Abstract
The objective of the present work is to investigate the optimally performing tilt angles in Saudi Arabia of solar panels that follow the daily motion of the Sun. To that end, the annual energy sums are estimated for surfaces with tilt angles in the range 5°–55° at 82 locations covering all Saudi Arabia. All calculations use a surface albedo of 0.2 and a near-real value, too. It is found that tilt angles of 40°, 45°, and 50°, respectively, are optimal for the three recently defined solar energy zones in Saudi Arabia. The variation of the energy sums in each energy zone on annual, seasonal and monthly basis is given for near-real ground albedos; the analysis provides regression equations for the energy sums as functions of time. A map of the annual global inclined solar energy for Saudi Arabia is derived and presented. The annual energy sums are found to vary between 2159 kWhm−2year−1 and 4078 kWhm−2year−1. Finally, a correction factor, introduced in a recent publication, is used; it is confirmed that the relationship between the correction factor and either the tilt angle or the ground-albedo ratio has a general application and it may constitute a nomogram.
Highlights
Installations with tilted solar collectors for exploiting the renewable energy of the Sun have long been available in the market as commercial products
Annual solar energy sums were derived from the appropriate data base of each site for every tilt angle in the range 5◦ –55◦ by using both ground albedos, ρg0 and ρg in Equations (1)–(7)
The present study investigated solar availability across Saudi Arabia on flat-plate solar panels that track the Sun along its daily path in the sky
Summary
Installations with tilted solar collectors for exploiting the renewable energy of the Sun have long been available in the market as commercial products. Solar flat-plate panels are nowadays widely used for converting solar energy into electricity (PV installations) or hot water (solar heating systems) These stationary systems consist of solar panels that receive solar radiation (i) at a fixed tilt angle with a southward orientation in the northern hemisphere or a northward orientation in the southern hemisphere; (ii) at a fixed tilt angle following the motion of the Sun; and (iii) at a varying tilt angle following the motion of the. The mode (iii) is considered the most effective and is known as a two- or double-axis system It provides the best performance of the solar systems rotating with the aid of a vertical and a horizontal axis, but is associated with higher maintenance costs because of more mechanical moving parts
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