Abstract
The accuracy and reliability of solar tracking greatly impacts the performance of concentrator photovoltaic modules (CPV). Thus, it is of utmost significance to know how deviations in tracking influence CPV module power. In this work, the positioning characteristics of CPV modules compared to the focus points were investigated. The performance of CPV modules mounted on a dual-axis tracking system was analysed as a function of their orientation and inclination. The actual experiment was carried out with CPV cells of 3 mm in diameter. By using a dual tracking system under real weather conditions, the module’s position was gradually modified until the inclination differed by 5° relative to the optimal position of the focus point of the CPV module. The difference in inclination was established by the perfect perpendicularity to the Sun’s rays. The results obtained specifically for CPV technology help determine the level of accuracy that solar tracking photovoltaic systems are required to have to keep the loss in power yield under a certain level. Moreover, this power yield loss also demonstrated that the performance insensitivity thresholds of the CPV modules did not depend on the directions of the alterations in azimuthal alignment. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that earlier, no information had been found regarding the tracking insensitivity point in CPV technologies. A further analysis was carried out to compare the yield of CPV to other, conventional photovoltaic technologies under real Central European climate conditions. It was shown that CPV needs a sun tracking accuracy of at least 0.5° in order to surpass the yield of other PV technologies. Besides providing an insight into the tracking error values of solar tracking sensors, it is believed that the results might facilitate the planning of solar tracking sensor investments as well as the economic calculations related to 3 mm cell diameter CPV system investments.
Highlights
The results showed that the performance changes in the m-Si, p-Si, and amorphous silicon solar module (a-Si) modules were influenced by the extent of the deviation from the focus point and by its direction
Unlike in the case of m-Si, p-Si, and a-Si technologies, no performance insensitivity threshold was found for concentrator photovoltaic modules (CPV) technology based on the results of our measurements
Deviation compared to the focus point (FP) resulted in only 18% of the original performance of the CPV module, while in the case of a difference of 1.5◦ the energy generation stopped completely in the examined 3 mm diameter CPV cells
Summary
In the global challenge of securing energy for the world’s growing needs in a way that is sustainable, sufficiently diverse, and conducive to the worldwide efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, renewable sources of energy have a key role to play [1]. Solar energy is ubiquitous and can be converted into electric energy directly by using photovoltaic (PV) modules [5], in which PV cells convert solar irradiation into electricity, providing much needed energy to consumers with low levels of pollution and a high level of reliability. The year 2018 was an important milestone in the spread of PV technology as the total capacity of installed PV systems surpassed 100 GW in that year, with the nominal power of the total global operating capacity exceeding 500 GW [6].
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