OPTIMAL SIZING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN VARIED CLIMATES

The optimal utilization of solar cell modules in varied climates is of major economical importance. In many locations, especially in the rur al areas and remote sites, the solar modules are often utilized non-ec onomically because of the lack of solar irradiation and climatological data. In this work, using solar irradiation estimation and cloud cove r data interpolation techniques, and incorporating the irradiation dep endent efficiency function of the solar cells, the tilt angle of the m odules is first optimized. The cloud cover data is then used to estima te the expected number of successive cloudy days in each month with th e result applied for optimal sizing of the storage battery. This optim ization technique has been applied to the varied climates of Iran. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.