Clancy Collins

2/27/15
POW 3 PART 1: Research and Calculations
You will complete all your work in this document, preferably with a partner (1 other person). Use non-bold text to
answer the questions. Insert diagrams and excel graphs where indicated. Have fun learning about solar panels
and applying what you know about trig/mathematics!
PROBLEM: What is the optimal combination of azimuth and tilt to maximize solar gain (kWh per year) from a 5kW
photovoltaic system in La Plata County, Colorado?
RESEARCH (10 pts)
Do some research on photovoltaic systems using the NREL site and other sites as indicated. List your sources.
Define/explain the following terms: You may directly quote the NREL site, but please indicate this in your definitions, i.e.
According to NREL, the tilt is ..
What are
photovoltaic cells
(i.e. solar panel
cells)? Briefly
describe how they
work.

Photovoltaic cells are electrical instruments that convert sunlight into electricity on an atomic
level. They do this by using a photoelectric process that captures the free floating electrons from
the atomic conversion, and turn these elctrons into usable AC energy.

SOURCE FOR
ABOVE INFO:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/

What is NREL?

NREL is the national renewable energy laboratory.

What is the
PVWatts Calcuator
by NREL? What
does it do?

The PVWatts calculator by NREL estimates annual AC output for photvoltaic cells worldwide.

SOURCE FOR

http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php

NREL INFO:

Define/explain the different SYSTEM INFO settings for the PVWatts Calculator (1-5 sentences for each, use more
if needed and include diagrams if needed):
System Size

The DC system size is the DC output rate of the photovoltaic system in standard test conditions.

Module Type

The module type describes the photovoltaic modules in the PV array.

Array Type

The array type determines whether the array is a fixed roof mount, in which case it is stationary,
and does not track the sun, or if the array is positioned on one or two axes and does track the sun.

System Losses

The system losses account for the efficiency losses that can be expected in a PV system in
performance, and are not specifically calculated in the PVWatts calculator.

System Loss
Categories (List)

Soiling-Losses due to dirt, snow and other foreign material on the PV array system.

Shading-Losses due to external objects blocking the sunlight that cast a shadow on the
module.

Snow-Losses due to snow covering the array.

Mismatch-Losses in power caused by slight imperfections in manufacturing (parts come

from different places), that cause mismatches and distort current-voltage characteristics.

Wiring-Losses due to AC and DC wires connecting modules, inverters, etc. The default
value is 2%.

Connections-Resistive losses in electrical connectors in the system. The default value is .

5%.

Reduction in the array due to light degradation of the module in the first few months. The
default value is 1.5%

Nameplate Rating-Accounts for loss of accuracy in the manufacturers nameplate rating.

Field measurements of the PV array module may show that the efficiency is less than that which is
shown on the manufacturers nameplate. A nameplate rating loss of 5% indicate that testing

Tilt * MOST
IMPORTANT!

yielding power measurements in STC were 5% less than the manufacturers nameplate rating.
Default value is 1%.

Age-Effect of weathering over time on the array modules performance. Default value is
0%.

Availability-System losses due to scheduled and unscheduled power shutdowns for

maintenance, grid outages, and other operational factors and variables.
The tilt is the angle from horizontal on the PV systems array. For fixed systems, the tilt is the from
the horizontal of the array where 0 degrees=horizontal, and 90 degrees=vertical. The tilt angle
does not apple to open mounts with dual-axis tracking.
Azimuth What is it? Hows it relate to true North? *MOST IMPORTANT!

Azimuth What is
it? Hows it relate
to true North?
*MOST
IMPORTANT!

For a fixed array, the azimuth is the angle clockwise from true North that indicates which direction
the array is facing. An azimuth angle of 0 degrees is North-facing, and an azimuth angle of 180
degrees is South-facing. Heading
Azimuth Angle
N
0
NE
45
E
90
SE
135
S
180
SW
225
W
270
NW
315

DC to AC Size
Ratio

The DC to AC size ratio is the ratio that determines the modules Direct Current output to its
Alternating Current output. Increasing the ratio increases the performance, output, and cost of the
system.
Inverter Efficiency
The inverters nominal DC to AC output, expressed as the AC output divided by the DC output.
The default value is 96%.

Inverter Efficiency

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 (10 pts)
Step 1: Choose an azimuth to test: 45o, 90o, 180o, 225o, 270o, 315o
Which azimuth did you choose: _90______________
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)
14.04
18.4
22.6
22.56
30.25
33.69
33.86
33.8
42.5
45

kWh per year output

for a given azimuth
8062
8261
8417
8416
8605
8648
8649
8649
8639
8607

Step 3: Graph the kWh per year output (y-axis) versus Tilt (x-axis) using Excel. Label your axes and scales. Use

kWh Per Year Output for a Given Azimuth vs Tilt

8800
8600
8400

kWh per year output

for a given azimuth

8200
8000
7800
7600
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

a line graph to plot. Insert graph below.

Step 4: Answer this question. Based on this graph, what is the optimal tilt (max kWh per year) for this azimuth?
The optimal tilt is 35.
PLAYING WITH AZIMUTH (10 pts)
Step 1: Choose a tilt to test from the table above.
Tilt Kept Constant at: _30.25______________
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.
Azimuth

kWh per year output

0
45
90
135
180
225
270
315

for a given azimuth

4590
5728
7372
8379
8605
8057
6924
5362

Step 3: Graph the kWh per year output (y-axis) versus Azimuth (x-axis) using Excel. Label your axes and scales.

kWh per year output for a given azimuth

10000
8000
kWh per year output
for a given azimuth

6000
4000
2000
0
0

50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Use a line graph to plot. Insert graph below.

Step 4: Answer this question. Based on this graph, what is the optimal azimuth (max kWh per year) for this tilt?
The optimal azimuth is 177.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above calculations, what do you think the optimal combination of azimuth and tilt
is for optimizing kWh per year output from a 5kW PV system in La Plata County? How can you test this? Based
on this information, the optimal tilt is 35, while the optimal azimuth is about 177.

CHALLENGE EXTENSION- CHOOSE ONE:

1) Measure the pitch of two roof lines on your house or a house you can access. And determine the azimuth
of these two roof lines. Then use the calculator and the parameters above to calculate the kWh per year
output for each roof line. Which roof would you put the 5kW system on?
2) Do some research on novel PV cells. Write a one-page summary of your findings. Cite your sources.
3) Do some research on the cost of solar panels/PV systems. What is the payoff period for your optimal
system? Cite/reference your sources.