehicles. The geometrical model reproduces a simple relationship between the curve correction factor and effective surface ratio between the nonplanar and reference flat panels. Our findings indicate that the curve correction factor is useful to estimate power generation for nonplanar photovoltaic devices on vehicles; this provides a guiding principle for designing nonplanar photovoltaic devices for vehicles.