Article,
Irradiance calculation on shaded surfaces
Solar Energy, (1998)
Abstract
Operating results of recently built photovoltaic systems have shown
that shading can cause high losses in performance. We need methods
for calculating the reduced irradiance to minimize the shading losses
in the planning process. There are well-known models to estimate
the irradiance received by a tilted surface. However, these methods
normally do not include shading reduction caused by objects in the
surroundings. Therefore, methods are proposed to include shading
in calculations of direct and diffuse irradiation. Before these methods
can be used, the surroundings have to be surveyed. Hence, how to
survey objects in an easy way is discussed. Using the proposed methods
and calculations it is possible to include shading reduction in the
prediction of the irradiance on a tilted surface. Finally, the influence
of shading on the irradiance is shown by an example.
