At HeliumFour Solar, we prioritize designing solar power systems that maintain optimal performance, even in challenging conditions. Two critical factors affecting solar energy output are shading and panel orientation. This blog presents a real-world case study from one of our installations, demonstrating that both shading and orientation losses are minimal when the system is designed and optimized with the right technologies.
Site Overview
This rooftop solar installation consists of two distinct sections:
Half of the panels face northeast, while the other half face southwest, each with a 6-degree tilt.
Shading is caused by air turbines and safety rails located on the rooftop. However, the effects are mitigated by the design of the system and the use of advanced technology.
Technology: SolarEdge Inverters with 2:1 Optimizers
To combat both shading and orientation-related losses, the system utilizes SolarEdge inverters with 2:1 optimizers. These optimizers allow two panels to operate independently, ensuring that the shading or orientation loss on one panel doesn’t affect the performance of the paired panel.
The Data: Energy Output for One Month
Energy production data over the course of one month was analyzed, providing a detailed view of performance variations due to shading and orientation. Here’s what we found:
Shading-related energy losses were minimal across the installation, with panels in shaded areas producing only slightly less energy than unshaded panels.
Orientation losses were also small, with the northeast-facing panels generating slightly less energy than the southwest-facing panels. However, this difference was not significant due to the low tilt angle (6 degrees).
Energy production ranged between 41.1 kWh to 43.3 kWh for the northeast-facing panels (some of which were shaded), while the southwest-facing panels (receiving more direct sunlight) produced between 47.4 kWh to 48.2 kWh.
Correlation Between Shading, Orientation, and Energy Output
This case study was specifically designed to demonstrate that both shading and orientation losses are minimal. Here’s how:
The northeast-facing panels, while oriented less optimally and receiving some shading, performed only about 5-10% lower than the southwest-facing panels.
Southwest-facing panels benefited from better sun exposure and lower shading, resulting in slightly higher production.
The 2:1 optimizers ensured that losses due to shading or suboptimal orientation of one panel did not negatively impact the performance of paired panels.
For instance:
Panels 1.1.11 to 1.1.15, which are shaded by the air turbines and located on the northeast side, exhibited some reduction in output. However, the performance of adjacent panels, particularly on the southwest side, remained strong, and the overall system efficiency was maintained.
The Role of Orientation in Losses
It’s important to note that orientation-related losses are generally more significant with larger tilt angles. However, in this installation, the 6-degree tilt kept orientation losses minimal, even for the northeast-facing panels. This small tilt angle ensured that both sections of the array received substantial sunlight throughout the day, and any losses were mitigated by the design of the system and use of optimizers.
Key Takeaways
Shading and orientation losses are minimal in this installation, as demonstrated by the one-month data.
2:1 optimizers played a critical role in minimizing potential energy losses by ensuring that shading or suboptimal orientation did not negatively affect system-wide performance.
The overall difference in energy output between the northeast and southwest sections was small, indicating that the orientation and shading challenges were well-managed by the system design.
Conclusion
This case study highlights that shading and orientation losses can be minimized with careful system design and the use of SolarEdge inverters with 2:1 optimizers. By addressing these factors early in the design phase, we ensure that our solar installations continue to perform efficiently, even in environments where some shading or suboptimal orientation may be present.
At HeliumFour Solar, we provide optimized solutions that account for all these variables, delivering high-performance systems that maximize energy yield.
Stay tuned for more insights into solar energy performance and optimization strategies!
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