Photovoltaic Panel and Battery Design for Solar-Powered Charging Devices in Public Spaces

Solar power is an underutilized source of clean, renewable energy. For solar power to better contribute toward energy demands, it must become ubiquitous; however, solar power is often unattractive due to high upfront costs. Solar charging devices in public spaces are a means to introduce solar power sources for public use. In this paper, mathematical models are proposed to optimize panel and battery sizes so that a public charging device can provide needed power while minimizing equipment costs. These models enable solar panels to be integrated onto existing surfaces by accounting for shading, weather effects, variable load consumption, and snow.