Presentation Details
| Modeling Differences Between Fixed-Tilt Grount-Mounted and Project Nexus Solar Canal Designs Jeremiah Reagan, Olaniyan Rocker, Brandi McKuin. UC Merced, Merced, CA, USA |
Abstract
The modeling of annual electricity generation, using System Advisor Model, of a fixed-tilt ground mounted PV system was compared with three different Project Nexus solar canal designs including a steel beam and column design, analogous to an elevated ground mount system, a vertically mounted design with a reflector spanning the canal, and an arch shaped tapered steel beam and column design. The most significant differences are in the single row nature of the solar canal systems, which eliminates row to row shading and minimizes edge effects, but increases cable distance at large scales that may have implications for line losses depending on inverter and transformer layout. For the non-vertical systems, ground clearance height requirements are a significant factor, though expected benefits of increased reflection to panel backsides is negated by low canal albedo values. All Project Nexus solar canal designs have fixed tilts with azimuths perpendicular to the canal bearing. Due to the ground clearance requirements of both the steel beam and column and the tapered steel beam and column designs, the tilts are a function of the physical dimensions of the canal instead of optimized for the site’s latitude. The vertically mounted and the tapered steel beam and column designs have less clipping losses than fixed-tilt ground mounted systems at the same DC/AC ratios. Comparisons of Project Nexus solar canal designs with fixed-tilt ground-mounted designs are critical for evaluating the impacts of design decisions on solar electricity generation and useful for informing modeling for scaling up.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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