Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II Academy for Civil Protection

Department Of Mechanical Engineering/Renewable Energy

Project subject: Validation Of PVSYST Simulation Results

Supervised by: Dr Awni Al-Khazaleh

Project By:

 Nedal Abdallah AbuAtwan 20184007

 Saifeddin Mohammad Al-kesbah 20184003
 Sultan Hadi Al-shammari 20184038
 Ahmed Jamal Al-Bkerat 20184034
 Thabet Khaled Al-Haddad 20184032
 Raed Ahmad Al-Ghnimat 20184012

I
Table of content:
Title Page I
List Of Tables IV
List Of Figures V
List Of Abbreviations VII
Abstract VIII
CHAPTER ONE: Solar Energy Systems 1
1.1 Advantages Of Solar Energy 2
1.2 Disadvantages Of Solar Energy 3
1.3 Types Of Solar Energy Systems 4
1.3.1 Photovoltaic Systems 4
1.3.2 Solar Thermal Systems 5
1.4 Picking A Suitable Solar System 8
1.5 PV Systems Components 9
1.5.1 PV Module 9
1.5.2 Inverter 10
1.5.3 Alternating Current And Direct Current Cables 10
1.5.4 Charge Controller 11
1.5.5 Solar Charge Controller’s Technologies 12
1.5.6 Energy Storage 13
1.6 Modules Orientation 14
1.7 Angles Of The Sun 14
1.7.1Altitude And Azimuthal 14
1.7.2 Declination Angle 15
1.8 Solar Modules Angles 16
1.8.1 Optimal Azimuth Angle For Solar Panels 16
1.8.2 Optimal Tilt Angle For Solar Panels 17
1.9 Solar Trackers 18
1.10 Temperature Effect On Efficiency 19
1.11 Temperature Coefficient 19

II
 CHAPTER TWO: PV Production Factors And Terms 20
2.1 Energy Consumption 21
2.2 Solar Irradiance And Peak Sun Hours 21
2.3 Watt Peak 22
2.4 System Size 22
2.5 Changing Tilt Angle Effect 23
2.6 Changing Locations Effect 23
2.7 Cleaning Effect 24
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 25
3.1 Designing 25
3.2 PVSYST 25
3.3 SketchUp 29
3.4 Implementing PVSYST And SketchUp Into Our Project 30
3.4.1 Testing For Different Tilt Angles 30
3.4.2 Testing For Different Locations 30
3.5 Cleaning effect on a PV system in Amman 30
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 31
4.1 Output For Different Tilt Angles 31
4.2 Output For Different Locations 31
4.3 Output Difference For Cleaned And Non-Cleaned Stations In Sahab 32
4.4 Output Difference For Cleaned And Non-Cleaned Stations In Aqaba 33
4.5 Output Difference For Cleaned And Non-Cleaned Stations In Irbid 33
4.6 Temperature Effect On Production 34
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS 36
References 37

III
List of tables:
Table 1.1 efficiencies of solar systems 8
Table 2.1 electricity tariff in Jordan 21
Table 4.1 energy outcome for different tilt angles 31
Table 4.2 energy outcome for different locations 31
Table 4.3 energy outcome for different areas in Jordan 31

IV
 List of figures:
Number Figure caption Page
Figure 1.1 solar photovoltaic energy system 1
Figure 1.2 battery 3
Figure 1.3 crystalline panels 4
Figure 1.4 thin film solar modules 5
Figure1.5 solar water heater 5
Figure 1.6 parabolic trough collector 6
Figure1.7 solar dish 6
Figure 1.8 solar tower 7
Figure 1.9 solar cell components 9
Figure1.10 Inverter 10
Figure 1.11 solar charge controller 11
Figure 1.12 PV curve at MPP 13
Figure 1.13 solar battery 13
Figure1.14 dual axis solar tracker controller 14
Figure 1.15 zenith, altitude, and azimuthal angles 15
Figure1.16 declination angle 15
Figure1.17 tilt and azimuthal angle 16
Figure 1.18 tilt angle through year 17
Figure 1.19 types of trackers 18
Figure 1.20 I-V relation graph 19
Figure2.1 roof mounted solar energy system 20
Figure2.2 peak sun hours curve in Jordan 22
Figure 3.1 PVSYST main menu 26
Figure3.2 design grid connected system on PVSYST 26
Figure 3.3 choosing the site on PVSYST 27
Figure 3.4 determining tilt and azimuth angles 27
Figure3.5 selecting the panel and inverter 28
Figure 3.6 SketchUp 29
Figure3.7 Darb scm1-20cleaning robot 30
Figure 4.1 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV station in Sahab 32

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Figure4.2 loss percentage by not cleaning the system 32
Figure4.3 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV station in Aqaba 33

Figure 4.4 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV station in Irbid 33

Figure 4.5 the surface temperature (C) of PV with time through the day 34
Figure 4.6 the variation of efficiency due to variation of temperature (C) 34
Figure 4.7 the variation of the output power (W) due to variation of 34
temperature(C)

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List of abbreviations:
PV Photovoltaic

AC Alternating Current

DC Direct Current

PWM Pulse Width Modulator

MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracker

VOC Voltaic Organic Compound

VMP Voltage Maximum Power

STC Slandered Test Conditions

KWH Kilo Watt Hour

KWP Kilo Watt Peak

A Ampere (Current unit)

C Celecius temperature degree

W Watt

LVD Low voltage disconnect

VII
Abstract
Ever since PV systems were invented, the main designing hindrance was the unpredictability
of the energy outcome as it would vary depending on uncontrollable factors such as weather. In
order to limit this unpredictability, lots of studies have been created by NASA, PVGis, and
others. Those studies have been included in PVSYST to help design more accurate systems.
However, those studies are not completely accurate. In this project, we will first briefly
describe solar energy systems, mentioning their most common types and comparing them. This
will lead us into our next subject which will be the designing of PV systems, it will include
mentioning their components with a description of how every component contributes to the
system and will also mention the angles of the sun and the modules of our system. After that,
we will explain the contribution of PVSYST and SketchUp to the system design process and
describe how to use and optimize both programs to help us get a more accurate design. Finally,
we will compare the readings and productions of some existing PV systems with the simulation
results of PVSYST for the very same system.

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 CHAPTER ONE
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
Solar energy is the radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical
reactions, or generating electricity. A total of 173,000 terawatts (trillions of watts) of solar
energy strikes the Earth continuously. That's more than 10,000 times the world's total energy
use.

Figure 1.1 solar photovoltaic energy system [1]

If suitably harnessed, this highly diffused source has the potential to satisfy all future energy
needs. Solar energy is expected to become increasingly attractive as a renewable energy source
because of its inexhaustible supply and its nonpolluting character, in stark contrast to the finite
fossil fuels coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

Solar energy was used by humans as early as 7th century B.C. when history tells us that
humans used sunlight to light fires with magnifying glass materials. When we talk about the
term Solar Energy, we mean both forms of it, which are photovoltaic energy and solar thermal
energy.

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 1.1 Advantages of Solar Energy

 Renewable and unlimited. The amount of available solar energy is staggering and it’s
constantly replaced. A mere 0.02% of incoming sunlight, if harnessed correctly, would be
sufficient to replace every other fuel source currently used.

 Solar power is low-emission. Solar panels produce no pollution, although they impose
environmental costs through manufacture and construction. These environmental tolls are
negligible compared to those of fossil fuels.

 Solar power provides green jobs. Production of solar panels for domestic use is becoming a
growing source of employment in research, manufacture, sales and installation.

 Solar power is economical in the long run. Solar panels and their installation involve high
initial expenses, but this cost is soon offset by savings on energy bills. Eventually, they may
even produce a profit on their use.

 Solar power is a quite source of energy. Solar panels contain no moving parts and thus produce
no noise. Wind turbines, by contrast, require noisy gearboxes and blades which do not suit
urban areas.

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 1.2 Disadvantages of Solar Energy

 Weather-Dependent. The efficiency of the solar system drops dramatically. A few cloudy,
rainy days can have a noticeable effect on the energy system since they reduce the sunlight.
You should also take into account that solar energy cannot be collected during the night.

 High Initial Cost. It cost between 4500$ and 6000$ for average-sized systems that produce
between 4kW and 8Kw of power. These costs include the solar panels, inverter, mounting
hardware and wiring, installation, permits, repairs, monitoring and maintenance costs, and
additional operation and costs.

 Expensive Storage. Solar energy has to be used right away, or it can be stored in large
batteries. These batteries, used in off-the-grid solar systems, can be charged during the day so
that the energy is used during the night. This is a good solution for using solar energy all day
long but it is also quite expensive.

Figure 1.2 battery [2]

 Low Energy Density. The more electricity you want to produce, the more solar panels you will
need, as you want to collect as much sunlight as possible. Solar PV panels require a lot of
space and some roofs are not big enough to fit the number of solar panels that you would like
to have.

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1.3 Types of Solar Energy Systems
1.3.1 Photovoltaic Systems.
One of the most common ways to use solar power is to use photovoltaic systems or as they are
also known PV systems, they get their name from the process of converting light (photons) to
electricity (voltage). This happens due to an effect called the photovoltaic effect. This effect
was discovered in 1954 by scientists at Bell Laboratories who created a working solar cell
made from silicon that generated an electric current when exposed to sunlight.
The semiconductor materials used in these solar energy systems absorb sunlight which creates
a reaction that generates electricity – to be exact, the solar energy knocks the electrons loose
from their atoms which makes them flow through the semiconductor material and produce
electrical current. Those systems will be the main systems we study in this project. PV cells are
made of semiconducting materials, mainly silicon; those silicon PV cells are usually made in 3
types:

1- Mono crystalline
Monocrystalline solar panels are characterized by their black PV cells with rounded edges.
Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from a single crystal of silicon

2- Poly crystalline
Polycrystalline solar panels have blue PV cells with straight edges. Polycrystalline solar
panels have solar cells made from several fragments of silicon melted together.

Figure 1.3 crystalline panels [3]

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 3- Thin film
Thin film cells are made by spraying one or more thin layers of a photovoltaic material (such
as silicon) on a substrate, (such as glass, plastic or metal). Thin film cells, generally have lower
efficiencies than poly or mono crystalline cells but are cheaper and easier to be made. Among
the 3 types of solar panels, Thin-Film cells have the shortest lifespan of 10 to 20 years which is
still a long period of time especially considering its price.

Figure 1.4 thin film solar panels [4]

1.3.2 Solar Thermal Systems.

The idea of these systems is to utilize the heating caused by the solar sunlight to produce
energy. This energy can be used directly as heat to warm water (e.g.), or converted into other
types of energy such as kinetic energy then electricity.
1- Solar water heating systems. As the name suggests it involves the heating up of water
using sun’s heat. The idea behind this comes straight from nature: the shallow water of a lake
is usually warmer compared to deeper water. This is because the sunlight can heat the bottom
of the lake in the shallow areas, which in turn, heats the water.
Those systems are made of 2 main parts which are the solar collector and a storage tank.
The most common collector is called a flat-plate collector which is mounted on roofs and faces
the sun. Small tubes run through the box and carry the fluid – either water or other fluid. As
heat builds up in the collector, it heats the fluid passing through the tubes. The storage tank
then holds the hot liquid until used.

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 Figure 1.5 solar water heater [5]

2- Solar power plants. In those systems the idea is to turn the heating energy to electricity
before usage. Boiling the water through solar heating produces steam that makes a large
turbine rotate which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. Those power plants are
getting very common and vary based on the way the sun light is collected.
There are 3 main types of those power plants:
1. Parabolic-trough systems. Those systems capture the sun’s energy through long
rectangular, curved mirrors that are tilted toward the sun. In this way, they help focus
sunlight on a pipe that contains oil. The oil is heated and then used to boil water in a
conventional steam generator to produce electricity.

Figure 1.6 parabolic trough collector [6]

2. Solar dish systems. Those systems use very large satellite dish mirrors which collect and
concentrate the sun’s heat onto a receiver. This receiver absorbs the heat and transfers it to the
fluid within an engine. The heat causes the fluid to expand against a piston or turbine and
produces mechanical power. This power is used to run a generator or an alternator to produce
electricity.
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 Figure 1.7 solar dish [7]

3. Solar tower systems. Those systems use a large field of mirrors to concentrate sunlight
onto the top of a tower, where a receiver containing a Phase Change Material (PCM) which is
usually molten salt sits to store this heat energy. The salt’s heat is used to generate electricity
through a conventional steam generator. Molten salt retains heat efficiently, so it can be stored
for days before being converted into electricity. That means electricity can be produced on
cloudy days or even several hours after sunset.

Figure 1.8 solar tower [8]

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1.4 Picking a Suitable Solar System.
There are many factors that help decide the most suitable system you should be designing such
as:
 Required energy.
The solar tower for example is known for producing way more energy than PV systems. Build
a system that meets your energy needs.
 Available budget.
For example, in case you don’t have the budget for a full PV system, you might want to settle
for a solar water heating system instead.
 Available area.
Some systems produce more energy per initial budget compared to others but aren’t ideal as
they require a large amount of space or make noise that doesn’t fit urban areas.
 Availability of the system components in local markets.
Some average efficiencies of solar systems:
Table 1.1 efficiencies of solar systems
Solar system Efficiency (%) **
Mono crystalline PV systems 15%-20%

Poly crystalline PV systems 13%-16%

Thin film PV systems 7%-14%

Solar water heating systems 60%-70%

Parabolic-trough systems Thermal efficiency (60-80)%

Overall efficiency (15)%
Solar dish systems Up to 31%

Solar tower systems 23%-35%

** Those efficiencies vary rapidly due to the rapid development in these systems

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1.5 PV Systems Components
Solar PV systems include different components that should be selected according to many
factors including:
1) Site location. The site location plays a main role deciding the amount of insolation the
system is to receive, which will affect the power supplied.
2) Applications and loads. To decide the quantity and the quality of needed components for
a system, we need to have an approximate idea of the load it’s meant to supply with power.
The major components for solar PV system are:
1. PV module.
2. Inverter.
3. Alternating current and direct current cables.
4. Cement bases
5. Metallic structure
6. Fuses and circuit breakers
7. Solar charge controller.
8. Energy storage. (Usually chemical batteries)

1.5.1 PV Module
This is the main part of the system, responsible for turning sun photons energy into dc
electricity source. Modules include the following layers:

Figure 1.9 solar cell components [9]

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1.5.2 Inverter
An inverter can be defined as a compact rectangular electrical device used to convert DC
electricity into AC electricity which is used in common devices. DC applications include
several small types of equipment such as solar power systems. Direct current is used in many
small electrical equipment such as solar energy systems, power batteries, power sources, and
fuel cells because it simply produces direct current.

Figure 1.10 inverter [10]

1.5.3 Alternating Current and Direct Current Cables

Direct current cables: These are the wires responsible for transmitting direct current (DC) from
the panels to the inverter or the batteries (dc loads).
Alternating current cables: These are the wires responsible for transmitting alternating current
(AC) from the inverter to the AC loads or the grid. The differences between DC and AC cables
are:
1. DC cables are used in the rectified DC transmission systems, while AC cables are often
used in the power frequency power system (domestically 50 Hz).
2. The power loss (due to the conductor resistance) during the transmission in DC cables is
small. While the AC resistance of a low-voltage AC cable is slightly larger than the DC
resistance.
3. DC cables are convenient to adjust the current and change the power transmission
direction.
4. DC cables have positive and negative poles, with simple structures; while AC cables are
three-phase four-wire or five-wire system,

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 5. AC cables insulation safety requirements are high, their structure is complex, and they
cost three times more than DC cables.

1.5.4 Charge Controller

A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar
array. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the
power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.
A solar charge controller is one of the key components of a solar panel system with a battery,
such as an off-grid system. Their main job is to act as a charge regulator for the electricity
going into the battery bank from a solar array.

Figure 1.11 solar charge controller [11]

One key thing to know is that electricity flows from high voltage to low voltage. So, for
instance, solar panels produce the most energy in the middle of the day so their voltage is high
while the battery bank's voltage is low. Excess electricity is then sent to be stored in the
battery.
But at night, the battery has a higher voltage than the solar panels because they are all charged
up from the day. To stop this high voltage from flowing to the solar panels, the solar charge
controller steps in to keep the electricity in place, and prevent the reverse current flow.
When the battery charger is empty or close to it, the charge controller directs a great deal of
power to the battery and charges it quickly. Once the battery is close to being full or is in use,
the charge controller sends a smaller amount of power to the battery via a trickle charge to
keep the battery always ready to supply power. Additionally, charge controllers automatically

11
disconnect non-critical loads from the battery bank when the voltage falls below a certain
threshold. This is a process called low voltage disconnect (LVD) and it prevents the over-
discharging of the battery's energy which would reduce its life time.

1.5.5 Solar Charge Controller’s Technologies:

1- Pulse width modulator.
A pulse width modulating (PWM) charge controller connects your solar array directly with a
battery bank. While the battery charges, the voltage of the battery increases, leading to an
increase in the solar panel voltage that is charging the battery. You can only use solar panels
that are made to work with the voltage of the battery and charge controller.
With a PWM charge controller, a 12-volt solar panel is needed to charge a 12-volt battery and
so forth. If you used a PWM charge controller with a 12V battery but with 48V solar panels,
the PWM will not harvest the extra energy produced, it will only harvest 12V
A 12V solar panel can charge a 12V battery. A 24V solar panel or solar array (two 12V panels
wired in series) is needed for a 24V battery bank, and 48V array is needed for 48V bank. If you
try to charge a 12V battery with a 24V solar panel, you will be throwing over half of the
panel’s power away. If you try to charge a 24V battery bank with a 12V solar panel, you will
be throwing away 100% of the panel’s potential, and may actually drain the battery as well.

2- Maximum power point tracker.

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers are more sophisticated than PWM
charge controllers. They work by measuring the voltage maximum point (VMP) input voltage
of the solar panel as shown in figure 1.12 and then down-converts the PV voltage to match the
battery voltage. Essentially, it takes the high voltage from the panel and reduces it so that it
matches the battery voltage, which is less. When using an MPPT solar charge controller, you
can use a voltage solar array that is higher than your battery system because your charge
controller will reduce the voltage so that it does not overwhelm your battery. If you want better
efficiency and are tired of worrying about the difference between your battery and solar panel
voltage, invest in an MPPT charge controller. You just need to make sure that the Volatile
organic compounds (VOC) of your panels is under the permitted voltage of your charge
controller.

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 Figure 1.12 P-V curve at MPP [12]

1.5.6 Energy Storage

Almost every solar system is connected to the electrical grid. In this way, excess electricity can
be pushed back into the grid, and when your solar system isn’t producing enough electricity for
your loads, you’ll be able to draw electricity from the grid.
Solar batteries work in a similar way. The solar energy that is collected in excess is stored in
the batteries. Similarly, when there isn’t enough electricity being produced by the sun, the
previously-stored power enters the home from the battery bank. This energy storage can be of
many types such as:
1. Pumped hydro storage systems
2. Hydrogen
3. Phase change thermal storage systems
4. Rechargeable chemical batteries (most common)
The two most common chemical batteries are Lithium Batteries Lead Acid Batteries

Figure 1.13 solar battery [13]

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The lithium batteries are far ahead compared to lead acid ones when it comes to most aspects,
including charge time, lifespan, efficiency and depth of discharge. However, lead acid batteries
are cheaper.

1.6 Modules Orientation

Alongside the type of solar panels you buy, their placement and direction is equally important.
The panels can absorb the maximum energy when the sun’s rays hit them perpendicularly. You
can ensure that the solar panels generate a sufficient amount of power when they face the right
direction and have the correct tilt so that they receive maximum sunlight for a long period of
time. Energy production significantly increases in a few cases with the help of solar tracking
systems that guide the solar arrays to follow the sun. In this following page, we will discuss
some important topics related to the direction of solar panels, the angle of their tilt, and so on.
We hope that after reading it you will be able to reconfigure your solar panels to maximize
their energy production.

Figure 1.14 dual axis solar tracker controller [14]

1.7 Angles of the Sun

1.7.1Altitude and Azimuthal
The vertical line on the Earth’s surface is called the zenith line and the angle between the
zenith line and the line from the Earth’s surface to the sun is called the zenith angle 𝜃_𝑧
The complementary angle of the zenith angle is called the altitude angle (h)
The azimuthal angle (A) is defined as the angular displacement from the south of the projection
of the beam radiation on the horizontal plane

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 Figure 1.15 zenith, altitude, and azimuthal angles [15]

1.7.2 Declination Angle

The declination angle, denoted by δ, varies seasonally due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis of
rotation and the rotation of the Earth around the sun. If the Earth were not tilted on its axis of
rotation, the declination would always be 0°. However, the Earth is tilted by 23.45° and the
declination angle varies plus or minus this amount. Only at the spring and fall equinoxes is the
declination angle equal to 0°. The rotation of the Earth around the sun and the change in the
declination angle is shown in the animation below.

Figure 1.16 declination angle [16]

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Now that we’ve talked about 3 of the most important angles to describe the sun’s place in the
sky, we will talk about the tilt and the azimuth angles which will be the main factors in
deciding the panels’ orientation.
Tilt Angle: The angle formed between a horizontal plane and the pitch of the solar panel
Azimuth Angle: The horizontal orientation of your panels (in relation to the equator, in this
case).

Figure 1.17 tilt and azimuth angle [17]

As mentioned before, solar panels work best when they face the sun directly. But that task is
complicated by the fact that the sun doesn’t only move across the sky throughout the day. But
it also changes angle in the sky as the seasons change. When you build a solar system, the
question is: what’s the best angle to mount your solar panels to get the most output?

1.8 Solar Modules Angles

1.8.1 Optimal Azimuth Angle for Solar Panels
For best results, your solar panels should face toward the equator. If you live in the Northern
Hemisphere, face them south. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, face them north.
To find out where the southern direction is, the use of compasses is introduced. However, the
south of your magnetic compass (magnetic south) differs from the (true south) by an angle
called the magnetic declination. This magnetic declination varies between -23.45 degrees and
+23.45 degrees depending on the time of the year.

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 1.8.2 Optimal Tilt Angle for Solar Panels
When we decide our tilt angle, we have two main scenarios:
A) The panels are fixed and won’t be moved or rotated easily.
In this first scenario we have to tilt the panels with an angle equal to our location’s latitude.
(For example, 32 degrees in Jordan). This would bring us average power generation through
the whole year. Setting the panels with a fixed tilt angle of (latitude angle +15) would bring
more efficiency and generation during winter but would bring less generation through summer.
This would be useful for applications that have load peaks through winter.
In the same aspect, setting the panels with a fixed tilt angle of (latitude angle -15) would bring
more efficiency and generation during summer but would bring less generation through winter.
This would be useful for applications that have load peaks through summer. Another factor to
consider before picking our fixed tilt angle is the increased structure cost for a higher tilt angle
as it will have to withstand a heavier wind force.

B) The panels are rotated easily through the year. In this second scenario we do as follows:
Spring: Tilt the panels to your latitude.
Summer: Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15°.
Fall: Tilt the panels to your latitude.
Winter: Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15°

Figure 1.18 tilt angle thought year [18]

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1.9 Solar trackers
A solar tracker is a device that orients a payload toward the Sun. Payloads are usually solar
panels, parabolic troughs, Fresnel reflectors, lenses or the mirrors of a heliostat.
For flat-panel photovoltaic systems, trackers are used to minimize the angle of incidence
between the incoming sunlight and a photovoltaic panel, sometimes known as the cosine error.
Reducing this angle increases the amount of energy produced from a fixed amount of installed
power generating capacity. There are two main types of solar trackers available in the market:
1.Single-axis solar trackers track the sun from east to west, rotating on a single point,
moving either in unison, by panel row or by section.
2. Dual-axis trackers rotate on both the X and Y axes, making panels track the sun directly.
Solar tracking uses complex instruments to determine the location of the Sun relative to the
object being aligned. These instruments typically include computers, which can process
complicated algorithms that enable the system to track the Sun, and sensors, which provide
information to a computer about the Sun’s location or, when attached to a solar panel with a
simple circuit board, can track the Sun without the need for a computer.
Solar trackers provide significant advantages for renewable energy. With solar tracking, power
output can be increased by about 30 to 40 percent. The increase in power output promises to
open new markets for solar power. However, in addition to the extra initial cost, solar trackers
have several important disadvantages. A static solar panel may have a warranty that spans
decades and may require little to no maintenance. Solar trackers, on the other hand, have much
shorter warranties and require one or more actuators to move the panel. These moving parts
increase installation costs and reduce reliability and lifespans.

Figure 1.19 types of trackers [19]

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1.10 Temperature Effect on Efficiency
Like all other semiconductor devices, solar cells are sensitive to temperature. Increases in
temperature reduce the bandgap of a semiconductor, thereby affecting most of the
semiconductor material parameters. The decrease in the band gap of a semiconductor with
increasing temperature can be viewed as increasing the energy of the electrons in the material.
Lower energy is therefore needed to break the bond. In the bond model of a semiconductor
bandgap, a reduction in the bond energy also reduces the bandgap. Therefore, increasing the
temperature reduces the bandgap. In a solar cell, the parameter most affected by an increase in
temperature is the open-circuit voltage. The impact of increasing temperature on current and
voltage is shown in Figure 1.20.

Figure 1.20 I-V relation graph [20]

1.11 Temperature Coefficient

The temperature coefficient describes the percentage of power output lost by a given solar
panel as the temperature rises above 25°C (STC). The value of the temperature coefficient
varies according to the manufacturer. Its value is given in the data sheet of the panel. Most
solar panels have a temperature coefficient of around -0.2% / °C to -0.5% / °C

19
 CHAPTER TWO
PV Production Factors and Terms
During the past 10-15 years, it has been an obsession and the center of attraction for everyone
to have his own PV system which would reduce the electricity bills or null them. Buying and
building this PV system would have an initial cost based on many factors such as the system
size, the area available, the current materials price and the country the person lives in. For a
regular house in Jordan, a usual system would cost around 4000 dollars initially which would
cover the usage of a monthly electricity bill of around 100 dollars. This would mean the system
will pay back its initial cost in about 40 months.

Figure 2.1 roof mounted solar energy system [21]

The process of acquiring photovoltaic power involves designing, selecting and determining
specifications depending on a variety of factors, such as geographical location, weather
condition, solar irradiance, and load consumption. [22]

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are developing rapidly. As a renewable energy source, they play an
increasingly important role in the world by providing a safe environment. The disadvantages of
the solar power plant are the intermittency of the source, the high cost of installation and the
energy conversion performance (from 12% to 29%) relatively low [23].

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2.1 Energy Consumption
To design a compatible system for your house you need to be aware of your energy usage. This
can be done in multiple ways such as studying the power consumption and the usage time of all
your electric devices, or by simply studying your electricity bills history to Figure out the
average usage of energy (KWH) per month. The following table 2.1 contains the electricity
pricings for houses in Jordan, we can use it to calculate the amount of energy consumption
based on the bill amount (after excluding taxes and other payments):

Table 2.1 electricity tariff in Jordan [24]

Usage range (KWh) Price per kwh (Fils/KWh)

1-160 33

161-300 72

301-500 86

501-600 114

601-750 158

750-1000 188

>1000 265

2.2 Solar Irradiance and Peak Sun Hours

We can apply the same method for other countries using their own electricity pricings.
1.Solar Irradiance is the amount of electromagnetic radiation power received from sun per
unit area.
2.Peak sun hours describe the length of time per day when the irradiance is at about 1000
w/m2. In Jordan, we have an average of 4.33 peak hours per day. This number is approximate
and different studies have been performed to measure it but the most common one is 4.33.

21
 Figure 2.2 peak sun hour curve in Jordan [25]

2.3 Watt Peak

A solar panel as described before, is a machine designed to turn the photovoltaic energy of
sunrays into electrical energy, so there is no possible way to decide the precise amount of
energy the panel will produce as it depends on the time and the place. Instead, Solar panels
nowadays are described by their watt peak (Wp) which is the maximum electrical power that
can be supplied by a photovoltaic panel under standard temperature and sunlight conditions
(peak hour). The most common solar panels in Jordan at 2022 are 540 Wp.
2.4 System Size
A methodology for calculation of the optimum size of a PV array for a stand-alone hybrid
wind/PV power system is developed. Long term data of irradiance recorded for every hour of
the day for 30 years were used. These data were used to calculate the probability density
functions of the wind speed and the irradiance for each hour of a typical day in a month. The
irradiance probability density functions and manufacturer's specification on a wind turbine and
a PV module were used to calculate the average power generated by the PV module for each
hour of a typical day in a month. The least square method is used to determine the best fit of
the PV array and wind turbine to a given load. On the basis of the energy concept an algorithm
was developed to find the optimum size of the PV array in the system. [26]

The system size is one of the most important things to Figure out before designing as it will
determine the number of panels, the size of the inverter and basically everything else. To

22
calculate the system size, we will need to first calculate the energy used per month, then we
need to know the amount of peak sun hours for the area the system will be located at.
A system size for a usual house in Jordan is about 5.4 KWP.

2.5 Changing Tilt Angle

The tilt angle of photovoltaic (PV) panels is a major factor affecting the amount of solar
radiation falling on the panel surface. The optimum tilt angle depends on the position of the
sun, latitude and local geographical characteristics. [27] When we choose the suitable tilt
angle, we are ensuring that we will get the maximum average output from our solar power
system throughout the year. In Jordan, the best tilt angle is 30° (equal to the latitude), however
most companies design their PV systems on 15° tilt angle for many reasons including:
1. To reduce the amount of steel used in the steel structure, and thus reduce the cost of the
system.
2. When the tilt angle increases, the wind load increases, which causes danger to the system
and requires stronger and more expensive structure to endure this wind load.
3. To reduce the space the system occupies.
4. Greater Amman Municipality makes it a must for systems to have their higher end of less
height than 2.7 m, reducing the tilt angle will help us stack multiple modules while still
achieving this maximum height.

2.6 Changing Locations

As mentioned before, when we are willing to design a photovoltaic system, we must know the
number of peak sun hours for the location the system will be located at. The amount of peak
sun hours varies from country to country, this difference makes solar energy systems cost-
effective for some countries and some countries not. For example, the number of peak sun
hours in Saudi Arabia is approximately 5.5 and in Russia 2.4, this means that if we use the
same solar energy system in both countries, its energy production in Saudi Arabia will be much
higher (almost double) than its production in Russia; due to different irradiance levels. This is
because of the curvature of Earth; sunlight only falls perpendicularly to the surface at the
center of the sphere (equatorial regions). At any other point on Earth, the angle between the
surface and the incoming solar radiation is less than 90° which reduces the incoming energy.
However, another element that effects this production is the temperature which varies as well
from one country to another and is responsible for decreasing the productivity as it increases,
as mentioned before in chapter one.
23
2.7 Cleaning
Most solar energy companies advise their customers to clean their solar cells and remove dust
from them, in order to ensure that all solar radiation reaches the cell, which increases its
efficiency. Dirt on the solar panels prevents the entry of light. Moreover, solar panels are made
to work by allowing light enters the solar cells. Bird poop, dust or pollen prevent the light from
reaching the solar cells which eventually leads to less energy production. Most solar panels are
self-cleaning as rain cleans a big part of the obstructing dirt or pollen. However, there are a few
cases that may make solar panel cleaning worthwhile. One such instance is when the solar
panels are installed at a shallow angle. This positioning does not allow all accumulated dirt to
be washed away making it necessary to regularly clean your solar panels. Another case that
warrants regular cleaning of solar panels is a specific, localized circumstance. A good example
is when you live next to an agricultural field, airport runaway, factory or next to a highway.
These places generate more dirt that might require regular cleaning to sustain the efficiency. In
addition, bird droppings can obstruct sunlight, therefore, affecting the performance of the solar
panel systems or even causing partial shading which would cause harm to the panels after time.
Those particles will also cause partial shadings that drastically reduce the productivity and
lifespan of the system. They will also cause the temperature to increase which as mentioned
before, reduces the productivity as well.

24
 CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
In this chapter we will explain how we used PVSYST and SketchUp to design multiple
systems with different components and properties then compared between their outcomes to
get some of the results we are aiming for.
3.1 Designing
Before we begin our design, we need to have the following:
1.Energy consumption
2.Peak sun hours of the targeted place
3.System size
4.Coordinates of the system location
5.Names and data sheets of available panels and inverters
6.Dimensions of the roof or the flat surface where the system will be placed
Two very essential applications will be optimized during our design. Those are:
1.PVSYST 2. SketchUp

3.2 PVSYST
PVSYST is a PC software package for the study, sizing and data analysis of complete PV
systems. It deals with grid-connected, stand-alone, pumping and DC-grid (public
transportation) PV systems, and includes extensive Mateo and PV systems components
databases, as well as general solar energy tools. PVSYST will be helping us decide the number
of panels and inverters needed as well as supplying us by approximate future reports, results
and graphs of the system we design. When we first launch the app, the following screen in
figure 3.1 will pop up where we will choose the type of system we want to build. Whether it’s
a grid connected system, a standalone system with batteries, or a pumping system.
As the adoption of PV continues to increase, PV systems need to improve in terms of
technological maturity and affordability in order to maintain the balance between electricity
supply and demand. One way to achieve this improvement is through forecasting. Forecasting
is the use of performance models to estimate the expected energy output of a given PV system.
The use of simulation software packages is a popular technique for forecasting as it not only
allows users to model but also to analyse PV systems and their yields. During simulations,
performance models use the PV system’s design, orientation, weather data and location to
predict the energy yield for a given period of time [28]
25
 Figure 3.1 PVSYST main menu
For instance, if we pick a grid connected system, then the following window in figure 3.2 will
pop up:

Figure 3.2 design grid connected system on the PVSYST

We now follow the next steps to design the system:
1. We begin by pressing the (New) icon to start working on a new project.
26
2. We then enter the project name as we like.
3. After that we press the (New site) icon which will pop up the window shown in figure
3.3. We use it to enter the site name, country and region. After that we enter the
coordinates, the altitude and the time zone of the location our system is meant to be in.
Finally, we choose the database we want to import the statistics from and press (import).

Figure 3.3 choosing the site on the PVSYST

4. After that we press the save button which will make the orientation button clickable.
5. We press the orientation button which will make the window in figure 3.4 pop up and
enter the desired tilt angle and azimuth angle as mentioned in chapter one. Note that the
optimal tilt angle for Jordan is about 30 but yet most systems are designed with a tilt
angle of 15 to reduce the cost of the mounting structure and for other reasons that will be
mentioned later.

Figure 3.4 determination the angles for the system

27
6. For our 6th step we click the system button which will pop up the window shown in figure 3.5:

Figure 3.5 select the panels and the inverter

1) We enter the system size in KWP (we get it by dividing monthly energy consumption by
monthly peak sun hours )
2) After that we select the manufacturer and the model of the panel, we are willing to use.
3) Calculate the inverter size (by dividing system size by 1.5) then select the most
appropriate available one based on the law below.
4) We use area number four in figure 3.5 to choose the way we connect our panels
(parallel/series) and to change the number of panels if wanted.
5) This box number five in figure 3.5 will show any errors or suggestions for the system, if
the error is not red then it would be fine to proceed with the build.
7. Our final step will be to press the run simulation button to get a detailed report as well as
some graphs on the system including varying information about it.

28
3.3 SketchUp
SketchUp is a program used for a wide range of 3D modeling projects like architectural,
interior design, landscape architecture, and video games design. One of its main purposes for
PV systems designing is to make sure the system doesn’t get shaded by studying the shadows
for every day or month of the year.

After drawing the area where our system will be located including all the surrounding
buildings especially if they are higher than the system location, enable the shadows option and
change the time, day and month multiple times to make sure there is no shading issues for the
system.

Figure 3.6 SketchUp [29]

It has to be said that most the shading issues occur in the 21 st of December as it is the day of
the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that at high noon, the Sun is lower
in the sky and thus shadows are longer on the ground than on any other day of the year. So if
we test shading on this day and get no shadings, usually that means we won’t get shading
through the whole year.

29
3.4 Implementing PVSYST and Sketchup into Our Project
3.4.1 Testing For Different Tilt Angles
During our project, we design multiple systems using PVSYST with the same components and
location by applying the same steps explained in sections 3.2 and 3.3, but we will have them
designed with different tilt angles to study the effect of changing this tilt angle on the
productivity of the system. We will study the productivity of the most productive tilt angle of
30° as well as the most common one of 15°. We will also try 5° and 45° to further test the
effect of increasing the tilt.
3.4.2 Testing For Different Locations
We use PVSYST to design multiple systems with the same components but with different
locations including France, Washington, Yemen and Jordan. We will also have a comparison
between the north, center and south of Jordan with the productivity of a system located in each
location. The tilt angle for each location is different and the perfect tilt angle is applied (equal
to the location’s latitude).
3.5 Cleaning Effect on a PV System in Amman.
In our project we compare between the energy outcomes of two identical PV stations located in
Sahab (Amman). One of those stations gets cleaned daily using the SCM robot shown in figure
3.7 while the other is left untouched. We got those readings by constantly measuring the
current of both stations using the inverter readings. This robot uses water sprinklers to clean
the 1st station daily.

Figure 3.7 Darb SCM 1-20 cleaning robot [30]

30
 CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this chapter we will show the outcome of our project as we compare the productions of
systems with different tilt angles and locations. We will also. . Some of the readings included
in this chapter will be taken from real time existing systems and some other readings will be of
hypothetical systems designed and simulated using PVSYST.

4.1 Output For Different Tilt Angles

The following table shows a PVSYST expected electrical energy of 10 Longi solar panels with
each one of a max peak power of 540 watts connected to a 3.7 kW Huawei inverter, different
tilt angles have been applied (15°, 30°, and 45°).
Table 4.1 energy outcome for different tilt angles
Tilt angle (degrees) 5° 15° 30° 45°
Energy production (kWh/year) 9517 9915 10230 10058

Notice how setting the systems from the usual 15° to a more productive angle of 30° increases
the production by about 3%.
However, this production increment is not enough to justify the great increment of the structure
cost, at least currently in Jordan.

4.2 Output For Different Locations

The following 2 tables show the energy production simulated by PVSYST for a design as its
location is changed multiple times. The system consists of 10 Longi solar panels with each one
of a max peak power of 540 watts connected to a 3.7 kW Huawei inverter.
Table 4.2 energy outcome for different locations
System location France Washington Jordan Yemen
Energy production (kWh/year) 6450 7944 9354 9873

Table 4.3 energy outcome for different areas in Jordan

System location Aqaba (south) Amman (center) Irbid (north)
Energy production (kWh/year) 10650 9354 9207

Notice how the closer we get to the equator the higher the PV system’s yield as expected and
explained in section 3.2.
31
4.3 Output Difference For Cleaned And Non-Cleaned Stations In Sahab
In This section, we will compare between two identical PV stations located in Amman (Sahab).
One of those stations gets cleaned daily while the other is left untouched. The interval of the
following readings is from 20/May/2021 until 6/Sep/2021.

Figure 4.1 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV stations in Sahab [31]

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Figure 4.2 loss percentage caused by not cleaning the system [31]
Notice how during time, dirt, dust and bird droppings pile up on the surface of our modules
blocking a great percentage of the solar irradiation reaching the module, this cumulatively
decreases the current produced by the modules thus reducing the output power with a
percentage that reached about 54% in 4 months.
32
4.4 Output Difference for Cleaned And Non-Cleaned Stations In Aqaba

In This section, we will have a comparison between two stations in Aqaba. One of those
stations gets cleaned daily while the other is left untouched. The interval of the following
readings is from 20/May/2021 until 6/Sep/2021.

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
243
485
727
969
1

1211
1453
1695
1937
2179
2421
2663
2905
3147
3389
3631
3873
4115
4357
4599
4841
5083
5325
5567
5809
6051
6293
6535
6777
7019
7261
7503
Figure 4.3 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV stations in Aqaba [31]

4.5 Output Difference for Cleaned and Non-Cleaned Stations In Irbid

In This section, we will have a comparison between two stations in Irbid. One of those stations
gets cleaned daily while the other is left untouched. The interval of the following readings is
from 20/May/2021 until 6/Sep/2021.

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
337
673
1

1009
1345
1681
2017
2353
2689
3025
3361
3697
4033
4369
4705
5041
5377
5713
6049
6385
6721
7057
7393
7729
8065
8401

Figure 4.4 current (A) of cleaned and non-cleaned PV stations in Irbid [31]

33
4.6 Temperature effect on production
The following graphs show the effect of temperature on a PV system located in Amman:

Figure 4.5 the surface temperature (C) of PV with time through the day [31]

Figure 4.6 the variation of efficiency due to variation of temperature (C) [31]

Figure 4.7 the variation of the output power (W) due to variation of temperature (C) [31]

34
By looking at figure 4.5, notice how as the time gets closer to noon, the temperature of the PV
system surface goes up, thus decreasing the efficiency of the system below its normal levels at
slandered test conditions (STC). However, the incoming solar radiation is much greater during
noon because the sun is then closest to earth so the electrical power output still goes up at those
hours as demonstrated in figure 4.7. Also notice how figure 4.6 shows us that during the daily
period from about 9:00 am to 2:00 pm our system is running at an efficiency of 15% instead of
20% this 5% difference would be of a huge amount especially for larger systems including
large solar PV farms. This would justify the attachment of a cooling robot to the system that
would reduce the effect of high temperatures thus helping us achieve a higher efficiency and
even a higher output at those hot hours such as noon. This increment in efficiency would allow
us to use less modules which would save us initial cost as well as required area while still
producing more power. This would be a very helpful solution for customers with limited area.

35
 CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSIONS
This chapter indicates the conclusions of this research as well as the ideas that could be taken
into account for further research.
1. PV systems and technologies (especially silicon PV cells) are the most types of renewable
energy that are used globally, and the average efficiency of PV is (20-25) %, the energy loss in
these systems occurs due to many factors, and overcoming the efficiency reduction is one of
the most challenges that face these technologies.
2. The increase in temperature is one of the factors that lead to efficiency reduction, the
efficiency decreases by 1% for each 0.5-degree increment of temperature.
3. The cumulative effect of dirtiness hinderers the production of PV non-cleaned stations
with a loss percentage that got to more than 54% in 4 months.
4. A loss ratio of about 50% can be avoided if cleaning was used for a PV system, making
cleaning a very efficient way of increasing efficiency, especially for larger systems.
5. The location of the PV system plays the major role in deciding its power input thus its
power output.
6. The implementation of what’s called PVT systems, which are basically a mixture of PV
and thermal solar systems, could help cool down the PV cells as well as generate more power,
which would drastically increase the efficiency for systems as well as its life span, especially in
hotter locations.
7. PVSYST simulation results are not 100% accurate but do provide a very useful idea of
how much a system would generate approximately. And we do get a more accurate simulation
by entering more detailed losses and shadings.

36
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[4] https://www.hebesolar.com/thin-film-solar-panel/
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%AC%EA%B0%81-declination-angle
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rectangle_fig1_264040352

37
[26] Ziyad Salameh. Methodology For Optimally Sizing The Combination Of Battery Bank And PV Array In
A Wind/PV Hybrid System, (1996) University Of Massachusetts At Lowell Electrical Engineering
Department
[27] Yusuf A. Al-Turki. On The Estimation Of The Optimum Tilt Angle Of PV Panel In Saudi Arabia.(2016)
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[28]Arnold Johan Rix, PV Simulation Software Comparisons: PVSYST, NREL SAM and PVLIB. (2017)
Stellenbosch Univirsity
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[30] https://darbco.com/ar/‫المنتجات‬
[31] Special thanks to DARBCO Solar Cleaning Solutions for providing us with very
necessary help and readings. (https://darbco.com/ar/arabic/)

38