The three factors that most affect the production of solar panels
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 6:08 am
Tilt, orientation and shade are the three factors that most affect your production. Maximizing the solar radiation that your panels receive is the best way to maximize your electrical production, regardless of their location, efficiency or technology.
Humans use many sources of energy, from fossil fuels to the power of the waves, but at their core, they are all different forms of the same energy, the only one known to the planet: solar energy . The sun's radiation is sometimes stored in chemical bonds buried beneath the seabed for millions of years, and in other cases it is harnessed by the power of the wind or the sea. Whatever the case, we have more and more technologies that allow us to take advantage of all these natural sources of energy .
Taking advantage of photovoltaic energy may seem the simplest, and in a way it is, it is about taking advantage of the sun directly . However, the detailed operation of a solar panel is usually much more complicated, but we will explain it to you.
The sun's rays are composed of energy particles called photons that reach the photovoltaic cells of the panel, which are made up of one or more layers of a semiconductor material and covered with glass. These photons generate an electric field between the layers and, therefore, a flow of electricity that will be greater the more intense the solar radiation. This is how the sun's rays are transformed into electric current .
So, although many factors come into play when it comes to optimizing the production of a photovoltaic panel, there is one that shines above the rest: ensuring that the panels receive the greatest amount of solar radiation for the longest possible time.
More efficient photovoltaic panels
Solar radiation levels are not the same everywhere on the planet saudi arabia girls whatsapp number Only in Spain are there significant differences. The lowest levels of solar radiation are recorded in northern Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, while the highest are in Andalusia and Murcia, according to the Solar Radiation Atlas of the State Meteorological Agency . However, changing our place of residence is not something we can do easily, and even less so with the sole aim of optimising the production of our solar panels.
Therefore, whatever the location, to ensure that the photovoltaic panels receive maximum radiation,We have to take three factors into account: inclination, orientation and shaded areas . All of these are analysed during the study and report prior to installing solar panels in any home.
The inclination of photovoltaic panels
Tilt refers to the angle that solar panels form with the horizontal plane, and is measured in degrees. The aim of this tilt is for the sun's rays to hit the panels as perpendicularly as possible , something that is not always easy, taking into account that the position of our star in the sky changes throughout the day and year. In fact, many industrial photovoltaic installations have systems that allow the angle of tilt to be modified to optimise energy production.
To calculate the optimal inclination angle of fixed panels (such as those usually found in homes), it is usual to take an average that takes into account the position of the sun during all the months of the year (in winter it is lower, so the rays are less perpendicular to the horizontal plane, while in summer it rises higher in the sky). This average coincides, approximately, withthe latitude at which we are located on the planet. Thus, in mainland Spain, the optimal inclination angle varies between 43 degrees in the northernmost towns and 35 degrees in the southernmost towns.
The orientation of the plates
When it comes to the best orientation for photovoltaic panels, things get simpler. Traditionally, in the northern hemisphere, houses in cold places oriented their glass parts or galleries to the south , to take full advantage of the heat on sunny days, while houses in warmer places tended to protect these areas more. Solar panels follow this same logic, since they produce more energy the more solar radiation they receive. They should always be oriented to the south, as far as possible. In the southern hemisphere, the best orientation is the opposite, facing north.
The shadow and the solar panels
The last factor to take into account before installing solar panels is the presence of shadows. In fact, the preliminary studies must include the so-called shadow calculation , as specified by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE). This calculation must take into account the obstacles present, both in the near and distant environment, and the effects produced by their shadows on the performance of the photovoltaic installation. Using the Shadow Calculator tool , it is possible to visualize how a specific surface will be affected by shadows throughout all the days of the year.
Ultimately, maximizing the solar radiation received by the panels is the best way to maximize their electrical production , regardless of their location, efficiency or technology. To do this, they must be installed with an inclination angle similar to that of the latitude in which we are (provided that they are fixed and do not have a system that allows the angle to be modified throughout the year), facing south (in the northern hemisphere) and avoiding shadow areas as far as possible.
Humans use many sources of energy, from fossil fuels to the power of the waves, but at their core, they are all different forms of the same energy, the only one known to the planet: solar energy . The sun's radiation is sometimes stored in chemical bonds buried beneath the seabed for millions of years, and in other cases it is harnessed by the power of the wind or the sea. Whatever the case, we have more and more technologies that allow us to take advantage of all these natural sources of energy .
Taking advantage of photovoltaic energy may seem the simplest, and in a way it is, it is about taking advantage of the sun directly . However, the detailed operation of a solar panel is usually much more complicated, but we will explain it to you.
The sun's rays are composed of energy particles called photons that reach the photovoltaic cells of the panel, which are made up of one or more layers of a semiconductor material and covered with glass. These photons generate an electric field between the layers and, therefore, a flow of electricity that will be greater the more intense the solar radiation. This is how the sun's rays are transformed into electric current .
So, although many factors come into play when it comes to optimizing the production of a photovoltaic panel, there is one that shines above the rest: ensuring that the panels receive the greatest amount of solar radiation for the longest possible time.
More efficient photovoltaic panels
Solar radiation levels are not the same everywhere on the planet saudi arabia girls whatsapp number Only in Spain are there significant differences. The lowest levels of solar radiation are recorded in northern Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, while the highest are in Andalusia and Murcia, according to the Solar Radiation Atlas of the State Meteorological Agency . However, changing our place of residence is not something we can do easily, and even less so with the sole aim of optimising the production of our solar panels.
Therefore, whatever the location, to ensure that the photovoltaic panels receive maximum radiation,We have to take three factors into account: inclination, orientation and shaded areas . All of these are analysed during the study and report prior to installing solar panels in any home.
The inclination of photovoltaic panels
Tilt refers to the angle that solar panels form with the horizontal plane, and is measured in degrees. The aim of this tilt is for the sun's rays to hit the panels as perpendicularly as possible , something that is not always easy, taking into account that the position of our star in the sky changes throughout the day and year. In fact, many industrial photovoltaic installations have systems that allow the angle of tilt to be modified to optimise energy production.
To calculate the optimal inclination angle of fixed panels (such as those usually found in homes), it is usual to take an average that takes into account the position of the sun during all the months of the year (in winter it is lower, so the rays are less perpendicular to the horizontal plane, while in summer it rises higher in the sky). This average coincides, approximately, withthe latitude at which we are located on the planet. Thus, in mainland Spain, the optimal inclination angle varies between 43 degrees in the northernmost towns and 35 degrees in the southernmost towns.
The orientation of the plates
When it comes to the best orientation for photovoltaic panels, things get simpler. Traditionally, in the northern hemisphere, houses in cold places oriented their glass parts or galleries to the south , to take full advantage of the heat on sunny days, while houses in warmer places tended to protect these areas more. Solar panels follow this same logic, since they produce more energy the more solar radiation they receive. They should always be oriented to the south, as far as possible. In the southern hemisphere, the best orientation is the opposite, facing north.
The shadow and the solar panels
The last factor to take into account before installing solar panels is the presence of shadows. In fact, the preliminary studies must include the so-called shadow calculation , as specified by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE). This calculation must take into account the obstacles present, both in the near and distant environment, and the effects produced by their shadows on the performance of the photovoltaic installation. Using the Shadow Calculator tool , it is possible to visualize how a specific surface will be affected by shadows throughout all the days of the year.
Ultimately, maximizing the solar radiation received by the panels is the best way to maximize their electrical production , regardless of their location, efficiency or technology. To do this, they must be installed with an inclination angle similar to that of the latitude in which we are (provided that they are fixed and do not have a system that allows the angle to be modified throughout the year), facing south (in the northern hemisphere) and avoiding shadow areas as far as possible.