IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v229y2024ics0960148124008097.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization of tilt angle for PV in China with long-term hourly surface solar radiation

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Ning
  • Qin, Jun

Abstract

The optimal tilt angle for photovoltaic (PV) systems is crucial for maximizing solar energy capture. China's diverse climate and geography pose challenges for tilt angle optimization. This study addresses the challenges by using a data-driven approach to determine grid-specific optimal tilt angles across China. Long-term ERA5 hourly solar radiation data and an optimization procedure are used to calculate the annual and monthly tilt angle that maximizes the total solar radiation received over different time periods (up to ten years) for every grid in China. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the optimized tilt angle varies by up to 10° depending on the time period considered, highlighting the importance of long-term radiation data. It is shown that four latitude-dependent schemes in China cannot accurately match the optimized tilt angles, emphasizing the need for optimization through the use of local solar radiation. The difference between our optimized tilt angles and ones via a best-performing latitude scheme makes for an estimated PV power loss of approximately 1.11 TWh/year based on China's PV installations in 2018, equivalent to the PV power generation of Philippines or Portugal in the same year. The presented data-driven framework contributes to China's PV industry by determination of optimal fixed tilt angles.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Ning & Qin, Jun, 2024. "Optimization of tilt angle for PV in China with long-term hourly surface solar radiation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:229:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124008097
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.120741
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124008097
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120741?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benghanem, M., 2011. "Optimization of tilt angle for solar panel: Case study for Madinah, Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1427-1433, April.
    2. Yadav, Amit Kumar & Chandel, S.S., 2013. "Tilt angle optimization to maximize incident solar radiation: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 503-513.
    3. L. Kruitwagen & K. T. Story & J. Friedrich & L. Byers & S. Skillman & C. Hepburn, 2021. "A global inventory of photovoltaic solar energy generating units," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7882), pages 604-610, October.
    4. Sonia Jerez & Isabelle Tobin & Robert Vautard & Juan Pedro Montávez & Jose María López-Romero & Françoise Thais & Blanka Bartok & Ole Bøssing Christensen & Augustin Colette & Michel Déqué & Grigory Ni, 2015. "The impact of climate change on photovoltaic power generation in Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Haixiang Zang & Mian Guo & Zhinong Wei & Guoqiang Sun, 2016. "Determination of the Optimal Tilt Angle of Solar Collectors for Different Climates of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Rowlands, Ian H. & Kemery, Briana Paige & Beausoleil-Morrison, Ian, 2011. "Optimal solar-PV tilt angle and azimuth: An Ontario (Canada) case-study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1397-1409, March.
    7. López-Escalante, M.C. & Navarrete-Astorga, E. & Gabás Perez, M. & Ramos- Barrado, J.R. & Martín, F., 2020. "Photovoltaic modules designed for architectural integration without negative performance consequences," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    8. Tang, Runsheng & Wu, Tong, 2004. "Optimal tilt-angles for solar collectors used in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 79(3), pages 239-248, November.
    9. Nicolás-Martín, Carolina & Santos-Martín, David & Chinchilla-Sánchez, Mónica & Lemon, Scott, 2020. "A global annual optimum tilt angle model for photovoltaic generation to use in the absence of local meteorological data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 722-735.
    10. Yadav, Somil & Panda, S.K. & Hachem-Vermette, Caroline, 2020. "Method to improve performance of building integrated photovoltaic thermal system having optimum tilt and facing directions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    11. Chinchilla, Monica & Santos-Martín, David & Carpintero-Rentería, Miguel & Lemon, Scott, 2021. "Worldwide annual optimum tilt angle model for solar collectors and photovoltaic systems in the absence of site meteorological data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    12. Hafez, A.Z. & Soliman, A. & El-Metwally, K.A. & Ismail, I.M., 2017. "Tilt and azimuth angles in solar energy applications – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-168.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chinchilla, Monica & Santos-Martín, David & Carpintero-Rentería, Miguel & Lemon, Scott, 2021. "Worldwide annual optimum tilt angle model for solar collectors and photovoltaic systems in the absence of site meteorological data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    2. Kafka, Jennifer & Miller, Mark A., 2020. "The dual angle solar harvest (DASH) method: An alternative method for organizing large solar panel arrays that optimizes incident solar energy in conjunction with land use," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 531-546.
    3. Barbón, A. & Bayón-Cueli, C. & Bayón, L. & Rodríguez-Suanzes, C., 2022. "Analysis of the tilt and azimuth angles of photovoltaic systems in non-ideal positions for urban applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    4. Dey, Sumon & Lakshmanan, Madan Kumar & Pesala, Bala, 2018. "Optimal solar tree design for increased flexibility in seasonal energy extraction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 1038-1048.
    5. Hafez, A.Z. & Soliman, A. & El-Metwally, K.A. & Ismail, I.M., 2017. "Tilt and azimuth angles in solar energy applications – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-168.
    6. Al Garni, Hassan Z. & Awasthi, Anjali & Wright, David, 2019. "Optimal orientation angles for maximizing energy yield for solar PV in Saudi Arabia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 538-550.
    7. Herrera-Romero, J.V. & Colorado-Garrido, D. & Escalante Soberanis, M.A. & Flota-Bañuelos, M., 2020. "Estimation of the optimum tilt angle of solar collectors in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 615-623.
    8. Zhong, Qing & Tong, Daoqin, 2020. "Spatial layout optimization for solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 1-11.
    9. Mohammadi, Kasra & Khorasanizadeh, Hossein, 2015. "A review of solar radiation on vertically mounted solar surfaces and proper azimuth angles in six Iranian major cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 504-518.
    10. Kaddoura, Tarek O. & Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Al-Turki, Yusuf A., 2016. "On the estimation of the optimum tilt angle of PV panel in Saudi Arabia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 626-634.
    11. Nicolás-Martín, Carolina & Santos-Martín, David & Chinchilla-Sánchez, Mónica & Lemon, Scott, 2020. "A global annual optimum tilt angle model for photovoltaic generation to use in the absence of local meteorological data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 722-735.
    12. Shirazi, Ali Mohammad & Zomorodian, Zahra S. & Tahsildoost, Mohammad, 2019. "Techno-economic BIPV evaluation method in urban areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1235-1246.
    13. Gökmen, Nuri & Hu, Weihao & Hou, Peng & Chen, Zhe & Sera, Dezso & Spataru, Sergiu, 2016. "Investigation of wind speed cooling effect on PV panels in windy locations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 283-290.
    14. Oh, Myeongchan & Kim, Jin-Young & Kim, Boyoung & Yun, Chang-Yeol & Kim, Chang Ki & Kang, Yong-Heack & Kim, Hyun-Goo, 2021. "Tolerance angle concept and formula for practical optimal orientation of photovoltaic panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 384-394.
    15. Freitas, S. & Brito, M.C., 2019. "Non-cumulative only solar photovoltaics for electricity load-matching," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 271-283.
    16. Dragos Machidon & Marcel Istrate, 2023. "Tilt Angle Adjustment for Incident Solar Energy Increase: A Case Study for Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, April.
    17. Ruan, Tianqi & Wang, Fuxing & Topel, Monika & Laumert, Björn & Wang, Wujun, 2024. "A new optimal PV installation angle model in high-latitude cold regions based on historical weather big data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    18. Liu, Yujun & Yao, Ling & Jiang, Hou & Lu, Ning & Qin, Jun & Liu, Tang & Zhou, Chenghu, 2022. "Spatial estimation of the optimum PV tilt angles in China by incorporating ground with satellite data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 1249-1258.
    19. Gardashov, Rauf & Eminov, Murad & Kara, Gökhan & Emecen Kara, Esma Gül & Mammadov, Tural & Huseynova, Xedce, 2020. "The optimum daily direction of solar panels in the highlands, derived by an analytical method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    20. Ullah, Asad & Imran, Hassan & Maqsood, Zaki & Butt, Nauman Zafar, 2019. "Investigation of optimal tilt angles and effects of soiling on PV energy production in Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 830-843.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:229:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124008097. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.