Energy yield and economic analysis of tracker controlled and fixed angle photovoltaic solar power system

Abstract

The efficiency of the solar system is affected by the angle between a photovoltaic (PV) panel and sun. More direct sun light on PV modules leads to enhanced energy yield. Therefore, tracking systems are implemented to improve the performance of PV system by tracking sun trajectory. With the advent of different applications of PV solar power, system planners have been implementing different strategies and techniques to maximize the output of solar system with commonly available technology in market. The foremost purpose of this study was to provide comparison of energy yield for timer based tracker controlled PV system and fixed angle PV system. Furthermore, implementation cost and payback analysis for both types of systems have also been done. This study is performed to find the feasibility of tracker system installation based on energy generation over sizable period of time. The base line results of this study were obtained via software based simulation techniques as well as physical implementation of simulated system to analyze the various parameters. Various simulation software (mainly PVsyst and Meteonorm) are used. Tracker based PV system and fixed angle PV system were designed and simulated via PVsyst 5.61 software. Both the simulated systems were practically installed and analyzed in real time conditions. Additionally, various mathematical techniques were utilized to analyze the results gathered from simulations and physical implementation. Results of this study are based on two types of analysis. First, comparison of simulated with real time measured values for the systems. Secondly, cost benefit analysis of both technologies is done in terms of payback period. This work differs from the rest as both PV systems were simulated and practically implemented to get appropriate results and mainly all the equipment and services utilized in installation are widely available in local market. As tracker based PV systems seem less viable in market due to the recent cost reduction of PV modules, so in this study the feasibility of tracker based PV systems is analyzed.