IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i3p623-d315362.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Estimating the Optimum Tilt Angles for South-Facing Surfaces in Palestine

Author

Listed:
  • Ramez Abdallah

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, 00970 Nablus, Palestine)

  • Adel Juaidi

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, 00970 Nablus, Palestine)

  • Salameh Abdel-Fattah

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, 00970 Nablus, Palestine)

  • Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro

    (Department of Engineering, CEIA3, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain)

Abstract

The optimum tilt angle of solar panels or collectors is crucial when determining parameters that affect the performance of those panels. A mathematical model is used for determining the optimum tilt angle and for calculating the solar radiation on a south-facing surface on a daily, monthly, seasonal, semi-annual, and annual basis. Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) and Photovoltaic Software (PVWatts) is developed by the NREL (US National Renewable Energy Laboratory) are also used to calculate the optimum monthly, seasonal, semi-annual, and annual tilt angles and to compare these results with the results obtained from the mathematical model. The results are very similar. PVGIS and PVWatts are used to estimate the solar radiation on south-facing surfaces with different tilt angles. A case study of a mono-crystalline module with 5 kWP of peak power is used to find out the amount of increased energy (gains) obtained by adjusting the Photovoltaic (PV) tilt angles based on yearly, semi-annual, seasonal, and monthly tilt angles. The results show that monthly adjustments of the solar panels in the main Palestinian cities can generate about 17% more solar energy than the case of solar panels fixed on a horizontal surface. Seasonal and semi-annual adjustments can generate about 15% more energy (i.e., it is worth changing the solar panels 12 times a year (monthly) or at least 2 times a year (semi-annually). The yearly optimum tilt angle for most Palestinian cities is about 29°, which yields an increase of about 10% energy gain compared to a solar panel fixed on a horizontal surface.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramez Abdallah & Adel Juaidi & Salameh Abdel-Fattah & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "Estimating the Optimum Tilt Angles for South-Facing Surfaces in Palestine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:3:p:623-:d:315362
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/3/623/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/3/623/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Omar, Moien A. & Mahmoud, Marwan M., 2018. "Grid connected PV- home systems in Palestine: A review on technical performance, effects and economic feasibility," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2490-2497.
    2. Hartley, L.E. & Martínez-Lozano, J.A. & Utrillas, M.P. & Tena, F. & Pedrós, R., 1999. "The optimisation of the angle of inclination of a solar collector to maximise the incident solar radiation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 291-309.
    3. Mirian Jiménez-Torres & Catalina Rus-Casas & Lenin Guillermo Lemus-Zúiga & Leocadio Hontoria, 2017. "The Importance of Accurate Solar Data for Designing Solar Photovoltaic Systems—Case Studies in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Hartner, Michael & Ortner, André & Hiesl, Albert & Haas, Reinhard, 2015. "East to west – The optimal tilt angle and orientation of photovoltaic panels from an electricity system perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 94-107.
    5. Ibrik, Imad H. & Mahmoud, Marwan M., 2005. "Energy efficiency improvement procedures and audit results of electrical, thermal and solar applications in Palestine," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 651-658, March.
    6. Juaidi, Adel & Montoya, Francisco G. & Ibrik, Imad H. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2016. "An overview of renewable energy potential in Palestine," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 943-960.
    7. Tang, Runsheng & Wu, Tong, 2004. "Optimal tilt-angles for solar collectors used in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 79(3), pages 239-248, November.
    8. Yakup, Mohd Azmi bin Hj Mohd & Malik, A.Q, 2001. "Optimum tilt angle and orientation for solar collector in Brunei Darussalam," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 223-234.
    9. Seyed Abbas Mousavi Maleki & H. Hizam & Chandima Gomes, 2017. "Estimation of Hourly, Daily and Monthly Global Solar Radiation on Inclined Surfaces: Models Re-Visited," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-28, January.
    10. Morcos, V.H., 1994. "Optimum tilt angle and orientation for solar collectors in Assiut, Egypt," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 291-298.
    11. Nijegorodov, N. & Devan, K.R.S. & Jain, P.K. & Carlsson, S., 1994. "Atmospheric transmittance models and an analytical method to predict the optimum slope of an absorber plate, variously oriented at any latitude," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 4(5), pages 529-543.
    12. Mousazadeh, Hossein & Keyhani, Alireza & Javadi, Arzhang & Mobli, Hossein & Abrinia, Karen & Sharifi, Ahmad, 2009. "A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 1800-1818, October.
    13. Jafarkazemi, Farzad & Saadabadi, S. Ali, 2013. "Optimum tilt angle and orientation of solar surfaces in Abu Dhabi, UAE," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 44-49.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ramez Abdallah & Adel Juaidi & Salameh Abdel-Fattah & Mahmoud Qadi & Montaser Shadid & Aiman Albatayneh & Hüseyin Çamur & Amos García-Cruz & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2022. "The Effects of Soiling and Frequency of Optimal Cleaning of PV Panels in Palestine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Gönül, Ömer & Yazar, Fatih & Duman, A. Can & Güler, Önder, 2022. "A comparative techno-economic assessment of manually adjustable tilt mechanisms and automatic solar trackers for behind-the-meter PV applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    3. Sameh Monna & Adel Juaidi & Ramez Abdallah & Aiman Albatayneh & Patrick Dutournie & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2021. "Towards Sustainable Energy Retrofitting, a Simulation for Potential Energy Use Reduction in Residential Buildings in Palestine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Salameh, Tareq & Tawalbeh, Muhammad & Juaidi, Adel & Abdallah, Ramez & Hamid, Abdul-Kadir, 2021. "A novel three-dimensional numerical model for PV/T water system in hot climate region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1320-1333.
    5. Ramez Abdallah & Emad Natsheh & Adel Juaidi & Sufyan Samara & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "A Multi-Level World Comprehensive Neural Network Model for Maximum Annual Solar Irradiation on a Flat Surface," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-31, December.
    6. Tong Liu & Li Liu & Yufang He & Mengfei Sun & Jian Liu & Guochang Xu, 2021. "A Theoretical Optimum Tilt Angle Model for Solar Collectors from Keplerian Orbit," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    7. D. P. N. Nguyen & Johan Lauwaert, 2020. "Calculating the Energy Yield of Si-Based Solar Cells for Belgium and Vietnam Regions at Arbitrary Tilt and Orientation under Actual Weather Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Sameh Monna & Adel Juaidi & Ramez Abdallah & Mohammed Itma, 2020. "A Comparative Assessment for the Potential Energy Production from PV Installation on Residential Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Maryon Eliza Matius & Mohd Azlan Ismail & Yan Yan Farm & Adriana Erica Amaludin & Mohd Adzrie Radzali & Ahmad Fazlizan & Wan Khairul Muzammil, 2021. "On the Optimal Tilt Angle and Orientation of an On-Site Solar Photovoltaic Energy Generation System for Sabah’s Rural Electrification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, May.
    10. Youssef Kassem & Hüseyin Gökçekuş & Ali Güvensoy, 2021. "Techno-Economic Feasibility of Grid-Connected Solar PV System at Near East University Hospital, Northern Cyprus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-27, November.
    11. Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "Energy Saving at Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-3, July.

    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. Ramez Abdallah & Emad Natsheh & Adel Juaidi & Sufyan Samara & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "A Multi-Level World Comprehensive Neural Network Model for Maximum Annual Solar Irradiation on a Flat Surface," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-31, December.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Chang, Tian Pau, 2009. "The gain of single-axis tracked panel according to extraterrestrial radiation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(7-8), pages 1074-1079, July.
    5. 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.
    6. Chang, Tian Pau, 2009. "Performance evaluation for solar collectors in Taiwan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 32-40.
    7. Chang, Tian Pau, 2009. "Output energy of a photovoltaic module mounted on a single-axis tracking system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2071-2078, October.
    8. Maatallah, Taher & El Alimi, Souheil & Nassrallah, Sassi Ben, 2011. "Performance modeling and investigation of fixed, single and dual-axis tracking photovoltaic panel in Monastir city, Tunisia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 4053-4066.
    9. 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).
    10. 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.
    11. Barbón, A. & Ayuso, P. Fortuny & Bayón, L. & Silva, C.A., 2021. "A comparative study between racking systems for photovoltaic power systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 424-437.
    12. Bakirci, Kadir, 2012. "General models for optimum tilt angles of solar panels: Turkey case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6149-6159.
    13. Abboushi, Nour & Alsamamra, Husain, 2021. "Achievements and barriers of renewable energy in Palestine: Highlighting Oslo Agreement as a barrier for exploiting RE resources," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 369-386.
    14. Rehman, Naveed ur & Uzair, Muhammad, 2020. "Optimizing the inclined field for solar photovoltaic arrays," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 280-289.
    15. Le Roux, W.G., 2016. "Optimum tilt and azimuth angles for fixed solar collectors in South Africa using measured data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 603-612.
    16. Lv, Yuexia & Si, Pengfei & Rong, Xiangyang & Yan, Jinyue & Feng, Ya & Zhu, Xiaohong, 2018. "Determination of optimum tilt angle and orientation for solar collectors based on effective solar heat collection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 11-19.
    17. Chang, Tian Pau, 2009. "Performance study on the east–west oriented single-axis tracked panel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1530-1538.
    18. 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.
    19. Armstrong, S. & Hurley, W.G., 2010. "A new methodology to optimise solar energy extraction under cloudy conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 780-787.
    20. 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.

    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:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:3:p:623-:d:315362. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.