Technical and Economic Analyzation of Tracking and Fixed Solar Photovoltaics
School Name
Center For Advanced Technical Studies
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics produce more electrical energy than fixed solar photovoltaics especially during the morning and afternoon, but they are more expensive. Is it economically and energy efficient to invest in few two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics, or many fixed solar photovoltaics? If you use the same budget to obtain as many fixed solar photovoltaics and two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics as you can get, then the two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics will end up being the more economic and energy efficient choice. My methods are, 1.Do preliminary trials with the two types of solar photovoltaics and gather data. 2. Gather and analyze the data of the real time trials run with both solar photovoltaics. 3.Access the solar photovoltaic data from the C.A.T.E. center to gather more data on how both types of photovoltaics perform throughout the years they have been installed through different seasons of the year, and changes in weather when it is cloudy, cold, warm, raining, etc. The results so far from the preliminary trials have shown that the tracking solar photovoltaic gathers about 0.5v.-1v. more than then fixed solar photovoltaic. My hypothesis was correct in tracking solar panels gathering more electricity, but from the preliminary trials run between 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. they tracking solar panel performed only slightly better than the fixed panel rather than a lot better. Future work will be to analyze the C.A.T.E. center's panels data to see how well tracking did vs. fixed outside the window of time the preliminary trials were performed.
Recommended Citation
Bedenbaugh, Adam, "Technical and Economic Analyzation of Tracking and Fixed Solar Photovoltaics" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 282.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/282
Location
Furman Hall 229
Start Date
3-28-2020 8:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Technical and Economic Analyzation of Tracking and Fixed Solar Photovoltaics
Furman Hall 229
Two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics produce more electrical energy than fixed solar photovoltaics especially during the morning and afternoon, but they are more expensive. Is it economically and energy efficient to invest in few two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics, or many fixed solar photovoltaics? If you use the same budget to obtain as many fixed solar photovoltaics and two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics as you can get, then the two-axis tracking solar photovoltaics will end up being the more economic and energy efficient choice. My methods are, 1.Do preliminary trials with the two types of solar photovoltaics and gather data. 2. Gather and analyze the data of the real time trials run with both solar photovoltaics. 3.Access the solar photovoltaic data from the C.A.T.E. center to gather more data on how both types of photovoltaics perform throughout the years they have been installed through different seasons of the year, and changes in weather when it is cloudy, cold, warm, raining, etc. The results so far from the preliminary trials have shown that the tracking solar photovoltaic gathers about 0.5v.-1v. more than then fixed solar photovoltaic. My hypothesis was correct in tracking solar panels gathering more electricity, but from the preliminary trials run between 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. they tracking solar panel performed only slightly better than the fixed panel rather than a lot better. Future work will be to analyze the C.A.T.E. center's panels data to see how well tracking did vs. fixed outside the window of time the preliminary trials were performed.
