Tracking strategy for photovoltaic solar systems in high latitudes. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quesada, Guillermo; Guillon, Laura; Rousse, Daniel R.; Mehrtash, Mostafa; Dutil, Yvan; Paradis, Pierre-Luc
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 103(2016)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Solar energy -- Photovoltaic -- Solar tracker -- Tracking strategies -- Albedo; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.06.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Highlights: In cloudy conditions tracking the sun is ineffective. A methodology to estimate a theoretical threshold for solar tracking was developed. A tracking strategy to maximize electricity production was proposed. Abstract: Several studies show that from about 20% to 50% more solar energy can be recovered by using photovoltaic systems that track the sun rather than systems set at a fixed angle. For overcast or cloudy days, recent studies propose the use of a set position in which each photovoltaic panel faces toward the zenith (horizontal position). Compared to a panel that follows the sun's path, this approach claims that a horizontal panel increases the amount of solar radiation captured and subsequently the quantity of electricity produced. The present work assesses a solar tracking photovoltaic panel hourly and seasonally in high latitudes. A theoretical method based on an isotropic sky model was formulated, implemented, and used in a case study analysis of a grid-connected photovoltaic system in Montreal, Canada. The results obtained, based on the definition of a critical hourly global solar radiation, were validated numerically and experimentally. The study confirmed that a zenith-set sun tracking strategy for overcast or mostly cloudy days in summer is not advantageous.