Semi-Seasonally Optimized Tilt Angles for Design of Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Generation Station

The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) generation station relies on several factors which can be classified into three main types of parameters: electrical, mechanical, and environmental. Low-cost parameters should be prioritized for the efficient design optimization of an installed PV station. In this paper, the solar panel tilt angles are selected as the main factor to optimize the design of an installed PV generation design. In particular, the effect of semi-seasonally optimal tilt angles at which maximum global solar irradiation can be collected is examined, considering the case of a PV generation system located in Eaton County, Michigan, USA. These angles are chosen as 6 sets changing every two months. The optimal tilt angles are found using Oracle Crystal Ball software. The proposed semi-seasonal approach is compared against yearly, seasonally, and monthly optimized tilt angles in terms of solar irradiation collection.

I. Introduction

The sun is the most abundant source of energy on Earth. Solar radiation propagates in the space as an electromagnetic wave, which is reduced by the time it crosses the Earth's atmosphere. This reduced solar radiation is the main input of a photovoltaic generation system, having a significant impact on the performance of a solar panel array.