Shading Analysis

Shading analysis is one of the most essential steps in phase of solar energy system
design or analysis. In photovoltaics it is important to analyse shading caused by
surrounding objects and/or vegetation. In special cases like analysis or design of
BIPV systems, exact analysis of shadow-voltaic systems (overhangs, vertical
shading fins, awnings etc.) is also very important. Similar analysis is also part of
passive house or solar house design - overhangs must also be planned very
carefully in such case. Basic calculations can be done by some simple equations -
formulas for some typical simple cases you may find below. Some graphical tools
like solar path calculator (pilkington) are also available. For analysis of complex
objects several computer tools are available. Some of them offer even 3D
simulation. Shading is especially important in photovoltaics. It should be eliminated
as much as possible. Even small obstacles like chimneys, telephone poles etc.
shouldn't be neglected. To minimise influence of photovoltaic array shading (if
shading can not be avoided) different system optimisation techniques can be used.
Shading devices, general
For different simple cases it is in general not difficult to calculate shadows for
particular day and time. Below you will find some formulae's end equations which
may help you to calculate shadows for most common particular cases in
engineering practice.
 FIGURE 1: Horizontal shading device, overhang, side view (left)
vertical shading device, vertical fin, top view (right)

[Equ 1]

h, D - geometry of horizontal shading device (see Figure 1, left)

α - sun height, Φ - solar azimuth, Ψ - plane azimuth
[Equ 2]
w, D - geometry of vertical shading device (see Figure 1, right)
Φ - solar azimuth, Ψ - plane azimuth
[Equ 3]

γ = vertical shadow angle (VSA)

w, D - geometry of vertical shading device (see picture above)
Φ - solar azimuth, Ψ - plane azimuth

Solar-Fabrik, solar modules used as shading devices and as part of a facade

image courtesy: Solar-Fabrik AG, Freiburg
Optimization of Strings
Shading losses of photovoltaic systems can not be avoided (if shading occurs), but
at least portion of them can be minimised. Right time to consider this issue is the
system plannings phase, later it is usually too late. Shading of strings - if crystalline
modules are mounted on the roof like on the picture below, they should be always
mounted horizontaly (like on the picture) and never vertically. Reason is quite
simple: each crystalline module usually includes two bypass diodes which are active
if shading occur. When modules are mounted horizontally the module still operates
with some amount of power (50 0% or less) if the bottom row is shaded, because
only one bypass diod is active. But if modules are mounted vertically and if lower
row is shaded partially or completel both bypass diodes are active and amount of
output power is close to zero. Strings on the roof, modules oriented horizontaly,
souce SSES Preffered orientation of modules in strings on the roof (courtesy SSES).
String configuration - modules that are shaded more often than other parts of array
should be connected into separate string(s) if possible. This will prevent losses of
the whole system because of partial shading of only one part of array.
Inverter configuration
Inverter configuration - some inverter offer several inputs, for each string its own
input - in case of shading of one string, other inputs will still operate in MPP.
Amorphous modules
Amorphous modules - in cases where shading can not be avoided use of amorphous
modules should be considered. Amorphous modules are far less sensitive on partial
shading (in comparison with crystalline modules) so that even in case of partial
shading they produce significant amount of power.
Array shape
Array shape - In some cases, like example of the church roof on the picture - you
can also prevent shading losse with carefully array design. Array on the picture has
shape of trapezoid, because of shading of church's bell tower.

Church's roof covered with photovoltaic roof tiles, optimised array shape
image courtesy: Creaton/Pfleiderer Dachziegel

Tools for Shading Analysis

Solar Pathfinder - The Solar Pathfinder has been the standard in the solar industry for solar
site analysis for decades. Its panoramic reflection of the site instantly provides a full year of
accurate solar/shade data, making it the instrument of choice.
SunEye™ - The Solmetric SunEye™ (discontinued) is a hand held electronic device that
allows users to instantly assess total potential solar energy given the shading of a particular
site. Identifying the shading pattern early in the process reduces the expense of system and
home design and improves the efficiency of the final system or house.
Steprobotics - accurate solar shade analysis tool. The user attaches a special fish eye lens
to the front camera of the phone and converts it into a solmetric sun eye. More
information and on-line training.
HORIcatcher - HORIcatcher is an easy and fast tool to take outdoor pictures of the horizon.
The pictures can be used to determine the solar energy input, sunshine duration and sun
exposure reduced by obstacles like trees, houses or mountains. HORIcatcher is supplied
with a digital camera.
Pilkington Sun Angle Calculator - This handy tool provides a relatively simple method of
determining solar geometry variables for architectural design, such as designing shading
devices or locating the position of the sun relative to a particular latitude and time.
Sonnenbahn Indikator Pro - is a simple tool for site evaluation.

Software
Autodesk ECOTECT Analysis - is an industry leading building analysis program that allows
designers to work easily in 3D and apply all the tools neccesary for an energy efficient and
sustainable future.
METEONORM - Global Meteorological Database for Solar Energy and Applied Meteorology.
METEONORM is a comprehensive climatological database for solar energy applications: a
meteorological database containing comprehensive climatological data for solar engineering
applications at all points of the globe between the polar circles; a computer program for
climatological calculations; a data source for engineering design programs in the passive,
active and photovoltaic application of solar energy with comprehensive data interfaces; a
standardization tool permitting developers and users of engineering design programs access
to a comprehensive, uniform data basis.
Shadow Analyser - Shadow Analyzer is an advanced parametric CAD tool for professionals in
the area of Solar Energy Engineering and Architecture.
Shadows - Shadows is a program used to design sundials and astrolabes and it is very
useful also in solar energy engineering. Supports plane sundials with polar style of any
orientation and reclination, analemmatic sundials, cylindrical and bifilar sundials. Simulates,
displays and animates the shadow of the style and offers complete ephemeris of the Sun
and draws the Solar Diagram.
pvPlanner - Simulation tool for planning and optimisation of photovoltaic systems using
climate and geographic data at high temporal and spatial resolution and new generation
high performance algorithms.
Amethyst ShadowFX - Amethyst ShadowFX is a sun and shadow modeling program for
architects and town planners. Amethyst ShadowFX enables you to easily generate shadow
profiles cast by buildings and other objects for any latitude, longitude and time of year.
Sombrero - A PC-tool to calculate shadows on arbitrarily oriented surfaces. For both, active
use of solar energy (domestic hot water, photovoitaics) as well as for passive solar
architecture, shading or lighting of planes plays an important role Sombrero provides
quantitative results for the shading of collectors or windows by buildings, trees, overhangs
or the horizon.
Panorama master - with "Panorama master" you can make exact matched set of photos -
base for panorama picture.
Horizon - software simulates sun path diagrams for arbitrary latitude.
GOSOL - Mit dem städtebaulichen Simulationsprogramm GOSOL können städtebauliche
Planungen solar+energetisch schnell und zielsicher verglichen, bewertet und optimiert
werden.
Shading Analysis In Solar Power
Plants

June 20, 2017

Shading analysis is a very crucial step in finalizing panel locations in distributed Photo
Voltaic (PV) solar installation. The extent of the rooftop area required by a solar PV
plant is a factor of panel efficiency and extent of shading. Any kind of shading is
detrimental to the performance of the entire solar PV plant. Solar panels are mostly
arranged in strings to meet voltage requirements. A shade in one panel not only
reduces the efficiency of that panel but cuts short supply from entire string.

A shadow falling on a panel blocks the flow of solar energy and eventually, the panel
gets damaged through heating. The efficiency of a panel at any time reduces in direct
proportion to the area of the shadowed part of the panel. Sometimes even panels not in
shadow zone get heated as they try to compensate for the power loss. Most often the
damaged panels are not covered under warranty, adding to the operations cost of the
plant.

Shade created by movable objects such as trees and similar objects can be avoided by
removing them to create a shade-free area. However, in the case of immovable objects
such as fixed structures, we need to leave surrounding areas falling in the shadow
zone.
For a rooftop solar project, objects such as parapet walls, staircase and small columns
can be a source of shadow. While placing panels, care also needs to be taken for inter-
row shading caused by panels themselves and hence panels are placed at an
appropriate inter-row distance.

Manual examination of shadow region is difficult as shadow pattern not only changes
throughout the day but also varies at different times of the year. This is because the
angle of elevation (angular height of sun) and Azimuth angle (movement of the sun
across the year) together define the shadow length and shadow position.

Nevertheless, there are programmed tools available for locating panels which use
coordinates as input and work with Google to get a detailed survey of the area including
different objects which can create shadows.

The user is given the option to define different areas as keep-away areas and the
software come up with the surrounding shadow region where panels cannot be placed.
These softwares use optimal inter-row spacing between panels and produce result on
how much capacity plant can be accommodated in the demarcated area. Tentative
placement of panels is also produced as output. Finally a report is generated with
detailed analysis of expected generation for a year and other performance parameters.

To conclude, for a typical PV plant, getting rid of shaded regions is one of the most
critical criteria for enhancing ROI (Return on Investment) from a solar power plant. At
Amplus, our in-house design team working from the corporate office uses highly
sophisticated software tools to finalize positioning of panels with more than 90%
accuracy. We don’t rely on a single software but analyze the results from different tools
as well as use our expertise through different projects to further increase the efficiency
of our PV plants.