IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v108y2017icp390-400.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A method to estimate the location and orientation of distributed photovoltaic systems from their generation output data

Author

Listed:
  • Haghdadi, Navid
  • Copper, Jessie
  • Bruce, Anna
  • MacGill, Iain

Abstract

Distributed PV systems, mostly on household, commercial and industrial rooftops, represent around half of global PV capacity. Their orientation (tilt and azimuth) often depends on the particular rooftop on which they are installed, rather than being designed for optimal performance. Furthermore, data collection, and particularly validation, of their configurations is often lacking. However, their generation output is usually well monitored given this determines cashflows. Rooftop PV systems therefore pose important performance assessment challenges. Large databases of distributed PV generation performance now exist. However, there is often little information on the actual system installation, or quality checks on provided information, which is a major problem for performance assessment. We therefore present a method for estimating tilt, azimuth, and even location for PV plants by fitting a model to their time-series generation. The method is tested for three case studies: (1) simulated generation of a theoretical PV system using weather data; (2) measured generation of PV systems with validated location and orientation; and (3) measured generation from PV systems with self-reported information. Results suggest that the proposed method can estimate array tilt, azimuth, longitude, and latitude with Mean Absolute Deviations of 2.75°, 5.85°, 0.2°, and 4.08° respectively, for a typical PV system.

Suggested Citation

  • Haghdadi, Navid & Copper, Jessie & Bruce, Anna & MacGill, Iain, 2017. "A method to estimate the location and orientation of distributed photovoltaic systems from their generation output data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 390-400.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:108:y:2017:i:c:p:390-400
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.080
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117301660
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.080?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. Mondol, Jayanta Deb & Yohanis, Yigzaw G. & Norton, Brian, 2007. "The impact of array inclination and orientation on the performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 118-140.
    2. Kaldellis, John & Zafirakis, Dimitrios, 2012. "Experimental investigation of the optimum photovoltaic panels’ tilt angle during the summer period," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 305-314.
    3. 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.
    4. Leloux, Jonathan & Narvarte, Luis & Trebosc, David, 2012. "Review of the performance of residential PV systems in France," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 1369-1376.
    5. Mehleri, E.D. & Zervas, P.L. & Sarimveis, H. & Palyvos, J.A. & Markatos, N.C., 2010. "Determination of the optimal tilt angle and orientation for solar photovoltaic arrays," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 2468-2475.
    6. Copper, J.K. & Sproul, A.B. & Jarnason, S., 2016. "Photovoltaic (PV) performance modelling in the absence of onsite measured plane of array irradiance (POA) and module temperature," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 760-769.
    7. David, Mathieu & Lauret, Philippe & Boland, John, 2013. "Evaluating tilted plane models for solar radiation using comprehensive testing procedures, at a southern hemisphere location," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 124-131.
    8. Noorian, Ali Mohammad & Moradi, Isaac & Kamali, Gholam Ali, 2008. "Evaluation of 12 models to estimate hourly diffuse irradiation on inclined surfaces," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1406-1412.
    9. Ridley, Barbara & Boland, John & Lauret, Philippe, 2010. "Modelling of diffuse solar fraction with multiple predictors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 478-483.
    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. Wenjie Zhang & Yuqiang Zhao & Fengcheng Huang & Yongheng Zhong & Jianwei Zhou, 2021. "Forecasting the Energy and Economic Benefits of Photovoltaic Technology in China’s Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Brester, Christina & Kallio-Myers, Viivi & Lindfors, Anders V. & Kolehmainen, Mikko & Niska, Harri, 2023. "Evaluating neural network models in site-specific solar PV forecasting using numerical weather prediction data and weather observations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 266-274.
    3. Mohammad K. Najjar & Eduardo Linhares Qualharini & Ahmed W. A. Hammad & Dieter Boer & Assed Haddad, 2019. "Framework for a Systematic Parametric Analysis to Maximize Energy Output of PV Modules Using an Experimental Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Aloys Martial Ekoe A Akata & Donatien Njomo & Basant Agrawal & Auguste Mackpayen & Abdel-Hamid Mahamat Ali, 2022. "Tilt Angle and Orientation Assessment of Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) System for Sub-Saharan Tropical Regions: Case Study Douala, Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Mayer, Kevin & Rausch, Benjamin & Arlt, Marie-Louise & Gust, Gunther & Wang, Zhecheng & Neumann, Dirk & Rajagopal, Ram, 2022. "3D-PV-Locator: Large-scale detection of rooftop-mounted photovoltaic systems in 3D," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    6. Edun, Ayobami S. & Perry, Kirsten & Harley, Joel B. & Deline, Chris, 2021. "Unsupervised azimuth estimation of solar arrays in low-resolution satellite imagery through semantic segmentation and Hough transform," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    7. Guerrero-Lemus, R. & Cañadillas-Ramallo, D. & Reindl, T. & Valle-Feijóo, J.M., 2019. "A simple big data methodology and analysis of the specific yield of all PV power plants in a power system over a long time period," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 123-132.
    8. Bertrand, Cédric & Housmans, Caroline & Leloux, Jonathan & Journée, Michel, 2018. "Solar irradiation from the energy production of residential PV systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 306-318.

    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. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. Raptis, P.I. & Kazadzis, S. & Psiloglou, B. & Kouremeti, N. & Kosmopoulos, P. & Kazantzidis, A., 2017. "Measurements and model simulations of solar radiation at tilted planes, towards the maximization of energy capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 570-580.
    4. Koo, Choongwan & Si, Ke & Li, Wenzhuo & Lee, JeeHee, 2022. "Integrated approach to evaluating the impact of feed-in tariffs on the life cycle economic performance of photovoltaic systems in China: A case study of educational facilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    5. Copper, J.K. & Sproul, A.B. & Jarnason, S., 2016. "Photovoltaic (PV) performance modelling in the absence of onsite measured plane of array irradiance (POA) and module temperature," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 760-769.
    6. Watts, David & Valdés, Marcelo F. & Jara, Danilo & Watson, Andrea, 2015. "Potential residential PV development in Chile: The effect of Net Metering and Net Billing schemes for grid-connected PV systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1037-1051.
    7. Roberts, Justo José & Mendiburu Zevallos, Andrés A. & Cassula, Agnelo Marotta, 2017. "Assessment of photovoltaic performance models for system simulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1104-1123.
    8. Jamil, Wan Juzaili & Abdul Rahman, Hasimah & Shaari, Sulaiman & Salam, Zainal, 2017. "Performance degradation of photovoltaic power system: Review on mitigation methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 876-891.
    9. Moretón, R. & Lorenzo, E. & Pinto, A. & Muñoz, J. & Narvarte, L., 2017. "From broadband horizontal to effective in-plane irradiation: A review of modelling and derived uncertainty for PV yield prediction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 886-903.
    10. 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.
    11. Ioannis-Panagiotis Raptis & Anna Moustaka & Panagiotis Kosmopoulos & Stelios Kazadzis, 2022. "Selecting Surface Inclination for Maximum Solar Power," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    12. Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki & Goto, Mika, 2017. "Measurement of returns to scale on large photovoltaic power stations in the United States and Germany," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 306-320.
    13. Armendariz-Lopez, J.F. & Luna-Leon, A. & Gonzalez-Trevizo, M.E. & Arena-Granados, A.P. & Bojorquez-Morales, G., 2016. "Life cycle cost of photovoltaic technologies in commercial buildings in Baja California, Mexico," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 564-571.
    14. Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki & Goto, Mika, 2014. "Photovoltaic power stations in Germany and the United States: A comparative study by data envelopment analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 271-288.
    15. Deb, Dipankar & Brahmbhatt, Nisarg L., 2018. "Review of yield increase of solar panels through soiling prevention, and a proposed water-free automated cleaning solution," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3306-3313.
    16. Khalil, Samy A. & Shaffie, A.M., 2016. "Evaluation of transposition models of solar irradiance over Egypt," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 105-119.
    17. Kumar, Manish & Kumar, Arun, 2017. "Performance assessment and degradation analysis of solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 554-587.
    18. Lin, Chun-Tin & Chang, Keh-Chin & Chung, Kung-Ming, 2023. "Re-modeling the solar diffuse fraction in Taiwan on basis of a typical-meteorological-year data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 823-835.
    19. Jägemann, Cosima & Hagspiel, Simeon & Lindenberger, Dietmar, 2013. "The Economic Inefficiency of Grid Parity: The Case of German Photovoltaics," EWI Working Papers 2013-19, Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI).
    20. 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.

    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:108:y:2017:i:c:p:390-400. 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.