Estimates of Available Solar Radiation and Photovoltaic Energy Production for Various Tilted and Tracking Surfaces Throughout the US Based on PVFORM, a Computerized Performance Model

摘要

An improved photovoltaic performance model called PVFORM has been developed at Sandia National Laboratories. This new model incorporates the latest improvements in solar modelling techniques including the Perez anisotropic solar diffuse model. The PVFORM model has been used to produce tables of average solar radiation availabilities and corresponding direct current energy performance for a photovoltaic module mounted in various tilted and tracking configurations. Solar availabilities are also computed for some vertical and 45 sup 0 tilted wall surfaces for use in passive solar design. The tables contain average daily solar availabilities and PV energy production for 38 sites throughout the US. Each table contains four average daily values representing the four seasons of the year along with an annual average. Typical weather conditions are also presented for each of the 38 sites. This new model and the set of tables presented in this report are of special importance to solar energy system designers because they provide more accurate estimates of insolation availability on fixed and tracking surfaces by as much as 20%, PVFORM has been shown to be accurate to within 5% to 7% with no observable prediction bias. Use of the PVFORM model or the tabulated data found in this report will enable the architect or engineer to design more cost effective solar energy systems. (ERA citation 11:027168)