(A) Photo of NREL’s bifacial experimental single-axis monitoring (BEST) discipline with reflecting materials put in (100% protection case) and (B) measured spectral reflectivity of high-albedo materials with picture of pattern (inset) . Credit: Advances in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications (2024). DOI: 10.1002/pip.3811
Solar power is a vital asset within the battle in opposition to local weather change, and researchers on the University of Ottawa have developed a intelligent methodology to optimize its effectiveness. Their new methodology includes attaching synthetic reflectors to the bottom, a easy however highly effective enchancment.
Researchers have discovered that by integrating these reflectors into photo voltaic setups, they will enhance power manufacturing and system effectivity, making such tasks extra economical. This discovery is vital in evaluating the prices and advantages of utilizing synthetic reflectors in photo voltaic power companies.
To research the impact of reflective floor cowl on photo voltaic power output, SUNLAB on the University of Ottawa, led by electrical engineering professor Karin Hinzer, who can be vice-dean analysis within the Faculty of Engineering, collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. The research, carried out by electrical engineering doctoral candidate Mandy Lewis in Golden, Colorado, discovered that inserting reflective surfaces on the underside of photo voltaic panels can improve their power output by as much as 4.5%.
“We discovered that extremely reflective white surfaces enhance solar energy output,” defined Mandy Lewis, the paper’s lead writer. “Critically, these reflectors ought to be positioned straight underneath the photo voltaic panels, not between the rows, to maximise this profit.”
Unlocking the potential of photo voltaic in Canada and past
These findings are particularly vital in Canada, the place snow cowl persists for 3 to 4 months of the yr in main cities reminiscent of Ottawa and Toronto, and 65% of the nation’s huge land space experiences snow cowl in additional than half a yr. Bifacial photo voltaic techniques, paired with excessive floor reflectivity, provide nice potential in these areas. Furthermore, since roughly 4% of the world’s land is assessed as sandy deserts, this discovering has world software.
According to Lewis, “his analysis is vital for growing the manufacturing of photo voltaic power in numerous geographical areas. In addition, by producing extra energy per unit of land space, reflectors are perfect for areas which are densely populated, reminiscent of metropolis facilities, the place there are house limitations for photo voltaic installations.”
This analysis will tremendously contribute to the worldwide transition to zero-emission energy sources. These findings have explicit worth for Canada and different international locations which are principally cloudy as a result of energy positive factors of 6.0% have been noticed in cloudy Seattle in comparison with 2.6% in dry Tucson.
The paper was printed within the journal Advances in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications.
More data:
Mandy R. Lewis et al, Artificial floor reflector measurement and place impact on power yield and economics of single-axis-tracked bifacial photovoltaics, Advances in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications (2024). DOI: 10.1002/pip.3811
Provided by the University of Ottawa
Citation: Using synthetic floor reflectors to enhance the effectivity of photo voltaic panels (2024, May 7) retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://techxplore.com/information/2024-05-artificial-ground-reflectors- boost-efficacy.html
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