Abstract:
Renewable energy systems are receiving more
and more attention, as governments and industry seek to reduce
fossil fuel usage and provide more clean energy. PV systems fall
into this category, and are especially sought after in countries
that enjoy sufficient annual solar radiation. It has been
scientifically proven that both the tilt and orientation angles,
along with variable atmospheric conditions, impact significantly
on the optimum output power of PV modules used in these
systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a simplified
measuring approach to validate this fact when considering the
tilt angle. Research is not always about discovering new aspects,
but also involves using various scientific methods to test and retest
current findings. This simplified measuring approach is a
re-test of current findings that indicates that a PV module with
a high tilt angle starts operating earlier than a PV module with
a lower tilt angle for winter periods in South Africa. However,
the simplified approach costs less than 25% of traditional
measuring approaches, providing a visual dimension and
perspective in validating current research findings.
