Scientists from the University of Leipzig studied the potential impact of using vertical west-east oriented PV solar energy systems on a large scale in the German energy market. It was found that such systems would allow greater integration in agricultural activities, unlike PV plants installed in familiar locations, and could have a beneficial effect in balancing the country’s grid.
EnergyPLAN model used
The researchers used the EnergyPLAN model developed by Aalborg University in Denmark. This model is widely used to simulate the hourly operation of national energy systems, including the electricity, heating, cooling, industrial and transportation sectors. It also helped them predict what the German energy system will look like by 2030 with a more vertical photovoltaic system.
They didn’t look at solar tracking systems
The academics stated that they did not take solar trackers into account and said, “Only two parameters are changed systematically; The first is the sharing of power loaded into different PV systems. The second is two different scenarios, with or without integrating large-scale electricity storage.”
Annual energy efficiency of 999 Wh/W
The scientists provided an estimated average energy yield of 1020Wh/W for PV solar energy systems installed in a familiar location, with a 20-degree tilt angle. While the annual energy efficiency is assumed to be 999Wh/W for bifacial vertical west-east oriented systems, the annual energy efficiency is shared as 926Wh/W for north-south oriented vertical systems.
high cost
It is stated that double-sided solar panels are more costly and increase the cabling since the module row distance varies between 8 meters and 12 meters.
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