POW 3 PART 1: Research and Calculations

PROBLEM: What is the optimal combination of azimuth and tilt to maximize solar gain
(kWh per year) from a 5 kW photovoltaic system in La Plata County, Colorado?

What are photovoltaic cells (i.e. solar panel cells)? Briefly

describe how they work.

Photovoltaic Cells are specialized

semiconductor diode that converts visible
light into direct current (DC). Photovoltaic
Cells are an integral piece to solar-electric
energy systems, which are becoming more
important as alternative sources of utility
power.

SOURCE FOR ABOVE INFO:

www.nrel.gov

What is NREL?

A NREL is a federal laboratory based off of

the production, development, and
deployment of renewable energy.

What is the PVWatts Calcuator by NREL? What does it

do?

Estimates the energy production

and cost of energy of gridconnected photovoltaic energy
systems throughout the world.
http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.ph
p

SOURCE FOR NREL INFO:

Define/explain the different SYSTEM INFO settings for the PVWatts Calculator (15 sentences for each, use more if needed and include diagrams if needed):
System Size

System size is the rating of

KiloWatts being produced in a
photovoltaic array using standard
test conditions(STC). PVWatts can
model any array size, from
building rooftops to large ground
mounted generating systems.

Module Type

Model Type describes the models

used in a certain photovoltaic
array.

Array Type

Array type describes whether or

not a module type in an array is

fixed or if it needs to be tracked

for rotation on one or two axes
based on the movement of the
sun.

System Losses

System Loss Categories (List)

Tilt * MOST IMPORTANT!

Azimuth What is it? Hows it relate to true North?

*MOST IMPORTANT!

DC to AC Size Ratio

System losses accounts for the

performance issues of real
systems that do not use the
explicit PVWatts Equations to find
their systems calculations.
Soiling
Shading
Snow
Mismatch
Wiring
Connections
Light-Induced
Degradation
Nameplate Rating
Age
Availability
Tilt is the angle from the horizon
of the photovoltaic array. It is the
calculation and angle for which
the Photovoltaic array is pointed
towards the sky, based on the
suns position.
Azimuth is the clockwise angle
that Photovoltaic array is away
from True North. It relates to True
North because it is the point of
true north. 0 and 360 degrees
both are relative to True North,
180 degrees is relative to True
South and the exact opposite of
True North.
With the increase of DC to AC ratio
and output of the DC ratio the cost
of the array will go up. DCs ratio
to production and electricity
produced also increases the AC
ratio and how much that cost will
increase.

Inverter Efficiency

The inverter's nominal rated DC-to-AC

conversion efficiency, defined as the
inverter's rated AC power output divided by
its rated DC power output. -PvWatts
System information

SYSTEM PARAMETERS TO INPUT:

DC System Size (kW): 5
Module Type: Standard
Array Type: Fixed Roof Mount
System Losses (%): 18
*We will vary Tilt and Azimuth below and look at how this affects kWh per year output
from the PV system by graphing the results we find.*

PLAYING WITH TILT

Choose an azimuth to test: 45o, 90o, 180o, 225o, 270o, 315o
Azimuth chosen: 270
Step 2: Vary the tilt of the solar panels according to the chart below and record
the power output per year in the table below.
YOU MUST CALCULATE THE TILT USING TRIG. Explain your steps to determine
the tilt given the pitch below, INCLUDE A DIAGRAM.

Roof pitch as rise/run

3/12
4/12
5/12
6/12
7/12
8/12
9/12
10/12
11/12
12/12

Tilt (degrees)
14
18.4
22.6
26.6
30.3
33.7
36.9
39.8
42.5
45

kWh per year output for a given azimuth

7,027
6,992
6,970
6,954
6,942
6,946
6,952
6,960
6,974
6,987

Based on this graph, what is the optimal tilt (max kWh per year) for this azimuth?
This graph shows that the optimal tilt to gain the maximum kWh per year for this azimuth is 14
degrees.

PLAYING WITH AZIMUTH

Tilt Kept Constant: 45
Azimuth
0
45
90
135
180
225
270
315

kWh per year output for a given azimuth

4,035
5,378
7,416
8,448
8,607
8,086
6.988
4,985

Step 4: Answer this question. Based on this graph, what is the optimal azimuth
(max kWh per year) for this tilt?
The optimal Azimuth that can be used to create the maximum kWh per year for the tilt of 45
degrees is 180 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the calculations above, the best possible azimuth and tilt
combination using a 5Kw system is the tilt of 14 degrees and an azimuth of 270 degrees. We
can test this by plugging this into a calculator and testing the results, if it does not equal the
optimal amount of kW, then I can adjust the tilt and try to encounter different results.