M-Shape PV Arrangement for Improving Solar Power Generation Efficiency

Abstract

This paper presents a novel design scheme to reshape the solar panel configuration and hence improve power generation efficiency via changing the traditional PVpanel arrangement. Compared to the standard PV arrangement, which is the S-shape, the proposed M-shape PV arrangement shows better performance advantages. The sky isotropic model was used to calculate the annual solar radiation of each azimuth and tilt angle for the six regions which have different latitudes in Asia—Thailand (Bangkok), China (Hong Kong), Japan (Naha), Korea (Jeju), China (Shenyang), and Mongolia (Darkhan). The optimal angle of the two types of design was found. It emerged that the optimal tilt angle of the M-shape tends to 0. The two types of design efficiencies were compared using Naha’s geographical location and sunshine conditions. Through economic analyses, both the photovoltaic base cost and the electricity sales revenue were calculated, and the results showed that the M-shape has better economic benefits compared to the S-shape design. The proposed method can save resources and improve economic efficiency as well.

Keywords

• pv overloading
• optimization of tilt angle
• m-shape pv footprint
• solar isotropic model