Influence of Reflectivity and Cloud Cover on the Optimal TiltAngle of Solar Panels

David J. Torres and Jorge Crichigno
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David J. Torres: Northern New Mexico College, 921 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM 87532, USA
Jorge Crichigno: Northern New Mexico College, 921 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM 87532, USA

Resources, 2015, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Determining the optimum angle for a solar panel is important if tracking systems are not used and a tilt angle remains constant. This article determines the sensitivity of the optimum angle to surface reflectivity at different latitudes using a mathematical model that accounts for direct, diffuse and reflected radiation. A quadratic correlation is also developed to compute the optimal angle and maximum energy as a function of latitude and reflectivity. We also seek to determine how sensitive the optimal tilt angle is to cloud cover using the 35° latitude of the Prosperity solar facility in Albuquerque, NM.

Keywords: optimal solar tilt angle; reflectivity; cloud cover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jresou:v:4:y:2015:i:4:p:736-750:d:56585

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