Seasonal Tilt Angle Research Articles

Determining the influence of seasonal tilt angle on the efficiency of fixed solar photovoltaic modules

The object of this study is photovoltaic modules with different seasonal tilt angles at different geographical latitudes. The average annual efficiency of photovoltaic modules with different seasonal angles set at different geographical latitudes has been determined as the annual weighted average value of the cosine of the angle of incidence of solar rays on the plane of the photovoltaic module. The influence of seasonal tilt angles of photovoltaic modules at different geographical latitudes on their average annual efficiency was analyzed. Approximate values of the seasonal tilt angles of photovoltaic modules at different geographic latitudes take values that differ from the geographic latitude value by plus 15° for the winter period and minus 15° for the summer period. Modeling the average annual efficiency of photovoltaic modules depending on the seasonal tilt angles at different geographical latitudes made it possible to obtain refined values of the seasonal tilt angles of photovoltaic modules. Thus, at the latitude of 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, and 60°, the tilt angle of photovoltaic modules for the winter period will be 14.8°, 24.6°, 34.5°. 44.4°, 54.1°, 63.6°, and 73°, respectively, and for summer ‒ minus 14.5°, minus 4.6°, 5°, 15.1°, 25.1°, 34.9°, and 44.7°. Dependences were obtained for determining the seasonal tilt angles of photovoltaic modules depending on the value of geographic latitude. The difference in the average annual efficiency of photovoltaic modules, which are installed at seasonal angles, and photovoltaic modules, which track the position of the Sun in the vertical plane, is 0.4 %. The results could be used as a basis for evaluating the efficiency of photovoltaic modules when determining the seasonal tilt angle at different geographic latitudes

Optimization of seasonal tilt adjustment photovoltaic system in Karbala, Iraq, by using the albedo benefit

This study aims to identify a cost-effective method for enhancing incident irradiation on the collector plane. Two different orientations for photovoltaic (PV) systems have been considered. The PV system is installed with albedo (0.25) on a concrete surface. The system is an off-grid with 690 Wp power, used for office applications with a yearly energy (1068) Khp/yr, located at Karbala Governorate /Iraq. The first orientation has an optimal seasonal tilt angle of 13o and 53o for summer and winter, respectively. In contrast, the second orientation is one-axis tracking, horizontal E-W axis, which produces more output power. To avoid the cost of using a tracking system and improve the amount of the output power of the first system, the old concrete surface of this system was treated with white Portland cement with a higher albedo value of 0.87 and then compared to the parameters (incident irradiation in the collector plane, transposition factor and the product available energy) with a second system. It was using Perez transposition model in PV syst software in this study. The results showed a higher value of comparing parameters when using inexpensive materials like white Portland cement, which improved the output PV system power than the tracking system.

Optimum yearly and seasonal tilt angle of solar system in the center of Babylon/Iraq using PVsyst software

The photovoltaic system tilt angle is one of the more significant factors for obtaining the maximum solar energy that will fall on the PV panel. Consequently, then obtain maximum power output, the solar array needs to be angled properly. The analysis for a stand-alone system is simulated and modelled using PVsyst software version-7.2 for system power 3,120 Wp to obtain the optimum value of the tilt angles of maximum solar irradiation in the center of Babylon Governorate, Iraq. The ideal tilt angle for the south has been found for both yearly and the seasons. Different tilt angles were taken which were (29°, 30°, and 31°) annually, azimuth angle for all is (0°). The incident global irradiation in the collector plane, Incident beam irradiation in the collector plane is maximum at tilt angle (29°) that produces maximum available energy 5,132 kWh/kWp/year. same processing for annual different tilt angle was taken for seasonally; the results show that the angle (49°) for summer and (13°) for winter are the optimum tilt angle which obtains the maximum incident global irradiation in the collector plane, maximum incident beam irradiation in the collector plane at this angle then product maximum available energy 5,343 kWh/kWp/year.

Maximizing Annual Energy Yield in a Grid-Connected PV Solar Power Plant: Analysis of Seasonal Tilt Angle and Solar Tracking Strategies

Harnessing the abundant solar resources holds great potential for sustainable energy generation. This research paper delves into a comprehensive analysis of seasonal tilt and solar tracking strategy scenarios for a 15 MW grid-connected PV solar power plant situated in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The study investigates the impact of fixed tilt, seasonal tilt, SAHST (single-axis horizontal solar tracking), and SAVST (single-axis vertical solar tracking) on energy yield, considering technical, economic, and environmental aspects. In the first scenario, a fixed tilt angle of 31 degrees was employed. The second scenario explored the use of seasonal tilt angles, with a summer tilt angle of 15 degrees and a winter tilt angle of 30 degrees. The third scenario analyzed SAHST. Finally, the fourth scenario focused on implementing SAVST. SAVST proved to be an exceptional solution, showcasing a remarkable increase in annual energy yield, and generating an additional 6680 MWh/year, 6336 MWh/year, and 5084 MWh/year compared to fixed, seasonal, and SAHST scenarios, respectively. As a result, surplus energy yielded an income of USD 554,440.00 per year compared to fixed tilt. However, the investment cost for the solar tracking system amounted to USD 1,451,932, accompanied by an annual operation and maintenance cost of 0.007 USD/W/year. The analysis revealed a promising payback period of 3 years, confirming the economic feasibility of this investment. The findings underscore the effectiveness of different strategies for optimizing solar power generation in the Kandahar region. Notably, the installation of SAVST emerged as an influential solution, significantly increasing power production. These research outcomes bear practical implications for solar tracking strategies for addressing the load challenges faced by Kandahar province and offer valuable insights for the operators and operation of solar power plants in similar regions.

Computing optimum solar tilt angles for photovoltaic applications through python code simulation

AbstractCarrying out the dual objectives of computing the optimized tilt angles for multiple locations in Pakistan along with recommending a generalized approach for the estimation of optimum tilt angle for any location in country, this study was conducted. Python code was developed for the optimization purpose of daily, monthly, seasonally, biannually and annual solar tilt angle. Detailed analysis was presented for one location (Karachi) and a comparative analysis of optimum tilt angle conditions has been conducted for all investigated sites. Daily optimum tilt angles were found to vary from −12.0° to 55.5°. Similarly, monthly optimized tilt angles were found to vary from −11.5° (in June) to 55.0° (in December). Furthermore, seasonal tilt angles were found as 46.0 °, 2.0 °, 0.5 ° and 45.0 ° in winter, spring, summer and autumn respectively. Finally, annual optimum tilt angle (fixed throughout the year) was found as 25.5° (closer to the latitude value of Karachi). It has been found that daily adjustment of tilt angle causes a gain of 6.85% in annual energy yields when compared with fixed angle throughout the year. Similarly, energy gains were found as 0.15%, 1.24% and 6.83%, when tilt angle was adjusted daily as compared to monthly, seasonal and biannual adjustment cases respectively. The optimum tilt angle for three pairs of locations having comparable latitudes were compared and it was found that the sites having comparable latitudes do not have any marked difference in their optimum tilt angle values.

Optimal tilt angle of a solar panel for a wide range of latitudes. Comparison between tilted and horizontal configurations

The intensity of solar radiation incident on a flat surface is closely related to its angle of inclination. Therefore, optimal tilt angle (OTA) is needed to maximise this incident energy. However, the OTA depends on the latitude of the site and the period of year. This study proposes correlations that evaluate the optimum tilt angle (OTA) of a solar panel facing the equator. Four configurations were studied: monthly tilt angle (MTA), seasonal tilt angle (STA), annual tilt angle (ATA) and two-axis tracking system. Correlations are then proposed to evaluate these OTAs according to the latitude. Moreover, we show that the incident energy on a surface first increases by using ATA and then further improves by STA, then by MTA and finally by the two-axis tracking system. Furthermore, we compare two photovoltaic (PV) field situations whose modules are oriented towards the equator with a tilt angle of ATA and horizontal. The rows of tilted PV panels are spaced to avoid shading between them. Thus, it appears that the horizontal PV panels, which cover the entire ground surface, intercept more solar energy than the tilted one. The improvement reaches 8% at 10° of latitude and about 413% at 60° of latitude.

Open-Source Design and Economics of Manual Variable-Tilt Angle DIY Wood-Based Solar Photovoltaic Racking System

Fixed-tilt mechanical racking, consisting of proprietary aluminum extrusions, can dominate the capital costs of small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Recent design research has shown that wood-racking can decrease the capital costs of small systems by more than 75% in North America. To determine if wood racking provides enough savings to enable labor to be exchanged profitably for higher solar electric output, this article develops a novel variable tilt angle open-source wood-based do-it-yourself (DIY) PV rack that can be built and adjusted at exceptionally low costs. A detailed levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) production analysis is performed after the optimal monthly tilt angles are determined for a range of latitudes. The results show the racking systems with an optimal variable seasonal tilt angle have the best lifetime energy production, with 5.2% more energy generated compared to the fixed-tilt system (or 4.8% more energy, if limited to a maximum tilt angle of 60°). Both fixed and variable wooden racking systems show similar LCOE, which is only 29% of the LCOE of commercial metal racking. The results of this study indicate that the novel variable tilt rack, whether used as a small-scale DIY project or scaled up to fulfill larger energy demands, provides both the lowest cost option even when modest labor costs are included and also may provide specific advantages for applications such as agrivoltaics.

Performance Evaluation of a MW-Size Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Plant Considering the Impact of Tilt Angle

This paper presents a study for the estimation of generation from a large-scale, grid-interfaced solar PV plant using the PVsyst software. This study aims to investigate the effect of tilt angle on the performance of the grid-integrated solar PV plant. Two types of tilt angle test plants, i.e., a fixed tilt angle of 30° (1 MW) and two seasonal tilt angles, in summer 13° and in winter 30° (2.5 MW), have been selected at the same location in Bikaner, India. The performance of the proposed test solar power plants, rated at 1 MW (fixed tilt angle) and 2.5 MW (two seasonal tilt angles), is established by comparing the results obtained using the PVsyst software with the practical data of annual solar insolation. It is established that the radiation incident on PV modules will increase by 2.41% if two seasonal tilt angles are considered. Hence, the annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) has increased by 0.26%. Furthermore, it is established that the proposed method’s performance is superior compared to the statistical methods reported in the literature.

Design and simulation of 60kWp solar on-grid system for rural area in Uttar-Pradesh by “PVsyst”

The load demand is increasing rapidly, with limited coal fired plants. In this situation, many researchers are trying to find a way through which, we can make the balance between energy demand and supply for the consumers. The renewable energy sources are gaining popularity as green, clean, and abundant sources of energy. Solar energy is available throughout the year in India and thus provides an alternate source of energy to fulfil the local load demand. The function of solar PV system, depends on the numerous factors i.e. site location, qualities of material to make system components and accessibility of solar radiation etc. In previous research work, many simulation based analysis have been done through PV-syst software package by considering solar photovoltaic system at different sites around the world. In this proposed paper, we are designing and simulating a “60kWp solar power plant” which is basically an on-grid type solar photovoltaic system by PV-syst software version 7.2.2 in rural area of Uttar-Pradesh, India. This analysis has been done for seasonal tilt angles i.e. 10° for summer season and 47° for winter season. Later on, detailed performance study and various losses descriptions are summarized in upcoming segments for the proposed system.

Global Solar Insolation Estimation and Investigation: A Case Study of Various Nations and Cities

Solar insolation is sun radiation converted to electrical energy and injected into the utility network using grid-connected solar power plants. Recently, in many nations’ electricity grids, the share of power generated using solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants is rapidly increasing. In this case study, solar insolation levels on different latitudes with fix & two seasonal tilt angles have been measured using Meteonorm® software. For these latitudes, fourteen airport locations have been chosen across the globe. From the case study, it has been evident that a double seasonal tilt angle provides more global insolation as compared to fix tilt angle with a suitable azimuth angle. There is also a reduction in insolation level at fixed and two seasonal tilt angles if going away from the equator. Further, up to three seasonal tilt angles, there is sufficient enhancement has been observed in solar insolation. It is also analyzed that for multiple seasonal tilt angle based solar PV Plant, month-wise tilt angle selection is more important. Further Average, Rectangular, and Trapezoidal methods have been used for estimation of cumulative inclined insolation for a specific period and compared. From the comparison, the trapezoidal method has been found optimal for accurate estimation of cumulative inclined insolation.

Optimising the tilt angle for solar surfaces using different solar irradiation models in Yazd, Iran

ABSTRACTThis paper deals with the determination of the optimum tilt angle for south-facing solar surfaces to collect the maximum solar irradiation in Yazd, Iran. In order to increase the accuracy of results, different models are used in this study. The accuracy of the models is compared in terms of the statistical indicators, RMSE and MBE. The results indicate that the Klucher model gives the best results for estimating the solar radiation reaching the solar surfaces. In comparison to the horizontal surface, on average the gain of energy during the year will be 22.82% if a solar surface is installed at yearly optimum tilt angle. For higher efficiency, it is suggested that the solar surface mounts at the seasonal tilt angle. This leads to an increase in the efficiency of the solar surface of more than 8.86% over that of a similar fixed solar surface at the annual tilt angle.

Optimization of the Tilt Angle of Solar Panels for Malaysia

This article presents a method for optimizing the tilt angle of photovoltaic module/array installed in the five sites in Malaysia. The optimization method is based on the Liu and Jordan model for solar energy incident on a tilt surface considering monthly and seasonal tilt angles. The optimization results showed that a seasonal optimum tilt angle change is recommended for the peninsular Malaysia, while a monthly optimum tilt angle change is recommended for east Malaysia comprising the states of Sabah and Sarawak. By applying the monthly optimum tilt angle, the collected yields by the PV module/array in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bharu, Ipoh, Kuching, and Alor Setar increased by 5.03, 5.02, 5.65, 7.96, and 6.13%, respectively. On the other hand, applying the seasonal optimum tilt angle for the same regions increased the collected yields by 4.54, 4.58, 5.70, 4.11, and 5.85%, respectively.

OPTIMUM TILT ANGLE FOR SOLAR COLLECTION SYSTEMS

For non-tracking solar collection systems, the tilt angle has a predominant effect on the quantity of energy that the system can intercept. In the present work, a computational algorithm is developed for the calculation of the optimum tilt angle that would orient a non-tracking solar collection system (concentrating or non-concentrating) in its best position for the maximum average daily, monthly seasonal or yearly intercepted radiation. The optimum tilt angles were obtained for latitudes ranging from l0–50oN on monthly, seasonal and yearly bases. A case study is applied on Riyadh City (latitude 24.9°N) to investigate the sensitivity of intercepted radiation when the tilt angle varies from that of the optimum value. The results show that, on a monthly basis when the collector is mounted at the yearly optimum tilt angle, the loss of radiation intercepted is less than 10% as compared to the monthly optimum tilt angle. The optimum seasonal tilt angle reduces the incident radiation by less than 2% from that o...