Do solar panels need to be replaced?

Do you have to change your Solar Panels? Maybe just changing the tilt angle is enough

Sometimes, we are faced with the choice of whether to buy larger solar panels to generate more energy. However, this is not always the best option. In fact, in many cases, the best solution may be to change and improve the tilt angle of the solar panel rather than increase its size. In this article, we will see why the tilt angle of the solar panel is so important and how it affects the energy generated.

Energy from incident light
The tilt angle of the solar panel relative to the sun is very important because it affects the amount of Solar Energy that the panel can capture. The choice of the correct tilt angle depends on the geographical location of the photovoltaic system. In order to obtain the maximum productivity from the solar system and maximize the energy of the system, you should point the panels in the direction where the light incidence is most concentrated and avoid as much shading as possible. And this state should be maintained during the solar irradiation. The best solution is to install a solar tracking system so that the solar panel can be properly oriented according to the time of year and the time of day. However, this solution is not very feasible due to cost reasons. However, this article discusses the physics and mathematics issues, not the economic issues.

Using Math to Help Us Choose Direction and Angle

Math can help us choose the best direction and angle for solar panel installation to maximize power generation. Specifically, trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that can be used to calculate the ideal tilt angle of solar panels based on latitude and time of day. There are some simple formulas and tables that can help you install Solar Modules in the best way possible. The following formulas are very simple and can be used to roughly calculate the tilt angle of solar panels in summer and winter.

θWinter = Latitude + 15

θSummer = Latitude - 15

Of course, these are all generic positions that assume statically mounted modules. Another method that is slightly more accurate than the one just mentioned allows for the calculation of generic tilt angles in one of the four seasons (winter, summer, spring, and fall).

θWinter = Latitude · 0.9 + 29

θSummer = Latitude · 0.9 - 23.5

θSpring = Latitude - 2.5

θAutumn = Latitude - 2.5

With these formulas, the results can be better adapted to different seasonal conditions.

Depending on the angle of inclination relative to the plane, the light is distributed differently, and since the energy is constant, the energy density per unit area is also different. The closer you are to the poles, the larger the area over which the same light is distributed, and the lower the relative power. This is also true, as the temperature at the equator is higher than at the poles.

Angles that make a difference

Under ideal conditions, when the sun is placed perpendicular to a solar panel, its solar power generation is about 1,000W/m². This does not mean that such a panel can generate 1,000W of actual power. Since most of the energy is infrared radiation that generates heat, this value is much smaller. The amount of light received by a plane that is directly facing the light source is the greatest. But if the angle of the plane changes, the amount of light per unit area decreases, and the decrease is proportional to the cosine of this angle. The general formula for calculating the energy of light (visible and infrared) on a plane is as follows:

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Where E is the energy of light in W/m2, I is the amount of solar radiation in W/m2, θ is the angle of incidence of the light on the plane (i.e. the angle between the direction of the light and the plane normal), and cos represents the cosine function.

Therefore, the solar panel must be oriented to capture the most light, which can only be achieved if its plane is perpendicular to the direction of the light.

Although solar radiation produces about 1kW/m² of power on the ground, solar panels of the same surface area produce much less power. This happens because solar panels are sensitive to some bright visible light frequencies, but not to infrared light, which is the main component of sunlight. Therefore, a 1 square meter solar panel cannot produce 1,000W of electricity (at least when using this technology). This means that only a portion of the solar energy that hits the panel is converted into usable electricity. Solar panels have a very low efficiency of between 15% and 20%, but some companies have recently managed to achieve an extremely high efficiency of 46% using extremely expensive materials. Technology is making great progress, and there will undoubtedly be better devices on the market in the next few years.

Mirrors also help improve efficiency

Solar panels can be made more efficient by using mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto the panels. This increases the intensity of light that hits the modules. However, using one or more mirrors requires careful design and installation, as excessive temperatures can cause damage to the system. It also requires a lot of available space so that the mirrors can be placed properly.

Conclusion

If you want to improve the efficiency of an existing solar system, the best approach may be to change the angle of the solar panels rather than replace them with new ones. This is because the angle of light is a key factor in determining the efficiency of solar power generation. By changing the tilt angle, you can increase the amount of sunlight that the panels receive, thereby increasing their ability to generate electricity. In addition, this solution is cheaper and less invasive than replacing the entire system. Sometimes, some unprofessional solar panels are seen outdoors, and they are installed in the opposite direction of the sun. This is because the user has no other feasible solution. So before you decide to add or replace solar panels, consider changing their tilt angle.