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

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%.

Authors:
ORCiD logo
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1669380
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5K00-76023
MainId:7092;UUID:f216390b-a347-ea11-9c31-ac162d87dfe5;MainAdminID:13352
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at the 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 47), 15 June - 21 August 2020
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S); single-axis tracking; backtracking; photovoltaic; shading; slope; grade; yield

Citation Formats

Anderson, Kevin. Maximizing Yield with Improved Single-Axis Backtracking on Cross-Axis Slopes: Preprint. United States: N. p., 2020. Web.
Anderson, Kevin. Maximizing Yield with Improved Single-Axis Backtracking on Cross-Axis Slopes: Preprint. United States.
Anderson, Kevin. 2020. "Maximizing Yield with Improved Single-Axis Backtracking on Cross-Axis Slopes: Preprint". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1669380.
@article{osti_1669380,
title = {Maximizing Yield with Improved Single-Axis Backtracking on Cross-Axis Slopes: Preprint},
author = {Anderson, Kevin},
abstractNote = {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%.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1669380}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}

Conference:
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