Orienting solar panels to minimise power shortfall
Files
(Published version)
Date
2019
Authors
Rowe, K.
Pudney, P.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
23rd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation Supporting Evidence Based Decision Making the Role of Modelling and Simulation Modsim 2019, 2019, pp.856-862
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
23rd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2019) (1 Dec 2019 - 6 Dec 2019 : Canberra, ACT, Australia)
Abstract
Solar panels on residential dwellings are typically installed facing the equator to maximise the energy collected. But the power generated by an equator-facing panel peaks at around midday, where as residential loads typically have peaks in the morning and afternoon. By orienting panels in different directions it is possible to minimise the shortfall between load and generation. This benefits the end-user by decreasing the amount of electricity required to be imported, and the stability of the grid by decreasing the amount of variability between peak and low loads. We present a linear program for calculating the optimal panel orientations for a community of 29 individual dwellings, and for an apartment building with 42apartments in Australia. In both cases, panels should initially be placed facing north-west to meet theafternoon loads. If more panel area is available, the optimal configuration has fewer panels facing northwest and more facing north-east and west.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2019 The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand