How do I determine the correct row-to-row spacing for a solar system?

If your system consists of two or more rows of PV panels, you must make sure that each row of panels does not shade the row behind it. To determine the correct row-to-row spacing, refer to the figure above. There is no single correct answer since the solar elevation starts at zero in the morning and ends at zero in the evening.

What is a vector analysis method for row spacing in PV systems?

Reference developed a vector analysis method for the row spacing in PV systems on horizontal and non-horizontal planes. Shading on the PV modules reduces the incident solar radiation and hence reduces the electric output energy of the system.

How do I calculate inter-row spacing?

The first step in calculating the inter-row spacing for your modules is to calculate the height difference from the back of the module to the surface. To do that, follow this calculation below: Height Difference = Sin (Tilt Angle) x Module Width ***Make sure you’re calculating in degrees, not radians***

Why is inter-row spacing important in photovoltaic systems?

The inter-row spacing in photovoltaic (PV) systems is an important design parameter affecting the inter-row shading and the diffuse radiation masking losses and hence, reducing the electric output of the PV system.

How do I calculate module row spacing?

To calculate the Module Row Spacing, we need to hop over to a sun chart path program to determine our Sun Elevation Angle. You will enter your site's zip code, or to be more precise, you should enter the latitude and longitude of the location for more accurate results. When you get your results, it will look something like this:

How does inter-row spacing affect solar energy loss?

The losses of the solar incident energy (radiation losses) of the PV system stem from the inter-row shading and masking (part of the sky obscured by rows in front), and are affected by the inter-row spacing.