Question

To minimize ground coverage ratio while avoiding inter-row shading at a high-latitude utility-scale site, how must the array tilt angle be adjusted relative to the sun’s winter solstice elevation?

Accepted Answer

To minimize the ground coverage ratio while avoiding inter-row shading at a high-latitude site, the array tilt angle must be set equal to the solar elevation angle at the winter solstice noon. The ground coverage ratio is the proportion of the site area occupied by solar panels, and minimizing it allows for more efficient land use by placing rows further apart to prevent shadows from one row falling onto the row behind it. At high latitudes, the sun remains low in the sky during the winter solstice, which is the day of the year when the sun reaches its lowest solar noon elevation. Solar elevation angle refers to the height of the sun above the horizon measured in degrees. Inter-row shading occurs when a front row of solar panels casts a shadow that hits the panels in the row behind it, which significantly reduces power production. By setting the tilt angle to match the winter solstice solar elevation, the panels are oriented to be perpendicular to the sun&#x27;s rays at the most critical time of year when shadows are longest. This specific alignment ensures that the shadow cast by one row just touches the base of the next row without overlapping it, which allows for the minimum allowable spacing between rows and therefore the lowest possible ground coverage ratio that maintains full sun exposure.

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To minimize ground coverage ratio while avoiding inter-row shading at a high-latitude utility-scale site, how must the array tilt angle be adjusted relative to the sun’s winter solstice elevation?