Ground-mounted Photovoltaic Systems Research Articles

Analysis of Investment Efficiency in New Energy Projects by Traditional Energy Enterprises: A Case Study of Rooftop Photovoltaic Power Projects in the Chongqing Regional Market

Under the “dual carbon” goals, transitioning effectively in the traditional energy industry requires investment in photovoltaic (PV) power projects as a major development direction. Accurately assessing the investment efficiency of PV projects is a crucial reference for project decision-making. This study analyzed PV power generation evaluation methods and project efficiency models, integrating national and industry reports to select an appropriate model for calculating PV project efficiency. Using facilities suitable for rooftop PV projects in certain traditional energy enterprises in Chongqing as examples, the study calculated that the internal rates of return (IRR) for all test sites exceeded the enterprises’ capital costs, confirming their investment value. Recommendations include: (1) Prioritizing projects with higher efficiency; (2) Simultaneous implementation of projects with similar efficiency in the same administrative area; (3) Maximizing surplus electricity revenue in cases of excess generation. This research aims to support traditional energy enterprises in transitioning to new energy projects and offers a reference for calculating investment efficiency in various PV power projects, including ground-mounted and wall-mounted PV systems.

A Comparative Study of Floating and Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Power Generation in Indian Contexts

The escalating global demand for energy and growing environmental concerns have stimulated the development of renewable energy-based power systems. In this context, solar power has gained significant attention, notably in the form of floating photovoltaic systems. These systems, installed on water bodies, not only boost efficiency but also reduce water evaporation from reservoirs. This research explores the power generation capabilities of floating photovoltaic systems in comparison to ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, considering a 250-watt monocrystalline photovoltaic panel. This study utilizes typical meteorological year data to comprehensively analyze four distinct locations in India. By using a single-diode model, this study finds that floating photovoltaic systems provide 6-7% more power output than ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. This efficiency gain is because the floating photovoltaic panels operate at a lower temperature (4-6°C) than their ground-mounted photovoltaic counterparts, positively influencing the overall performance. Furthermore, the degradation and soiling of ground-mounted photovoltaic and floating photovoltaic systems were also compared. The financial analysis reveals that ground-mounted photovoltaic systems typically have a lower levelized cost of electricity and shorter payback periods. Even though the financial indicators of floating photovoltaic systems are not favorable compared to ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, these results show how vital floating photovoltaic technology is for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and how it could be used as an efficient technique to reduce land requirements for solar photovoltaic solutions in various geographical conditions.

Comparative Study on Ground and Roof-Mounted Solar PV Systems

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are integral to sustainable energy solutions. The choice between ground-mounted and roof-mounted systems significantly impacts efficiency, cost, and installation feasibility. This study provides a comparative analysis of these two solar PV installation types to inform stakeholders and guide decision-making. This study aims to guide stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and energy planners, in making informed decisions regarding solar PV system installations. By highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, this review contributes to the broader understanding of solar PV deployment strategies and their implications for sustainable energy development. A systematic literature review was conducted to gather data from various sources including academic journals, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, SpringerLink, Academia, and research gate. Key criteria for comparison included energy production efficiency, initial and ongoing costs, installation complexity, and long-term maintenance. The review revealed that ground-mounted systems generally offer higher energy production due to optimal tilt and orientation adjustments, and often result in lower maintenance costs due to easier access. Conversely, roof-mounted systems are usually less costly to install as they utilize existing infrastructure and may benefit from lower regulatory hurdles. However, they are constrained by roof space and orientation limitations and may face higher maintenance costs due to accessibility issues. Ground-mounted solar PV systems typically provide greater efficiency and easier maintenance but at higher installation costs. Roof-mounted systems are more cost-effective in terms of installation but may present limitations in energy production and maintenance. The choice between these systems should be guided by specific site conditions, budget constraints, and long-term energy goals.

Probabilistic Analysis of Green Hydrogen Production from a Mix of Solar and Wind Energy

This article describes an example of using the measurement data from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines to perform practical probabilistic calculations around green hydrogen generation. First, the power generated in one month by a ground-mounted photovoltaic system with a peak power of 3 MWp is described. Using the Metalog family of probability distributions, the probability of generating selected power levels corresponding to the amount of green hydrogen produced is calculated. Identical calculations are performed for the simulation data, allowing us to determine the power produced by a wind turbine with a maximum power of 3.45 MW. After interpolating both time series of the power generated by the renewable energy sources to a common sampling time, they are summed. For the sum of the power produced by the photovoltaic system and the wind turbine, the probability of generating selected power levels corresponding to the amount of green hydrogen produced is again calculated. The presented calculations allow us to determine, with probability distribution accuracy, the amount of hydrogen generated from the energy sources constituting a mix of photovoltaics and wind. The green hydrogen production model includes the hardware and the geographic context. It can be used to determine the preliminary assumptions related to the production of large amounts of green hydrogen in selected locations. The calculations presented in this article are a practical example of Business Intelligence.

Observed Impacts of Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Systems on the Microclimate and Soil in an Arid Area of Gansu, China

Ground-mounted photovoltaic (GMPV) systems are a crucial component of photovoltaic (PV) applications, and their environmental impacts during large-scale development require thorough attention. This study conducted continuous observations at a GMPV plant in an arid region, employing a three-site comparative monitoring system to assess the environmental impact of both shaded and non-shaded areas within GMPV systems. The parameters measured included atmospheric temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), soil temperature (ST), soil water content (SWC), and wind speed. The results revealed significant diurnal and seasonal variations in AT, with daytime warming and nighttime cooling ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 °C, with particularly large variations observed during high-temperature seasons. Shaded areas under the PV panels exhibited increased RH at night and decreased RH during the day, along with a cooling effect on ST, with a maximum reduction of 7 °C. SWC was higher in shaded areas during dry seasons but exhibited complex redistribution patterns during rainy seasons. Wind speed and direction were notably altered, demonstrating a corridor effect. These findings contrast with previous studies that only focused on the environmental assessment of non-shaded areas within PV systems and external areas using two-site monitoring. This study highlights the critical role of shaded areas in understanding the local environmental impacts of PV systems. This comprehensive approach offers deeper insights into how PV systems influence local meteorological and environmental conditions, suggesting that optimized design and placement of PV systems can enhance their ecological benefits and mitigate adverse environmental impacts in arid regions.

Forage Biomass and Nutritive Value of Grasses and Legumes Grown Under Agrivoltaic Systems

Forage crops grown underneath ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (PV) may provide a feed source for livestock production. The objective was to evaluate forage biomass and nutritive value of crops, grasses and legumes grown under different PV conditions. Forages were planted underneath a 30-kilowatt PV site (30kW), a 50-kilowatt PV site (50kW) and one control site without PV (CON) in May 2022 with four replicates per site. Forage crops included alfalfa, field peas, meadow fescue, orchard grass, red clover, brown midrib sorghumsudan grass, white clover and 3 grass and legume mixes with either alfalfa, red clover, or white clover. Biomass samples were clipped at appropriate maturity levels for grazing. Samples were sorted for botanical composition and analyzed for nutrient value. Crop biomass, dry matter and nutrient values were analyzed with PROC Mixed of SAS with the fixed effects of site (30kW, 50kW, or Con), crop nested within site, and cutting (1st or 2nd) and the random effect of replicate nested within site. Forages produced less biomass at the 30kW (563.7 kg/ha) and 50kW (446.4 kg/ha) solar sites compared to CON (1099.7 kg/ha). The 50kW forages had greater crude protein on a dry matter basis (25.8%) than the 30kW (21.4%) and CON (20.9%). The 50kW (57.1%) forages also had greater total tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility than the 30kW (52.5%) and CON (51.0%). Additionally, the 50kW forages had greater percent calcium (1.05%) compared to the 30kW (0.75%) and CON (0.84%). Forage biomass and nutrient values varied based on the solar array design and amount of sun exposure.

Shifting from techno-economic to socio-ecological priorities: Incorporating landscape preferences and ecosystem services into the siting of renewable energy infrastructure.

This study examines the siting scenarios for renewable energy installations (REI) in a mountainous region of Europe (Switzerland), incorporating the external costs of ecosystem services and, innovatively, social preferences. This approach challenges the prevalent techno-economic siting paradigm, which often overlooks these externalities. To minimize the external costs of the scenarios while maximizing energy yield, Marxan, an optimization software, was employed. The energy target for all scenarios is set at 25 TWh/a, stemming from the energy gap anticipated due to the phase-out of Swiss nuclear reactors by 2050. This target is met using renewable energy infrastructure such as wind, roof-mounted photovoltaic, and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. By integrating social preferences into the optimization, this study showcases a promising implementation that transcends the software's intended applications. It complements techno-economic approaches and offers alternative decision-making avenues. The conventional "roof first" strategy proved ineffective in preventing extensive land use for the development of new renewable energy infrastructure. Strategies incorporating ground-mounted photovoltaic infrastructure were more spatially, ecologically, and socially efficient than those without. The strategy optimized for energy yield exhibited the highest spatial efficiency but incurred significant ecosystem service costs and, surprisingly, had low social costs. In contrast, the strategy prioritizing ecosystem services was the most efficient in terms of ecosystem service costs but had elevated social costs and was spatially less efficient than other strategies. The strategy optimized for social preferences incurred the lowest social costs and excelled in spatial efficiency and ecosystem service costs. Notably, this strategy employed a limited number of planning units linked to both high ecosystem service and social costs. The findings underscore that incorporating social preferences significantly enhances the evaluation of siting options. This inclusion allows for the social acceptance of investments to be factored into costs, facilitating more informed and inclusive decisions.

Fostering solar hybrid cooling systems in MENA region: A techno-economic and emission reduction assessment

Solar driven cooling system is a promising and sustainable substitute for conventional cooling systems to soften the impact of energy deficit and environmental degradation. In this study, a solar hybrid cooling system for an institutional building is investigated, which combines solar photovoltaic (PV) technology with traditional vapor compression systems and/or absorption cooling systems. The performance of the proposed solar hybrid cooling system is simulated and compared at four (04) locations in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: Riyadh (Saudia Arabia), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Doha (Qatar), and Jaww (Bahrain), with different cooling system configurations from technical, economic, and environmental standpoints. The simulation findings show that the solar driven absorption chiller reduces the maximum CO2 emissions by 42.7% in Riyadh, while the solar driven compressor system gives a maximum Greenhouse gas emissions reduction (99.1%) for the location of Dubai. To determine the most practical design in terms of economics, metrics such as net present value, payback, and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) and several cooling scenarios are also rigorously studied. According to model findings, the solar absorption cooling system presented the most feasible scenario with the shortest payback of 5.8 years, the highest internal rate of return (IRR) of 38.8%, and BCR of 5.4% for the location of Dubai, and the same trend holds for all other locations. Conversely, the solar-powered vapor compression system was the least suitable option for Riyadh city, with the longest payback period of 21.9 years, the lowest IRR of 2.4, and a BCR of −0.06. In addition, optimization results show that ground mounted PV systems outperform building integrated PV (BIPV) systems owing to their higher capacity factor: 21% in case of PV and 12.8% in case of BIPV systems.

Experimental results, integrated model validation, and economic aspects of agrivoltaic systems at northern latitudes

Agrivoltaic systems, which allow the coexistence of crop and electricity production on the same land, are an integrated water–energy–food nexus solution that allows the simultaneous attainment of conflicting Sustainable Development Goals. This study aims to analyse experimental results on the responses of ley grass yield and quality to shadings in the first agrivoltaic system in Sweden. It also aims to validate an integrated modelling platform for assessing agrivoltaic systems' performances before installation. An economic analysis is carried out to compare the profitability of agrivoltaic versus conventional ground-mounted photovoltaic systems and, using a Monte Carlo Analysis, to identify the parameters that most affect the profitability. Despite the agrivoltaic systems’ supporting structures and photovoltaic modules producing an average ∼25% reduction in photosynthetically active radiation at ground level, no statistically significant difference was observed between the yield of the samples under the agrivoltaic system compared to the yield of the samples in the reference area. The agrivoltaic system attained land equivalent ratios of 1.27 and 1.39 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The validation results of the integrated modelling platform show that the sub-model concerning the crop yield response to shading conditions tends to underestimate ∼7% the actual average crop yield under the agrivoltaic system. The results of the economic analysis show that, from a net present value perspective, agrivoltaic systems have a profitability that is ∼30 times higher than a conventional crop rotation in Sweden.

An Assessment of Solar Micro-Grid System in the Islands of Bangladesh for Sustainable Energy Access

The isolated islands in the northern Bay of Bengal face difficulties accessing electricity from the central grid and use fossil fuel-based generators, which causes health risks, environmental damage, and high expenses. So, this study aims to replace these fossil fuel-based power sources with Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) microgrids to provide continuous power to remote islands and contribute to reducing emissions. A specific location on the island of Manpura is selected for the SPV plant installation, considering land availability and vulnerability to erosion. Solar power density and other technical parameters such as Direct Normal Irradiation, Global Horizontal Irradiation, Diffuse Horizontal Irradiation, Global Tilted Irradiation, the optimum tilt angle of Photovoltaic (PV) modules, air temperature, and terrain elevation are analyzed using some prominent online analytical tools named “Global Solar Atlas (GSA)”, “Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS)” etc. Based on these datasets, a 10kW ground-mounted PV system using monocrystalline silicon solar panels is designed for off-grid operation. The developed system can generate 14.808 MWh of energy per year. This design’s environmental and social impacts are critically analyzed considering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compared with conventional energy sources, the results show that the 10kW microgrid SPV system can reduce CO2 emissions by 284 tons. Financial analysis shows the recovery period of the investment based on electricity production at around 8.8 years, making solar PV microgrids a viable option for remote areas like Manpura Island.

Economic and Agronomic Impacts of Agrivoltaics on Arable Land Use at the Example of the Stuttgart Region

Photovoltaics and wind energy must be considerably expanded to achieve the targeted climate neutrality in Germany in 2045 which may cause new conflicts. Especially ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, which are often associated with a high land consumption rate, conflict with other land uses such as agriculture. Due to the simultaneous electricity generation and agricultural use, agrivoltaics (AV) systems can increase land use efficiency which is why they are in the political focus. In this study, we go beyond the limited point-wise analyses of previous studies which have focused mainly on the technology itself and potential yield changes of individual crops and provide a spatially explicit analysis of the AV potential. This is done by an in-depth analysis on the example of arable land in the Stuttgart Region, one of the most important conurbations in Germany and Europe. The study focusses on the resulting agronomic effects in the region and the associated agro-economic effects. The analysis is carried out with an integrated land use model that optimises arable land use by maximising gross margins at the farm level. Legal framework conditions such as the regional plan are considered constraints, and existing studies on yield effects under AV are used. The results show that there are synergies through increases in the agricultural gross margins. These synergies could be realized on about 3% of arable land in the study region subject to the underlying assumptions made. With more than 10% of the arable land in the study region used for AV, the average gross margins in arable farming decrease by about 280 € per ha of AV. Farms or areas with a high share of special crops, such as strawberries, demonstrate the highest profitability. On the other hand, regions with a high share of root crops in the crop rotation seem to be less favourable to establish AV. This demonstrates that, the agricultural land use structure must be considered in the holistic assessment of the land use efficiency of AV installations. Our results help policymakers better assess the effects of AV on land use and are useful for identifying priority implementation areas, for instance, in regional or land use plans.

Ausbau der Freiflächen-Photovoltaik. Unterstützungs- und Steuerungsmöglichkeiten der Bundesraumordnung und Landesplanung

Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems have the potential to become one of the central elements of the coming energy system. The German federal government is now planning a significant and rapid expansion. However, the extent to which appropriate planning and measures take place in regions and municipalities will also depend on the spatial planning regulations of the federal and state governments. This paper explains that considerable support and control options are available to accompany expansion efforts. Cross-references to the Renewable Energy Sources Act and the Building Code are also shown and it is explained that the different types of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems may partially require a differentiated approach.

Floating photovoltaic module temperature estimation: Modeling and comparison

As the power demand increases, photovoltaic (PV) energy evolves with time, and besides the traditional ground-mounted and roof-based PV systems, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have gained popularity due to higher efficiency from lower module temperatures and water evaporation reductions. This paper estimates and compares the temperature of the floating PV module using thermal, empirical, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The dynamic thermal model considers a three-level energy-balance equation for the FPV module. From that, a simplified thermal model has been developed, which requires fewer parameters and is easier to estimate the module temperature. Secondly, the least squares regression was used to generate the empirical model, resulting in the smallest possible root mean square error when comparing the observed and predicted values. Finally, the FPV system has been developed in the COMSOL environment for CFD analysis using the same heat transfer method. The estimated results from the models were compared with the actual data collected from a Brazilian site and the existing FPV and ground-mounted temperature models. The RMSE performance of the FPV models was comparable to that of the data obtained from an installed FPV system and performed much better than other similar FPV models and their ground-based counterparts.

Floating photovoltaics systems on water irrigation ponds: Technical potential and multi-benefits analysis

Floating photovoltaic systems (FPV) can be a more sustainable alternative for the energy transition than ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, as they avoid occupying useable land and the power generation is more distributed. This paper presents the first study that calculates the FPV technical potential at the province/municipality level, focusing on water irrigation ponds, which it is a novelty in the literature that usually focuses on large water infrastructures in a national approach. In the province of Jaén (Spain), more than 3000 ponds dedicated to agricultural irrigation have been identified and their surface area and location was obtained. The results, calculated for each pond, reveal that, in a conservative scenario, in which only 25% of their surface area is covered, a minimum of 490 MWp can be installed, which can provide 251% of the province agricultural electricity consumption and 27% of the total electricity needs. This analysis has also been performed at the municipal level, where all possible FPV plants have been aggregated and compared with consumption that would be covered at this scale. Furthermore, this technology brings additional benefits, as it avoids the occupation of 12 km2 of useable land, 8.8·106 m3/year of water evaporated, while creating more than 7000 jobs.

Modeling and techno-economic optimization of overhead panels and reflectors in near-wall mounted PV systems

Compact installations of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize the use of land are a necessity in urban regions, where the available installation areas exposed to solar irradiance are limited. Large-scale commercial buildings are typically surrounded by open areas and have busy roofs with mechanical and air conditioning equipment. This study assesses three candidate installation schemes of dual-row near-wall ground-mounted PV systems. The baseline configuration (BC) comprises the classic parallel PV rows. The overhead reflector (OR) configuration adds reflectors above the panels of the second row, to be supported by the wall. The overhead panel (OP) configuration moves the panels of the second row to be above the panels of the first row. Mathematical models are developed to evaluate and optimize the techno-economic performance (in terms of total annual energy production “EPV” and levelized cost of electricity “LCOE”, respectively) based on the tilt angles of the two rows, as well as the length and tilt angle of the reflector in the OR configuration. The results show maximum energy production of 12.54, 12.77, and 12.53 MW for the three configurations, respectively. When the land cost is excluded, the minimum LCOE is 0.0696, 0.0698, and 0.0696 USD/kWh, which correspond to 0.1318, 0.1332, and 0.1182 USD/kWh, respectively, when the land cost is included. The EPV-LCOE Pareto fronts are dominated by different designs of the OR and the OR/OP configurations when excluding and including land cost, respectively, which demonstrates the favorableness of the two proposed schemes, compared to the baseline one.

Open-Source Photovoltaic—Electrical Vehicle Carport Designs

Solar powering the increasing fleet of electrical vehicles (EV) demands more surface area than may be available for photovoltaic (PV)-powered buildings. Parking lot solar canopies can provide the needed area to charge EVs but are substantially costlier than roof- or ground-mounted PV systems. To provide a low-cost PV parking lot canopy to supply EV charging, in this study, we provide a full mechanical and economic analysis of three novel PV canopy systems: (1) an exclusively wood, single-parking-spot spanning system, (2) a wood and aluminum double-parking-spot spanning system, and (3) a wood and aluminum cantilevered system for curbside parking. All three systems can be scaled to any amount of EV parking spots. The complete designs and bill of materials (BOM) of the canopies are provided, along with basic instructions, and are released with an open-source license that will enable anyone to fabricate them. Analysis results indicate that single-span systems provide cost savings of 82–85%, double-span systems save 43–50%, and cantilevered systems save 31–40%. In the first year of operation, PV canopies can provide 157% of the energy needed to charge the least efficient EV currently on the market if it is driven the average driving distance in London, ON, Canada.

Greener sheep: Life cycle analysis of integrated sheep agrivoltaic systems

Solar photovoltaic (PV) growth can be stalled due to social acceptance. Agrivoltaics can improve social acceptance by enabling dual use of land. The most popular type of agrivoltaics in North America is grazing sheep under conventional PV farms. The environmental benefits of this integrated agrivoltaic system are unknown, so this ISO-compliant life cycle assessment study investigates the environmental performance of sheep-based agrivoltaic systems. This study investigated agrivoltaics to produce a combined output of electricity and agricultural goods, in comparison to conventional methods (various electric grid generation mixes in the U.S. and plane pastures) for producing that same quantify of service in both categories. Agrivoltaics is twice as land use efficient as providing sheep and PV services separately. In addition, the global warming potential of agrivoltaics was found to be 3.9% better than conventional PV and sheep grazing separately, and represents two orders of magnitude improvement (280%-894%) over conventional grids in the U.S. and sheep production. Only considering emission reductions from shifting sheep to PV farms for grazing, the U.S. could conserve 5.73E8 kg CO2 eq per year from sheep raising, which is equivalent to removing 117,000 average automobiles from the road. To house the current national 5.2 million domestic sheep in agrivoltaic systems, the U.S. has the potential to expand utility scale PV by a factor of four. The results of this study provide further evidence that agrivoltaic systems are superior to conventional ground-mounted PV systems because they have dual purposes and reduce the environmental impacts associated with producing food and electricity. It is clear that encouraging sheep grazing on all appropriate conventional PV systems is warranted.

Current status of agrivoltaic systems and their benefits to energy, food, environment, economy, and society

The rate of solar power generation is increasing globally at a significant increase in the net electricity demand, leading to competition for agricultural lands and forest invasion. Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate photovoltaic (PV) systems with crop production, are potential solutions to this situation. Currently, there are two types of agrivoltaic systems: 1) systems involving agricultural activities on available land in pre-existing PV facilities, and 2) systems intentionally designed and installed for the co-production of agricultural crops and PV power. Agrivoltaic systems can boost electricity generation efficiency and capacity, as well as the land equivalent ratio. They also generate revenue for farmers and entrepreneurs through the sale of electricity and crops. Therefore, these systems have the potential to sustain energy, food, the environment, the economy, and society. Despite the numerous advantages of both types of agrivoltaic systems, few studies on utilizing the available land area under existing ground-mounted PV systems for agricultural crop production have been conducted. Moreover, with several conventional solar power plant projects currently underway around the world, an expanding trend is anticipated. As a result, this article offers practical advice for agrivoltaic systems on how to implement an agricultural area under ground-mounted PV power systems without agricultural pre-plans. These systems are useful for policymaking and optimizing land use efficiency in terms of energy production, food supply, environmental impact, local economy, and sustainable societies.

Effect of wind barrier height on the dust deposition rate of a ground-mounted photovoltaic panel

The soiling mitigation of a ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panel is investigated numerically in this paper. For the prediction of the dust deposition rate on the PV panel, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method has been used. The Shear Stress Transport k-w model and the discrete phase model were employed to simulate the wind flow and the particle deposition, respectively, over the system. A wind barrier was designed and studied. Initially, its optical effect on the performance of the panel has been analyzed, so that the distance in which it will be installed does not reduce production. Then, the behavior of dust particles with different wind barrier heights, different dust dimensions, and with and without gravity effect were carried out. The results showed that gravity had a considerable effect on the behavior of the dust. For small particles, the effect is negligible, while large particles have completely different behavior. In general, the addition of a barrier in front of the ground-mounted photovoltaic system has reduced the particle deposition rate with no gravity effect, the best barrier height was found to be 2 m, while considering gravity, a height of 1.4 m is the most favorable.

Designing and Energy Estimation of Photovoltaic Energy Generation System and Prediction of Plant Performance with the Variation of Tilt Angle and Interrow Spacing

The focus of this research is to design a ground-mounted photovoltaic system at optimal tilt angle and interrow space to meet high demand of electrical energy. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology, GC University Faisalabad has been considered to perform the simulation test. This study is conducted using Meteonorm software for solar resource assessment. Furthermore, HelioScope software is used for modeling of a ground-mounted photovoltaic system, study of PV system’s performance in terms of annual generation, system losses and performance ratio and analysis of photovoltaic module’s performance, current-voltage and power-voltage curves for different irradiance levels. From SLD, it is seen that 11 strings are connected to each inverter and inverters output power are combined by using 20.0 A circuit interconnects. The performance of photovoltaic systems is impacted by tilt angle and interrow spacing. From simulation results of all cases, it is concluded that the PV system installed at 15° tilt angle with 4 feet interrow spacing are more efficient than the other installed PV systems, because total collector irradiance is maximum (1725.0 kWh/m2) as compared to other tilt angles. At 15° tilt angle, the annual production of photovoltaic system is 2.265 GWh and performance ratio of PV system is 82.0%. It is envisioned that this work will provide the guidance to energy system designers, planners and investors to formulate strategies for the installation of photovoltaic energy systems in Pakistan and all over the world.