[RE-wrenches] Array spacing for optimum performance

[mac Lewis]

Carl,

I have explored this a bit and William is right.  It's complicated!  I have
used the System advisor model (SAM) to do a cost benefit on this.  SAM is a
free power system modeling program from NREL that is very extensive and
complicated.  Here is the download link.

https://sam.nrel.gov/content/downloads

There a couple of tutorials to help you get started.

Good luck!

On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 1:32 PM, William Miller <william at millersolar.com>wrote:

>  Carl:
>
> The "sweet spot" is something you have to figure out for yourself.  You
> need to balance job-specific values against one another.  Consider factors
> such as:  how much you pay for power, how valuable morning and afternoon
> production is, the cost of additional PV, the balance between lower tilt
> angle production versus more PV that could fit and what weather patterns
> are that influence the value of insolation at a given hour or season.
>
> Maybe you can minimize tilt angle and purchase more PV...  Or you can
> purchase more land and install more PV...  Or build a bigger structure to
> add more PV...  Consider the price of conservation against the price of
> more PV...
>
> Build some spreadsheets to explore these trade-offs.  I can' do this for
> you.
>
> Good luck...
>
> William Miller
>
>
>
> At 04:44 PM 4/15/2012, you wrote:
>
> Carl is having sending issues, so I am posting this on his behalf. He will
> be able to receive your responses on the list, though.
>
> *From:* Carl Emerson <Carl at solarking.net.nz>
> *Sent:* 15 April 2012 10:16 p.m.
> *Subject:* Array Spacing for optimum performance.
>
>  Hi there,
>
> Can I raise a design issue with large grid-tied arrays.
>
> Using William’s spreadsheet for array spacing leaves me with several
> questions unanswered.
>
> Assuming the array is inclined for max year round performance, one could
> then space the array for no shading for a certain sun Elevation and Azimuth.
>
> The question I have is what is the sweet spot when compromising shading
> for array spacing in large arrays.
>
> Narrower spacing means more panels in the array and better output in
> summer.
>
> Wider spacing means better winter performance with less panels and less
> annual power production.
>
> Is there a guideline available to optimise these factors…
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Carl Emerson
> Freepower Co.
> Auckland N.Z.
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.455 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/4337 - Release Date: 04/14/12
> 18:34:00
>
> **
>
> ** Miller Solar
> Voice :805-438-5600
> email: william at millersolar.com
> http://millersolar.com
> License No. C-10-773985
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>


-- 



Mac Lewis

*

"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates
*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20120416/68cc1427/attachment-0004.html>