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Understanding Solar Plant Design ParametersSolar Irradiance, Tilt Angle, Azimuth,Efficiency Factors and Shading Analysis

The presentation outlines key design parameters for solar PV systems, focusing on solar irradiance, tilt angle, and azimuth angle, which are critical for optimizing solar energy generation. It explains how these factors influence energy output and efficiency, emphasizing the importance of proper orientation and shading analysis. Additionally, it highlights the use of simulation tools for effective design and performance assessment.

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sivayadiki051
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10 views

Understanding Solar Plant Design ParametersSolar Irradiance, Tilt Angle, Azimuth,Efficiency Factors and Shading Analysis

The presentation outlines key design parameters for solar PV systems, focusing on solar irradiance, tilt angle, and azimuth angle, which are critical for optimizing solar energy generation. It explains how these factors influence energy output and efficiency, emphasizing the importance of proper orientation and shading analysis. Additionally, it highlights the use of simulation tools for effective design and performance assessment.

Uploaded by

sivayadiki051
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding

Solar Plant
Design
Parameters
Key Elements for Optimal Solar
Energy Generation

Presented By
Saravanan M Pandian M.Tech., MBA.,
Objective of the
Presentation
Introduce key design parameters for solar PV
systems
Explain concepts with practical examples
Provide a technical yet student-friendly overview
Solar Irradiance
Solar irradiance is a representation of the amount
of solar energy received on Earth's surface over
time.
It typically shows how the intensity of sunlight
varies throughout the day and year, and can be
used to illustrate how different locations receive
different amounts of solar radiation
Definition: Power per unit area from the Sun (W/m²)
Measured using pyranometers or satellite data
Directly affects solar power generation
Types of Solar Irradiance
Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)
Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI)
Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI)
Types of Solar Irradiance

🌐 Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI): Total sunlight


on a flat surface: includes direct + diffuse light.
🎯 Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI): Direct beam
sunlight measured perpendicular to the sun’s
rays.
☁️Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI): Scattered
sunlight from all directions, not directly from the
sun.
Comparison of Solar
Irradiance Types
Type Description Best Use

GHI 🌐 Direct + Diffuse on General panel


flat surface placement
DNI 🎯 Direct sunlight only Solar concentrators

DHI ☁️ Only scattered Cloudy areas


sunlight
Example: Solar Irradiance
Values
New Delhi (Average GHI): ~5.5 kWh/m²/day
London (Average GHI): ~3.0 kWh/m²/day
Higher GHI → More energy production
Why Solar Irradiance
Matters
• Solar irradiance plays a crucial role in solar
power generation by determining the amount of
sunlight that reaches the surface of photovoltaic
(PV) panels, which directly impacts the amount
of electricity produced.
• Higher solar irradiance translates to more power
generated by solar panels, making it a key factor
in the overall efficiency and performance of
solar energy systems.
Tilt Angle
Definition: Angle between solar panel and
horizontal
Impacts solar exposure and energy generation
Key for maximizing performance throughout the
year
Why Tilt Angle Matters
Technical Points:
- Determines the incident solar irradiance (W/m²)
- Affects daily and seasonal energy production
- Impacts shadowing and soiling losses
- Influences heat dissipation
Energy Yield vs Tilt Angle
Case Study: Output from PVsyst or SAM

Graph: Energy yield (kWh/m²) vs different tilt


angles at fixed location

Key Insight: Optimal tilt is close to latitude


Seasonal Tilt Angle
Adjustment
Concept: Earth’s axial tilt and orbit change sun
position

Rule of Thumb:
- Summer tilt ≈ Latitude - 15°
- Winter tilt ≈ Latitude + 15°

Chart: Month vs recommended tilt angles


Tilt Angle Optimization
Fixed Tilt:
- Simple, low maintenance
- Best for grid-tied, large installations

Seasonal Adjustment:
- Higher yield (5–15% more)
- Cost-effective in small-scale systems

Tracking Systems:
- Single-axis and Dual-axis
Optimal Tilt Angle
Fixed Tilt: Use latitude as a starting point
Adjust seasonally for better output
Tracking systems dynamically adjust tilt
Example: Tilt Angle
Optimization
Latitude 30° → Fixed Tilt ≈ 30°
Winter: Increase tilt for lower sun angle
Summer: Decrease tilt for higher sun angle
Azimuth Angle
Orientation of panel relative to true north
South-facing (180°) is optimal in Northern
Hemisphere
Deviations cause reduction in energy output
What Is Azimuth Angle?
- Azimuth angle is the horizontal angle from true
north that a solar panel faces.
- Measured in degrees:
• 0° = North
• 90° = East
• 180° = South
• 270° = West
Importance of Azimuth
Angle in Solar PV
- Affects how much sunlight a panel receives
during the day.
- Influences energy output and efficiency.
- Critical in fixed PV systems where the panel
direction doesn't change.
Goal: Maximize exposure to direct sunlight during
peak solar hours.
Ideal Azimuth Angles by
Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere:
- Optimal Azimuth: 180°
- Panel Faces: South

Southern Hemisphere:
- Optimal Azimuth: 0°
- Panel Faces: North

Panels facing away from sun path generate less energy.


Suboptimal Azimuth
Angles
90° (East): Morning sun (~10–15% loss)
270° (West): Afternoon/evening sun (~10–15%
loss)
135° (Southeast): Balanced use (~5–10% loss)

Tip: Non-optimal directions can still be cost-


effective.
Azimuth vs Tilt Angle
Azimuth Angle:
- Horizontal (compass-based)
- 0°–360°
- Aligns with sun path

Tilt Angle:
- Vertical inclination
- 0°–90°
- Captures sun elevation

Both must be optimized together.


Example: Azimuth
Orientation
Panel facing SE (135°) instead of S (180°)
5–10% reduction in annual energy yield
Important in fixed installations
Efficiency Factors
Module Efficiency: Ratio of output to input solar
energy
System losses reduce effective energy output
Temperature, dirt, inverter, and cable losses
matter
Performance Ratio (PR)
PR = Actual Output / (Irradiance × Area × Module
Efficiency)
PR close to 1.0 is ideal (rare in practice)
Typical values: 0.75–0.85
Example: Efficiency
Calculation
Irradiance = 1000 W/m², Area = 10 m², Efficiency
= 18%
Theoretical Output = 1000 × 10 × 0.18 = 1800 W
Actual Output = 1500 W → PR = 1500 / 1800 =
0.83
Shading Analysis
Shading reduces panel output drastically
Even partial shading affects whole string
Avoid obstacles like trees, buildings, poles
Common Causes of
Shading
- Trees and vegetation
- Nearby buildings or structures
- Chimneys, poles, or other rooftop obstructions
- Dirt, bird droppings, or snow (acts like partial
shading)
- Clouds (temporary, diffuse shading)
How Shading Affects
Output
- Solar cells are connected in series.
- One shaded cell can reduce current for the whole
string.
- Shading causes non-linear power loss:
• 10% shading can lead to 30–50% output loss.
Types of Shading Effects
- Partial cell shading: drops voltage across the
panel
- Row-to-row shading: often seasonal
- Temporary shading: clouds, birds, etc.
- Permanent shading: buildings, trees — needs
design mitigation
Bypass Diodes to Reduce
Impact
- Allow current to bypass shaded cells
- Reduce mismatch losses in partially shaded
panels
- Typically 3 bypass diodes per panel
- Cannot completely eliminate shading losses
String Inverter Systems
and Shading
- Panels in a string act like a series circuit
- One shaded panel limits the output of the whole
string
- Similar to weakest link in a chain
- Higher shading impact without panel-level
control
Shading Mitigation
Strategies
- Use microinverters or optimizers (panel-level
MPPT)
- Design array spacing to avoid self-shading
- Trim nearby trees or avoid obstructions
- Conduct shading analysis (PVsyst, Solar
Pathfinder)
Case Study – Shadow
Impact
- Scenario: 1 m² shadow on 10% of a panel from
10 am–2 pm
- Without mitigation: Energy loss > 25–30%
- With optimizers: Local loss, total output drops by
~10%
Tools for Shading Analysis
Solar Pathfinder
PVsyst software
Google SketchUp with solar plug-ins
Example: Shading Loss
Partial shading on 1 panel → 20–30% system loss
Use bypass diodes to reduce impact
Design layout to avoid morning/evening shadows
Parameter Interactions
Tilt + Azimuth → Solar exposure
Shading + Efficiency → Real-world performance
Optimize all together using simulation tools
Design Software Tools
PVsyst – Detailed simulation & loss analysis
SAM (System Advisor Model) – NREL tool
Helioscope – Easy layout and modeling
Summary
Irradiance determines energy input
Tilt & Azimuth affect solar capture
Efficiency and shading reduce output
Simulations help in optimal design
Q&A
Ask your questions now!

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