Design of Rooftop Solar System

Title of Topic : Site Selection and Shadow Optimization
Delivery Mode : Theory Lecture

Duration : 2 hours
Version Control
Version : 1.2
Created/ Revised on : 8 August 2016
Author :
Topic : Site Selection and Shadow Optimization
What will I learn here?
 How does a shadow affect solar PV module output?
 How to identify safe distance for avoiding shade?
 How to estimate shading loss for my installation site?
 Different tools for shading analysis?
2
Blocking of Beam Radiation

Shading Due to Obstruction of Beam Component of Solar
Radiation
3
Partial Shading
4
Partial Shading Due to Improper Cleaning
5
Cloud Cover
6
Properties of a shadow
 Two effects of shading need to be considered on a PV

installation:
 Primary Effect: Direct Shading

 i.e. Shade caused by parallel rays of direct sunlight.
 Secondary Effect: Shading Attenuation

 i.e. As a shadow falls on an object further away, it gets less darker.
 Hence, the shadow of an object far away from a PV system will be
less detrimental to the performance of the PV system.
 This ‘practically’ relaxes the constraints on placing tall objects around
a PV system.
7
Effects of shading
 Effect of shading depends upon following factors

 Number of shaded modules
 Cell and bypass diode interconnection
 Degree of shading
 Spatial distribution and the course of shading over time
 Interconnection of module
 Type of inverter
 Type of module technology
8
Factors Affecting Loss of

Power Due to Shading
9
Effect of Shading
10
Electrical behaviour of SPV Modules
11
Continue…
12
Solar PV Module Technology
13
Module Orientation
Thin Film Modules
C-Si Modules
14
String Configuration
15
Spatial distribution and the course of shading

over time
Case Study: June 21 @ 5:00pm
16
Continue…
Case Study: December 21 @ 5:00pm
17
Shadow Geometry
18
Direct Shading Analysis
 The size of the shadow of an object depends on:

1. Size of the object
2. Location of the object
3. Date and time
 The next couple of slides will show the shading profile of an

object.
 The object is a cone with height 1m and base diameter 1m.

 The location of the object is taken as Ahmedabad with coordinates
23°02’N, 72°35’E.
 The simulation is done for December 21, when the length of the
shadows are maximum.
19
Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Date: December 21 Time: ---
20

Date: December 21 Time: 7:00am
21

22

23

24

25

Date: December 21 Time: 12:00pm
26

27

28

29

30

31

Date: December 21 Shadow Summary
10 10
5:00pm
7:00am
9 9
8 8
7 7
4:00pm
8:00am
3:00pm
9:00am
6 6
10:00am
12:00pm
11:00am
1:00pm
2:00pm
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
0 0
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
32
Typical installation (7:30am – 4:30pm)
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
0 0
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
33
Case Study: Shading attenuation
 The core shadow reduces energy incident on a cell by 60-80%.
 A partial shadow reduces energy incident on a cell by 30-40%.
34
EXERCISE
➢ PV module should be installed _____ cm away from a 5cm thick

overhanging wire to completely nullify the effect of direct
shading.
35
Shadow-free installation (7:00am – 5:00pm)
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
0 0
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
36
Case Study: Module Installation
Module Width
(b) =
Tilt Height (h)

Shading Angle (g)
Tilt Angle (b)

Frame Distance (d1)
Module Raw Distance (d)
37
Shadow Due to Tall Structure
 Direct shading due to a tall structure (tree, building etc.)

 This requires use of site plan and sun path
➢ To avoid shadow due to tall structure, calculate elevation angle (γ)
38
Estimating Loss of Sun’s

Energy Due to Shadow
39
Shadow Analysis Tools
40
Solar Path Finder
41
Use of Software
42
Site Survey
43
Your companion at site

Checklist for site survey
Information on PV…
•General information about govt. schemes
•Company prospectus and product literature
•Photos of existing PV systems
Site survey tools

•Compass
•Angle finder
•Ruler
•Measure tape
•Pocket torch
•Shading analyzer or sun path diagram on acetate
•camera
44
Support documents
Site plan of building to ascertain its orientation
Construction drawings of buildings to ascertain roof shape, slope, usable area and cable
length
Photograph of roof and the electric meter location
45
Educate your client

✓Difference between PV module and solar collector
✓How does a solar cell work?
✓How much electricity the system will produce annually?
✓What happens to the power supply when sun isn’t shining?
✓What happens if the sky is cloudy?
✓Where is the generated power used?
✓What does the kilowatt power mean?
✓Is the roof suitable for such installation?
✓What happens if the module gets dirty?
✓Can hailstone damage the modules?
✓Is it worth having tracking system?
✓Are there any other module colors, except black and blue?
✓Does the owner need any permission?
✓What will be the system cost including installation?
✓What subsidies are available?
✓How much money house owner receives for feeding electricity to the grid?
✓What is the payback time?
✓How long the system will last?
✓How do you count guarantee period?
✓What is the maintenance requirement?
46
EXERCISE: Comment on these snaps
47
48
49
Which arrangement is best? Why?
50
Which arrangement is best? Why?
51

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Title of Topic : Site Selection and Shadow Optimization

Delivery Mode : Theory Lecture

What will I learn here?

 How does a shadow affect solar PV module output?

 How to identify safe distance for avoiding shade?

 How to estimate shading loss for my installation site?

 Different tools for shading analysis?

Blocking of Beam Radiation

Partial Shading Due to Improper Cleaning

 Two effects of shading need to be considered on a PV

 Primary Effect: Direct Shading

 Secondary Effect: Shading Attenuation

 Effect of shading depends upon following factors

Factors Affecting Loss of

Electrical behaviour of SPV Modules

Solar PV Module Technology

Spatial distribution and the course of shading

Direct Shading Analysis

 The size of the shadow of an object depends on:

 The next couple of slides will show the shading profile of an

 The object is a cone with height 1m and base diameter 1m.

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Location: Ahmedabad (23°02’N, 72°35’E)

Typical installation (7:30am – 4:30pm)

Case Study: Shading attenuation

 The core shadow reduces energy incident on a cell by 60-80%.

 A partial shadow reduces energy incident on a cell by 30-40%.

➢ PV module should be installed _____ cm away from a 5cm thick

Shadow-free installation (7:00am – 5:00pm)

Case Study: Module Installation

Tilt Height (h)

Tilt Angle (b)

Module Raw Distance (d)

Shadow Due to Tall Structure

 Direct shading due to a tall structure (tree, building etc.)

➢ To avoid shadow due to tall structure, calculate elevation angle (γ)

Estimating Loss of Sun’s

Shadow Analysis Tools

Solar Path Finder

Your companion at site

Site survey tools

Photograph of roof and the electric meter location

Educate your client

EXERCISE: Comment on these snaps

EXERCISE: Comment on these snaps

EXERCISE: Comment on these snaps

Which arrangement is best? Why?