A practical field study of performances of solar modules at various positions in Serbia

Abstract

Results of practical field study of performances of three identical monocrystalline solar modules, single power of 60 W, with different inclinations (horizontal, optimally inclined oriented toward south, and vertically oriented toward south) in real meteorological conditions, in city of Nis, Serbia, in 2013, are presented in this paper. On the basis of the measurement results of solar energy intensity and electrical power generated with solar modules, efficiency, performance ratio, and fill factor were calculated. In 2013, optimally inclined solar module generated 62.8 kWh, horizontal solar module 58.1 kWh, and vertical solar module 43.9 kWh of electrical energy. It was found that annually the vertical solar module had the highest value of efficiency (10.9%), then horizontal solar module (10.6%) and finally, optimally inclined solar module (10.2%). Annually, the vertical solar module had the highest value of performance ratio (0.93), then follows horizontal solar module (0.91) and finally, optimally inclined solar module (0.86). Annually, the horizontal solar module had the highest value of fill factor (67.7), then follows vertical solar module (66.6) and, finally, optimally inclined solar module (63.3). It was found that embodied energy payback time for a horizontal, optimally inclined, and vertical building-integrated photovoltaics system of 1020 Wp would be 11.8, 10.9, and 15.6 years, respectively. The results obtained by this study could be used in planning and constructing building-integrated photovoltaics, in Serbia.