Impact and economic assessment on solar PV mirroring system – A feasibility report

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2020-01, Vol.203, p.112222, Article 112222
• Main Authors: Mansoor O, Mohammed, Simon, Sishaj P, Kumar, Kevin Ark, Sundareswaran, Kinattingal, Nayak, P Srinivasa Rao, Padhy, Narayana Prasad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrays; Degradation; Economic analysis; Economic aspects; Elevation angle; Energy; Feasibility studies; Impact analysis; Inter row spacing; Irradiation; Maximum power point tracking; Optimal angle; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Radiation; Row spacing; Solar photovoltaic system; Solar power; Temperature; Weather
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112222

[Display omitted] •A review on mirror augmented solar schemes is presented.•A mirroring scheme in the inter row spacing of a conventional PV array arrangement is proposed.•The optimal choice of mirror tilt angle is calculated for a whole year using the elevation angle at solar noon.•An yield of around 30% energy enhancement is observed based on analytical study.•The feasibility study on economic assessment for a 5 MW industrial power plant is investigated. This paper presents a review of existing PV augmented mirroring schemes along with an enhanced energy extraction scheme for an existing solar PV system. Here, an array of plane mirrors is placed in the inter row spacing of the PV arrays at a suitable angle (θms) to enhance the sunlight harvesting on the panel. The theory of solar PV mirroring (SPVm) system is presented considering the variation of sun elevation angle (θe) at the solar noon for all day of a year. The performance of the proposed system is monitored and compared with respect to a conventional SPV system of the same capacity for a duration of one year from January 2018 to December 2018 along with the weather conditions at the test site (Tiruchirappalli, India, 10.7542° N, 78.7862° E). The condition for optimal mirror angle is obtained based on the global irradiation impinged on the surface of the solar PV module at the test site. Detailed statistical performance analysis on annual energy yield is calculated for the test period. Also, the limitation of the proposed system due to increase in PV cell temperature is discussed. It is observed from the experimental result that an energy extraction of around 30% higher than the conventional SPV system is obtained. Finally, a feasibility analysis on the impact and economic aspects on an industrial PV plant of 5 MW capacity in the same location is carried out. The system degradation inclusive of PV cell temperature and mirror degradation is suitably considered in the feasibility study. It is found that an expected IRR for SPV and SPVm system is around 11.99% and 13.45%, respectively.