Maximizing Yield with Improved Single-Axis Backtracking on Cross-Axis Slopes: Preprint

Kevin Anderson

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Many tracking PV systems avoid row-to-row shading by backtracking in morning and afternoon. Because the common single-axis backtracking implementation assumes the array is in a horizontal plane, it does not fully prevent row-to-row shading in arrays installed on cross-axis slopes. This paper simulates the effect of reduced self-shading on annual production with two modified backtracking strategies. Depending on the array geometry and the steepness of the cross-axis grade, using a modified backtracking strategy improved annual yield by 3-10%.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages9
StatePublished - 2020
Event47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 47) -
Duration: 15 Jun 202021 Aug 2020

Conference

Conference47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 47)
Period15/06/2021/08/20

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-5K00-79278 for paper as published in proceedings

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-5K00-76023

Keywords

  • backtracking
  • grade
  • photovoltaic
  • shading
  • single-axis tracking
  • slope
  • yield

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