Optimal solar-PV tilt angle and azimuth: An Ontario (Canada) casestudy

The purpose of this article is to determine the tilt angle and azimuth for a photovoltaic panel in Ontario (Canada) at which revenue is maximized. Measured and modeled solar radiation data, simulated photovoltaic panel performance, hourly electricity market data and details regarding pricing regimes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2011-03, Vol.39 (3), p.1397-1397
Main Authors: Rowlands, Ian H, Kemery, Briana Paige, Beausoleil-Morrison, Ian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Azimuth
Camber
Electric rates
Electricity
Energy policy
Latitude
Photovoltaic cells
Power marketers
Pricing
Solar cells
Solar energy
Studies
Tilt
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The purpose of this article is to determine the tilt angle and azimuth for a photovoltaic panel in Ontario (Canada) at which revenue is maximized. Measured and modeled solar radiation data, simulated photovoltaic panel performance, hourly electricity market data and details regarding pricing regimes from 2003 to 2008 are used to study two different locations. In all instances, the desired tilt angle is slightly less than latitude (depending upon the particular pricing regime, between 36... and 38... for Ottawa, which is at a latitude of 45...N, and between 32... and 35... for Toronto, which is at a latitude of 44...N), and the desired azimuth is close to due south (depending upon the particular pricing regime, between 4... west of due south and 6... east of due south for Ottawa, and between 1... west of due south and 2... east of due south for Toronto). In conclusion, the importance of solar electricity -- particularly valuable because of when it is produced and where it can be produced -- is highlighted, as are future priorities for research. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777