[Greenbuilding] PV tracking...

[Nick Pyner]

If you start fiddling with the geometry for this, it quickly becomes
apparent that it is a messy business with marginal returns - which explains
why nobody does it.
Nick Pyner

Dee Why   NSW

  -----Original Message-----
  From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]On Behalf Of Clarke
Olsen
  Sent: Monday, 1 August 2011 1:24 AM
  To: Green Building
  Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] PV tracking...


  Could the addition of reflectors improve performance, catching the angled
incidence?

  Clarke Olsen
  373 route 203
  Spencertown, NY 12165
  USA
  518-392-4640
  colsen at fairpoint.net







  On Jul 31, 2011, at 12:49 AM, Gordon Howell -- Howell Mayhew Engineering
wrote:


    It appears that typically no solar PV tracking system is economically
worthwhile.  This arises because you can install additional fixed-tilt solar
PV modules to equal the same amount of annual energy as the tracking system
provides, yet the additional modules cost less than the tracking system's
costs.

    This has been apparent for several years, and with the significant drop
in PV module pricing the difference is even greater today.

    There may be applications where a single-axis tracker is indeed
worthwhile, if it is designed and constructed in a very simple manner, such
as in an off-grid system.

    I'd be interested in readers' comments on their own experience.

    +Gordon Howell
    Edmonton







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