Angle Dependence of Solar Power Capacity: The Case of Setit Humera

Abstract

The solar power capacity depends on orientation angle of the solar panel. This study evaluates the angle dependence of solar power capacity for a summer season in 2017. Using three solar panels, with 10 Watt capacity each placed on a metallic frame to facilitate changing tilt and azimuth angles independently. Experiments were done for the first six days of three months, and the first three days of each month were used to measure voltages for different tilt angles by changing from 0° to 26° in steps of 2o. The remaining three days of a week of every month, the middle solar panel was fixed at a tilt angle that yielded maximum power while the two panels were moved with azimuth angles from 0o to 270 in steps of 3o to clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the middle solar panel. A digital multimeter was used to record the circuit voltage of the solar panels with 10 ohms resistor serving as a load. Data gathering was done every ten minutes, during the daytime from 9:30 am to 16:30 pm. The study has shown that the maximum power output was obtained at the tilt angle of 4o in June and July, 2o in August and a season tilt was found at 4o. Maximum solar power outputs were obtained when solar panels facing east and west were oriented between 0o and 3o. This recommends that the maximum solar power production depends on the tilt angle of 4o and clockwise and counterclockwise of 3o orientation for this geographical location.