Shadow Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems Deployed Near Obscuring Walls

Joseph Appelbaum (), Assaf Peled and Avi Aronescu
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Joseph Appelbaum: School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel
Assaf Peled: School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel
Avi Aronescu: School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: As photovoltaic (PV) deployment has expanded from rural sites to the built environment, rooftops are increasingly used for electricity generation. In these settings, the visible sky is often partially obstructed by adjacent walls, producing shading that reduces energy yield. This study quantifies the effect of wall shading on incident solar radiation and system losses, and contrasts it with inter-row (mutual) shading experienced by PV arrays in open fields. Systems installed near obscuring walls are subject to both phenomena. To our knowledge, the specific impact of wall shading on PV systems has not been examined comprehensively. We characterize how wall height governs shadow geometry, determine the resulting numbers of shaded and unshaded cells and modules, and assess how shaded modules influence the performance of the remaining modules in a series string. For the parameter set analyzed, annual energy losses are 7.7% due to wall shading and 4% due to inter-row shading, yielding a combined loss of 10.2%. The methods and results provide a practical basis for designers to estimate shading losses and expected energy production for PV systems sited near obscuring walls.

Keywords: PV system; wall shading losses; inter-row shading losses; shading patterns (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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